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SAT Essay Logical Fallacies

Subjects : sat, english, writing-skills
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






2. Trying to prove one idea with another idea that is too similar to the first idea






3. Claiming that one step in the wrong direction will lead to another - potentially disastrous consequence






4. Reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case






5. Concealing the author's true intent - belief - or attitude towards an issue






6. Cause and Effect: A fallacy that assumes that because two variables are correlated (happen at the same time) that one must have caused the other






7. Cause and Effect: claim than an event with more than one cause has only one cause






8. 'After this therefore because of this' implying that because on event follows another - the first caused the second






9. Citing an expert on one subject as expert on another






10. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






11. Prejudging an individual based on ideas one has about the group the individual belongs to






12. Have all reasonable alternatives been considered/eliminated? Does this author attack the other views in a fair way?






13. 'it does not follow' drawing a conclusion or making a transition that is not a logical result of the facts






14. A fallacy that assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented






15. Reasoning by Proof: absence of evidence is not evidence; he didn't say that... so it must be false






16. How similar or how different are the cases being compared? How many point of comparison is the arguer using?






17. Logical reasoning that establishes specific facts or contentions leading to a general conclusion






18. Ambiguity or multiplicity of interpretations of a repeated word or phrase






19. 'To the people' appeal to the prejudices of the audience - or claiming that (or a majority) supports your opinion






20. Fallacy that asserts that given two positions - there exists a compromise between them which must be correct.






21. Writer encourages readers to accept a conclusion without any support






22. 'Against the man' attacking the person or group to which you are opposed rather than addressing the issue






23. Cause and Effect: Assuming that an incident that precedes another is the cause of the second incident






24. Reasoning by Debate: When a writer argues against a claim that nobody actually holds or is universally considered weak. Setting up a straw man diverts attention from the real issues.






25. 'To the authority' appeal based on the authority of a source






26. Reasoning by Proof: an argument that because someone worked hard at something - their conclusions must be right






27. Appeal to reason






28. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






29. When a writer uses the same term in two different senses in an argument. i.e. People choose what laws they obey. The Law of Gravity is a law. I choose to disobey the law of gravity.






30. False transitive property - you assume that just because two things share a characteristic - all of their characteristics are shared: - 'penguins are black and white - old tv shows are black and white - therefore penguins are old tv shows'






31. Everybody knows fallacy. Asserts that some idea is common knowledge - so it must be true.






32. Does the evidence prove the point being argued? Is this authority an expert on this particular topic?






33. Two comparable issues or ideas are judged by different criteria






34. Appeal to the the pity - sympathy or 'misery' of the audience






35. Information the writer asserts as being the result of an event






36. Reasoning by Proof: A fallacy in which a speaker or writer seeks to persuade not by giving evidence but by appealing to the respect people have for a person or institution.






37. Statements that are intentionally vague so that the audience may supply its own interpretations






38. Drawing conclusions based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence; using all instances when only some apply






39. Generalization: Assumes that members of a group must have a characteristic because one or more of its members has that characteristic.






40. How large is the sample size? How representative is the sample?






41. Cause and Effect: 'What if' fallacy. Argues that everything would be different if one variable was different. Example: 'If the Nazis had won WWII - we'd all be speaking German!'






42. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






43. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






44. Generalization: drawing conclusions based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence






45. Appeal to the reader's emotions






46. Introducing an irrelevant point to divert readers' attention from the main issue being discussed






47. Condemning an argument because of where it began - how it began - or who began it






48. Generalization: Assumes that an individual must have a characteristic because the group to which he or she belongs supposedly has that characteristic






49. Is there a reasonable connection between the cause and the effect? Is that connection explained? Are there other possible causes that have not been considered?






50. Any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue