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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. Any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue






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






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






4. 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.






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






6. 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!'






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






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






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






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






11. 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






12. 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?






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






14. Reasoning by Debate: In an argument - this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning 'against the man.'






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






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






17. 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.






18. 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'






19. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






21. Reasoning by Debate: A fallacy that forces listeners to choose between two alternatives when more than two alternatives exist






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






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






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






25. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






26. Appeal to reason






27. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






28. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






32. The use by a speaker of coded language that appears to mean one thing to the general population but has a different (and negative) meaning for a targeted subgroup of the audience.






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






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






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






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






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






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






39. Stating the only two interpretations of actions are alternatives - ignoring any compromise or moderate course






40. Reasoning by Proof: the evidence offered does not really support the claim. Non Sequitur (It does not follow)






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






42. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






44. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






47. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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