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






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






3. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






5. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






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






10. 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






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






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






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






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. Appeal to reason






16. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






17. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






18. Appeal to the reader's emotions






19. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






22. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






26. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






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






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






32. 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.






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






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






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






36. 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!'






37. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






38. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






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






43. 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'






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






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






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






47. 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.






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






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






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