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






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






3. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






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






9. 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.






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






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






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






13. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






14. 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'






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






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






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






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






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






20. 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.






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






22. 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?






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






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






25. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






26. 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.'






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






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






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






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






31. Appeal to reason






32. 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






33. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






37. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






38. Appeal to the reader's emotions






39. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






45. Information that can be objectively proven as true






46. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






49. 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!'






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