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






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






3. 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?






4. 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'






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






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






7. 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






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






9. 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!'






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






18. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






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






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






24. Appeal to reason






25. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






27. 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.






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






29. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






30. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






32. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






34. 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.






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






36. 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.'






37. 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.






38. 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.






39. Information that can be objectively proven as true






40. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






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






45. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






48. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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