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






3. 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.






4. 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!'






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






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






7. 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?






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






9. 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.






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






11. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






25. Information that can be objectively proven as true






26. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






29. 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






30. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






34. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






36. 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.






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






38. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






40. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






42. 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'






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






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






45. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






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






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