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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






9. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






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






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






15. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






18. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






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






23. 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!'






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






25. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






26. 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'






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






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






29. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






31. 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.






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






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






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






35. 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?






36. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






37. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






38. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






42. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






43. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






45. 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.






46. 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.






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






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






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






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