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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. Two comparable issues or ideas are judged by different criteria






2. 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.






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






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






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






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






7. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






9. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






13. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






20. 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.






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






22. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






23. 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?






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






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






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






27. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






31. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






34. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






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






39. 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.






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






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






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






43. 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






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






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






46. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






48. 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.'






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






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