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






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






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






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






5. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






8. 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!'






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






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






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






12. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






14. 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?






15. 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






16. 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'






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






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






19. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






23. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






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






29. 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.






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






31. 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.






32. 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.






33. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






36. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






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






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






50. Appeal based on the credibility of the author