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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. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






12. 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.'






13. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






14. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






15. 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'






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






17. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






24. 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!'






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






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






27. 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?






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






29. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






32. Information that can be objectively proven as true






33. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






34. 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.






35. 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.






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






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






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






39. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






43. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






46. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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