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






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






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






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






5. 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.






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






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






8. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






9. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






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






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






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






16. 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!'






17. Appeal to reason






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






19. 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.






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






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






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






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






24. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






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






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






29. Information that can be objectively proven as true






30. 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'






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






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






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






34. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






37. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






41. 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.






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






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. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






48. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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