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






2. 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.






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






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






5. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






7. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






8. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






10. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






11. 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






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






13. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






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






17. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






21. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






22. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






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






27. 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.'






28. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






36. 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.






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






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






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






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






41. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






43. 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?






44. 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'






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






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






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






49. Appeal to reason






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