Test your basic knowledge |

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 gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






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






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






6. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






8. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






9. 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?






10. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






19. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






22. 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






23. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






29. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






30. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






34. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






35. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






37. 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'






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






39. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






42. 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.






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






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






45. 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.






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






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






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






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






50. 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!'