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. Generalization: drawing conclusions based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence






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






3. 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.






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






5. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






7. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






8. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






16. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






23. 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.'






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






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






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






27. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






28. 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.






29. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






30. Appeal to the reader's emotions






31. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






32. 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?






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






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






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






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






37. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. 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!'






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






46. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






49. Appeal to reason






50. Information based on personal interpretation of facts