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






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






3. 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.






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






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






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






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






8. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






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






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






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






15. 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.






16. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






17. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






19. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






27. 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'






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






29. Information that can be objectively proven as true






30. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






31. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






34. 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.'






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






36. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. 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?






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






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






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






48. 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.






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






50. Appeal to reason