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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. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






2. 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'






3. 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!'






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






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






6. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






7. 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.'






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






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






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






11. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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






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






17. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






19. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






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






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






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






26. Information that can be objectively proven as true






27. 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.






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






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






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






31. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






34. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






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






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






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






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






41. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






49. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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