EnglishAges 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Evaluate claims, counterarguments, empirical evidence and logical fallacies in critical writing. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “Summer is the most enjoyable season of the year” an empirical fact or a subjective opinion?
Is “Summer is the most enj… · Critical argument & evidence
2. Name the fallacy in which the conclusion is already assumed inside one of the premises: Circular reasoning (begging the question) or Slippery slope?
Name the fallacy in which … · Critical argument & evidence
3. Name the fallacy that argues a claim must be true simply because many people believe or do it: Appeal to popularity (bandwagon) or Straw man?
Name the fallacy that argu… · Critical argument & evidence
4. In logic, an argument whose conclusion MUST be true whenever all its premises are true is called: Valid or Fallacious?
In logic, an argument whos… · Critical argument & evidence
5. Is “Pure water boils at 100 °C at standard atmospheric pressure” a verifiable factual claim or a value judgement?
100 °C · Critical argument & evidence
6. Name the fallacy that presents only two extreme options when other reasonable possibilities exist: False dilemma or Red herring?
Name the fallacy that pres… · Critical argument & evidence
7. Name the fallacy that claims one small step will inevitably trigger a chain of extreme consequences without evidence for each link: Slippery slope or Equivocation?
Name the fallacy that clai… · Critical argument & evidence
8. Name the fallacy that assumes because Event B followed Event A, Event A must have caused Event B: Post hoc (false cause) or Ad hominem?
Name the fallacy that assu… · Critical argument & evidence
9. Name the error of selecting only data points that support your hypothesis while ignoring contradictory data: Cherry-picking (confirmation bias) or Deductive validity?
Name the error of selectin… · Critical argument & evidence
10. Name the fallacy that misrepresents or exaggerates an opponent’s position to make it easier to refute: Straw man or Circular reasoning?
Name the fallacy that misr… · Critical argument & evidence
11. Name the fallacy that introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original issue: Red herring or False analogy?
Name the fallacy that intr… · Critical argument & evidence
12. Why does correlation between ice-cream sales and sunburn rates not prove that ice cream causes sunburn: a confounding variable (hot sunny weather) drives both, or sunburn causes hunger?
Why does correlation betwe… · Critical argument & evidence

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “Summer is the most enjoyable season of the year” an empirical fact or a subjective opinion?
Subjective opinion
Enjoyment varies by personal preference and cannot be settled by measurement alone.
2. Name the fallacy in which the conclusion is already assumed inside one of the premises: Circular reasoning (begging the question) or Slippery slope?
Circular reasoning (begging the question)
Circular reasoning assumes the very claim it sets out to prove.
3. Name the fallacy that argues a claim must be true simply because many people believe or do it: Appeal to popularity (bandwagon) or Straw man?
Appeal to popularity (bandwagon)
Popularity alone does not establish factual truth.
4. In logic, an argument whose conclusion MUST be true whenever all its premises are true is called: Valid or Fallacious?
Valid
Deductive validity means the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.
5. Is “Pure water boils at 100 °C at standard atmospheric pressure” a verifiable factual claim or a value judgement?
Verifiable factual claim
It can be tested and confirmed empirically with a thermometer and barometer.
6. Name the fallacy that presents only two extreme options when other reasonable possibilities exist: False dilemma or Red herring?
False dilemma
A false dilemma (false dichotomy) artificially restricts choices to two extremes.
7. Name the fallacy that claims one small step will inevitably trigger a chain of extreme consequences without evidence for each link: Slippery slope or Equivocation?
Slippery slope
A slippery slope asserts an unproven cascade of extreme outcomes.
8. Name the fallacy that assumes because Event B followed Event A, Event A must have caused Event B: Post hoc (false cause) or Ad hominem?
Post hoc (false cause)
Post hoc ergo propter hoc confuses chronological sequence with causation.
9. Name the error of selecting only data points that support your hypothesis while ignoring contradictory data: Cherry-picking (confirmation bias) or Deductive validity?
Cherry-picking (confirmation bias)
Cherry-picking suppresses counter-evidence and distorts the conclusion.
10. Name the fallacy that misrepresents or exaggerates an opponent’s position to make it easier to refute: Straw man or Circular reasoning?
Straw man
A straw man replaces the actual argument with a distorted, weaker version.
11. Name the fallacy that introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original issue: Red herring or False analogy?
Red herring
A red herring distracts the audience from the central question under discussion.
12. Why does correlation between ice-cream sales and sunburn rates not prove that ice cream causes sunburn: a confounding variable (hot sunny weather) drives both, or sunburn causes hunger?
A confounding variable (hot sunny weather) drives both
Hot summer weather independently increases both ice-cream consumption and sun exposure.

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Is “Summer is the most enjoyable season of the year” an empirical fact or a subjective opinion?
Is “Summer is the most enj… · Critical argument & evidence
2. Name the fallacy in which the conclusion is already assumed inside one of the premises: Circular reasoning (begging the question) or Slippery slope?
Name the fallacy in which … · Critical argument & evidence
3. Name the fallacy that argues a claim must be true simply because many people believe or do it: Appeal to popularity (bandwagon) or Straw man?
Name the fallacy that argu… · Critical argument & evidence
4. In logic, an argument whose conclusion MUST be true whenever all its premises are true is called: Valid or Fallacious?
In logic, an argument whos… · Critical argument & evidence
5. Is “Pure water boils at 100 °C at standard atmospheric pressure” a verifiable factual claim or a value judgement?
100 °C · Critical argument & evidence
6. Name the fallacy that presents only two extreme options when other reasonable possibilities exist: False dilemma or Red herring?
Name the fallacy that pres… · Critical argument & evidence
7. Name the fallacy that claims one small step will inevitably trigger a chain of extreme consequences without evidence for each link: Slippery slope or Equivocation?
Name the fallacy that clai… · Critical argument & evidence
8. Name the fallacy that assumes because Event B followed Event A, Event A must have caused Event B: Post hoc (false cause) or Ad hominem?
Name the fallacy that assu… · Critical argument & evidence
9. Name the error of selecting only data points that support your hypothesis while ignoring contradictory data: Cherry-picking (confirmation bias) or Deductive validity?
Name the error of selectin… · Critical argument & evidence
10. Name the fallacy that misrepresents or exaggerates an opponent’s position to make it easier to refute: Straw man or Circular reasoning?
Name the fallacy that misr… · Critical argument & evidence
11. Name the fallacy that introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original issue: Red herring or False analogy?
Name the fallacy that intr… · Critical argument & evidence
12. Why does correlation between ice-cream sales and sunburn rates not prove that ice cream causes sunburn: a confounding variable (hot sunny weather) drives both, or sunburn causes hunger?
Why does correlation betwe… · Critical argument & evidence

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Is “Summer is the most enjoyable season of the year” an empirical fact or a subjective opinion?
Subjective opinion
Enjoyment varies by personal preference and cannot be settled by measurement alone.
2. Name the fallacy in which the conclusion is already assumed inside one of the premises: Circular reasoning (begging the question) or Slippery slope?
Circular reasoning (begging the question)
Circular reasoning assumes the very claim it sets out to prove.
3. Name the fallacy that argues a claim must be true simply because many people believe or do it: Appeal to popularity (bandwagon) or Straw man?
Appeal to popularity (bandwagon)
Popularity alone does not establish factual truth.
4. In logic, an argument whose conclusion MUST be true whenever all its premises are true is called: Valid or Fallacious?
Valid
Deductive validity means the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.
5. Is “Pure water boils at 100 °C at standard atmospheric pressure” a verifiable factual claim or a value judgement?
Verifiable factual claim
It can be tested and confirmed empirically with a thermometer and barometer.
6. Name the fallacy that presents only two extreme options when other reasonable possibilities exist: False dilemma or Red herring?
False dilemma
A false dilemma (false dichotomy) artificially restricts choices to two extremes.
7. Name the fallacy that claims one small step will inevitably trigger a chain of extreme consequences without evidence for each link: Slippery slope or Equivocation?
Slippery slope
A slippery slope asserts an unproven cascade of extreme outcomes.
8. Name the fallacy that assumes because Event B followed Event A, Event A must have caused Event B: Post hoc (false cause) or Ad hominem?
Post hoc (false cause)
Post hoc ergo propter hoc confuses chronological sequence with causation.
9. Name the error of selecting only data points that support your hypothesis while ignoring contradictory data: Cherry-picking (confirmation bias) or Deductive validity?
Cherry-picking (confirmation bias)
Cherry-picking suppresses counter-evidence and distorts the conclusion.
10. Name the fallacy that misrepresents or exaggerates an opponent’s position to make it easier to refute: Straw man or Circular reasoning?
Straw man
A straw man replaces the actual argument with a distorted, weaker version.
11. Name the fallacy that introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original issue: Red herring or False analogy?
Red herring
A red herring distracts the audience from the central question under discussion.
12. Why does correlation between ice-cream sales and sunburn rates not prove that ice cream causes sunburn: a confounding variable (hot sunny weather) drives both, or sunburn causes hunger?
A confounding variable (hot sunny weather) drives both
Hot summer weather independently increases both ice-cream consumption and sun exposure.

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification