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. Name the fallacy of drawing a broad general rule from a tiny or unrepresentative sample: Hasty generalisation or Appeal to ignorance?
Name the fallacy of drawin… · Critical argument & evidence
2. When a scientist measures ocean temperature directly with a calibrated sensor, is that dataset Primary data or Secondary commentary?
When a scientist measures … · Critical argument & evidence
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. Name the logical fallacy that attacks the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself: Ad hominem or Straw man?
Name the logical fallacy t… · Critical argument & evidence
9. Name the fallacy that argues a claim is true merely because it has not yet been proven false: Appeal to ignorance or Straw man?
Name the fallacy that argu… · Critical argument & evidence
10. Is “Pure water boils at 100 °C at standard atmospheric pressure” a verifiable factual claim or a value judgement?
100 °C · Critical argument & evidence
11. Which source is stronger evidence for a medical claim: a peer-reviewed randomised controlled trial, or a single anonymous online anecdote?
Which source is stronger e… · Critical argument & evidence
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 104731 · 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. Name the fallacy of drawing a broad general rule from a tiny or unrepresentative sample: Hasty generalisation or Appeal to ignorance?
Hasty generalisation
A hasty generalisation leaps to a universal conclusion from insufficient evidence.
2. When a scientist measures ocean temperature directly with a calibrated sensor, is that dataset Primary data or Secondary commentary?
Primary data
Direct measurements collected first-hand constitute primary data.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Name the logical fallacy that attacks the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself: Ad hominem or Straw man?
Ad hominem
An ad hominem fallacy targets the speaker’s character or motive instead of their reasoning.
9. Name the fallacy that argues a claim is true merely because it has not yet been proven false: Appeal to ignorance or Straw man?
Appeal to ignorance
Absence of disproof is not proof of truth.
10. 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.
11. Which source is stronger evidence for a medical claim: a peer-reviewed randomised controlled trial, or a single anonymous online anecdote?
A peer-reviewed randomised controlled trial
Controlled trials with peer review minimise bias and random error.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Name the fallacy of drawing a broad general rule from a tiny or unrepresentative sample: Hasty generalisation or Appeal to ignorance?
Name the fallacy of drawin… · Critical argument & evidence
2. When a scientist measures ocean temperature directly with a calibrated sensor, is that dataset Primary data or Secondary commentary?
When a scientist measures … · Critical argument & evidence
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. Name the logical fallacy that attacks the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself: Ad hominem or Straw man?
Name the logical fallacy t… · Critical argument & evidence
9. Name the fallacy that argues a claim is true merely because it has not yet been proven false: Appeal to ignorance or Straw man?
Name the fallacy that argu… · Critical argument & evidence
10. Is “Pure water boils at 100 °C at standard atmospheric pressure” a verifiable factual claim or a value judgement?
100 °C · Critical argument & evidence
11. Which source is stronger evidence for a medical claim: a peer-reviewed randomised controlled trial, or a single anonymous online anecdote?
Which source is stronger e… · Critical argument & evidence
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Name the fallacy of drawing a broad general rule from a tiny or unrepresentative sample: Hasty generalisation or Appeal to ignorance?
Hasty generalisation
A hasty generalisation leaps to a universal conclusion from insufficient evidence.
2. When a scientist measures ocean temperature directly with a calibrated sensor, is that dataset Primary data or Secondary commentary?
Primary data
Direct measurements collected first-hand constitute primary data.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Name the logical fallacy that attacks the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself: Ad hominem or Straw man?
Ad hominem
An ad hominem fallacy targets the speaker’s character or motive instead of their reasoning.
9. Name the fallacy that argues a claim is true merely because it has not yet been proven false: Appeal to ignorance or Straw man?
Appeal to ignorance
Absence of disproof is not proof of truth.
10. 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.
11. Which source is stronger evidence for a medical claim: a peer-reviewed randomised controlled trial, or a single anonymous online anecdote?
A peer-reviewed randomised controlled trial
Controlled trials with peer review minimise bias and random error.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 104731 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification