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 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
2. 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
3. Is “Pure water boils at 100 °C at standard atmospheric pressure” a verifiable factual claim or a value judgement?
100 °C · Critical argument & evidence
4. A deductively valid argument whose premises are also actually true in the real world is called: Sound or Circular?
A deductively valid argume… · Critical argument & evidence
5. Name the fallacy that shifts the meaning of a key word mid-argument to reach a misleading conclusion: Equivocation or Tu quoque?
Name the fallacy that shif… · Critical argument & evidence
6. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Reasoning that formulates … · Critical argument & evidence
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 43 · 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 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. A deductively valid argument whose premises are also actually true in the real world is called: Sound or Circular?
Sound
Soundness requires both a valid logical form and true premises.
5. Name the fallacy that shifts the meaning of a key word mid-argument to reach a misleading conclusion: Equivocation or Tu quoque?
Equivocation
Equivocation exploits an ambiguous word in two different senses.
6. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Inductive
Inductive reasoning generalises from observed instances to a broader hypothesis.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
3. Is “Pure water boils at 100 °C at standard atmospheric pressure” a verifiable factual claim or a value judgement?
100 °C · Critical argument & evidence
4. A deductively valid argument whose premises are also actually true in the real world is called: Sound or Circular?
A deductively valid argume… · Critical argument & evidence
5. Name the fallacy that shifts the meaning of a key word mid-argument to reach a misleading conclusion: Equivocation or Tu quoque?
Name the fallacy that shif… · Critical argument & evidence
6. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Reasoning that formulates … · Critical argument & evidence
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. A deductively valid argument whose premises are also actually true in the real world is called: Sound or Circular?
Sound
Soundness requires both a valid logical form and true premises.
5. Name the fallacy that shifts the meaning of a key word mid-argument to reach a misleading conclusion: Equivocation or Tu quoque?
Equivocation
Equivocation exploits an ambiguous word in two different senses.
6. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Inductive
Inductive reasoning generalises from observed instances to a broader hypothesis.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 43 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification