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 deflecting criticism by accusing the critic of the same flaw (“you do it too”) instead of answering the point: Tu quoque or False dilemma?
“you do it too” · 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. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
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. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Reasoning that formulates … · Critical argument & evidence
12. Is “Pure water boils at 100 °C at standard atmospheric pressure” a verifiable factual claim or a value judgement?
100 °C · Critical argument & evidence

12 questions · Seed 45 · 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 deflecting criticism by accusing the critic of the same flaw (“you do it too”) instead of answering the point: Tu quoque or False dilemma?
Tu quoque
Tu quoque (“you also”) avoids the logical merit of the argument.
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. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
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. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 45 · 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 deflecting criticism by accusing the critic of the same flaw (“you do it too”) instead of answering the point: Tu quoque or False dilemma?
“you do it too” · 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. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
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. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Reasoning that formulates … · Critical argument & evidence
12. Is “Pure water boils at 100 °C at standard atmospheric pressure” a verifiable factual claim or a value judgement?
100 °C · Critical argument & evidence

12 questions · Seed 45 · 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 deflecting criticism by accusing the critic of the same flaw (“you do it too”) instead of answering the point: Tu quoque or False dilemma?
Tu quoque
Tu quoque (“you also”) avoids the logical merit of the argument.
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. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
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. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification