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. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. In a scientific investigation, what is the purpose of a control group: to provide a baseline for comparison where the tested variable is unchanged, or to double the error?
In a scientific investigat… · Critical argument & evidence
7. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Reasoning that formulates … · Critical argument & evidence
8. 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
9. Why should a survey sample be selected randomly from the whole population rather than only from one friendship group: to reduce sampling bias, or to guarantee everyone agrees?
Why should a survey sample… · Critical argument & evidence
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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 questions · Seed 46 · 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. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. In a scientific investigation, what is the purpose of a control group: to provide a baseline for comparison where the tested variable is unchanged, or to double the error?
To provide a baseline for comparison where the tested variable is unchanged
A control group isolates the effect of the independent variable.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Why should a survey sample be selected randomly from the whole population rather than only from one friendship group: to reduce sampling bias, or to guarantee everyone agrees?
To reduce sampling bias
Random sampling helps ensure the sample represents the wider population fairly.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. In a scientific investigation, what is the purpose of a control group: to provide a baseline for comparison where the tested variable is unchanged, or to double the error?
In a scientific investigat… · Critical argument & evidence
7. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Reasoning that formulates … · Critical argument & evidence
8. 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
9. Why should a survey sample be selected randomly from the whole population rather than only from one friendship group: to reduce sampling bias, or to guarantee everyone agrees?
Why should a survey sample… · Critical argument & evidence
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. In a scientific investigation, what is the purpose of a control group: to provide a baseline for comparison where the tested variable is unchanged, or to double the error?
To provide a baseline for comparison where the tested variable is unchanged
A control group isolates the effect of the independent variable.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Why should a survey sample be selected randomly from the whole population rather than only from one friendship group: to reduce sampling bias, or to guarantee everyone agrees?
To reduce sampling bias
Random sampling helps ensure the sample represents the wider population fairly.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification