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 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. Reasoning that moves from a general rule (“All mammals have lungs”) to a specific case (“Dolphins are mammals, so dolphins have lungs”) is: Deductive or Anecdotal?
Reasoning that moves from … · Critical argument & evidence
7. 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
8. 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
9. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Reasoning that formulates … · Critical argument & evidence
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 48 · 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 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Reasoning that moves from a general rule (“All mammals have lungs”) to a specific case (“Dolphins are mammals, so dolphins have lungs”) is: Deductive or Anecdotal?
Deductive
Deductive reasoning applies a general premise to reach a guaranteed specific conclusion.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 48 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. Reasoning that moves from a general rule (“All mammals have lungs”) to a specific case (“Dolphins are mammals, so dolphins have lungs”) is: Deductive or Anecdotal?
Reasoning that moves from … · Critical argument & evidence
7. 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
8. 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
9. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Reasoning that formulates … · Critical argument & evidence
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 48 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Reasoning that moves from a general rule (“All mammals have lungs”) to a specific case (“Dolphins are mammals, so dolphins have lungs”) is: Deductive or Anecdotal?
Deductive
Deductive reasoning applies a general premise to reach a guaranteed specific conclusion.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 48 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification