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. 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
2. 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
3. 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
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. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Reasoning that formulates … · Critical argument & evidence
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
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. 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

12 questions · Seed 49 · 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. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
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. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
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. 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.

12 questions · Seed 49 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
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. Reasoning that formulates a probable general pattern from repeated systematic observations is: Inductive or Circular?
Reasoning that formulates … · Critical argument & evidence
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
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. 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

12 questions · Seed 49 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Critical argument & evidence

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
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. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
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. 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.

12 questions · Seed 49 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification