LSAT - Identifying Flaw Patterns

comparison flaw

assumes 2 things are similar in one way are also similar in other ways without providing evidence of the other similarities (two different things / two different time periods / part to whole)

survey & sample flaws

description of a survey study in the argument, the purpose is to either interpret evidence or disagree with a position

causal

explains a fact, observation, statistic, research result, correlation, etc.

language shift

shifts from one idea to another idea without explaining how they’re related

necessary vs. sufficient

reverses a conditional statement or its contrapositive

absence of evidence

Interprets a lack of evidence or flawed evidence as proof that something does/ does not exist

ad hominem

attacks someone’s character, motivaton or actions/ hypocricy

appeals

appeals to an authroity on a matter outside of their expertise

shifting meaning

conclusion is based on two different interpreations of the same word