GOOD MORNING! NOVEMBER 16, 2015 Journal Entry: Think of a time when you thought a person or an organization was unsuccessful in proving his/her/their point in an argument. Explain what you think made his/her/their argument unsuccessful. You don’t necessarily need to get into the specifics of who/what was making the argument – focus on what made the argument unsuccessful.

Logical Fallacies ■Common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument ■Today, we will learn to avoid several types of fallacies in our own arguments and to watch for them in the arguments of others.

Slippery Slope ■Conclusion based on the premise that if A happens, then eventually through a series of small steps through B, C, D,… Z will happen too ■Basically, equating A with Z ■So, if we don’t want Z to occur, A must not be allowed to occur either ■Example: If we ban Hummers because they are bad for the environment eventually the government will ban all cars, so we should not ban Hummers. ■

Hasty Generalization ■Conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence ■Basically, the writer/speaker rushes to a conclusion before she/he has all the relevant facts ■Example: My father smoked four packs of cigarettes a day from the age of fourteen, and he lived to be seventy-eight. Therefore, smoking really can’t be that bad for you. ■

Post hoc ergo propter hoc/False Cause ■Conclusion that assumes that if “A” occurred after “B,” then “B” must have caused “A.” ■Example: Dan White ate a lot of Twinkies and then killed the Mayor of San Francisco. If I were a mayor, I’d ban Twinkies so no one would kill me.

Genetic Fallacy ■Conclusion is based on an argument that the origins of a person, idea, institute, or theory determines its character, nature, or worth ■Discredits ideas based on associations with negatively viewed people or places ■Example: You think labor unions are good? You know who else liked labor unions? Karl Marx, that’s who.

Begging the Claim/Question ■The writer/speaker makes a conclusion in the claim that he/she should have to prove. ■Example: Filthy and polluting coal should be banned. –You’re assuming that the audience agrees coal is filthy and polluting. That’s actually a point you need to prove.

Circular Argument ■Restates the argument rather than actually proving it ■Example: George Bush is a good communicator because he speaks effectively.

Either/Or ■Conclusion that oversimplifies the argument by reducing it to only two sides or choices ■Example: We can either stop using cars or destroy the earth.

Ad hominem ■Attack on the character of a person rather than his or her opinions or arguments ■Example: Green Peace’s strategies aren’t effective because they are all lazy hippies. ■

Ad populum ■Emotional appeal that speaks to positive or negative concepts rather than to the real issue at hand ■Example: If you were a true American, you would support he rights of people to choose whatever vehicle they want.

Red Herring ■Diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding opposing arguments rather than addressing them. ■Example: The level of mercury in seafood my be unsafe, but what will fishers do to support their families?

Straw Man ■Misrepresents an opponent’s position to make it easier to attack ■Example: Feminism is part of a “socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.” – Pat Robertson

Moral Equivalence ■Compares minor misdeeds with major atrocities. ■Example: The parking attendant who gave me a ticket is as bad as Hitler. ■

On your own… ■Either create or find an example of your assigned fallacy. ■If you choose to find an example, you may use your phone. ■Be prepared to share.

Exit Slip ■On your sticky note, identify the type of fallacy that you think will be hardest to identify. Then, place your sticky note on the stoplight by the door: –Green: I totally understand fallacies, and I’m ready to move on. –Yellow: I think I’m getting it, but I need more practice. –Red: I’m totally lost – I need to go over this again.

Thor Documentary ■