Logos—Logical Appeal (Logical Fallacies)

I met some very polite children from Austin yesterday I met some very polite children from Austin yesterday. I think all children from that area must be well-behaved. Hasty generalization

Plagiarist: I wrote that paper myself (as in, she wrote it down while copying someone else’s words) Equivocation

Students are like nails Students are like nails. Just as nails must be hit in the head in order to make them work, so must students. Faulty analogy

You can’t give me a C; I’m an A student. Begging the question

If you really loved me, you’d buy me a new car. Non Sequitur

Bill bleached his hair blonde last week, and this week three other guys at school did the same; Bill is quite the trend setter. Faulty causality

Pathos—Emotional Appeal (Emotional Fallacies)

Everyone is displaying a flag or a “Support our Troops” sticker on his car; therefore, I will too because I’m a good American. Bandwagon appeals

If you restrict my right to say whatever I want, whenever I want, this is the beginning of communism in America. Slippery Slope

Restrictions on firearms should be put into place or every crazy person in America will own a gun. Either-Or Choice

Because of the possibility of poisoned Halloween candy and strangers abducting our children, communities should ban trick-or-treating. Scare tactics

That boy scout troop made an old lady’s day by visiting and entertaining her in her nursing home; we should give generously to the boy scouts. Sentimental appeals

Ethos—Ethical Appeal (Ethical Fallacies)

Lady Gaga says that President Obama has a great plan for the economy, so I am supporting him because she seems to know what she’s talking about. Appeals to false authorities

If governments are going to impose restrictions on smoking for health reasons, then they must impose the same restrictions on drinking and eating fatty foods. Moral Equivalence

No rational person would disagree that sterilization is the only way to combat the number of stray cats in our city. Dogmatism

Nick Jacobson is not a worthy candidate for vice president of our class because he’s short and frowns too much. Ad Hominem arguments