Logical fallacies and 4 common modes of writing American Literature EOCT Review

Logical fallacies are… Illogical arguments Used to persuade listeners/consumers to feel a certain way or do something Comprised of over exaggerations, scare tactics, and/or emotional appeals A way advertisers can try to manipulate consumers

What is a logical fallacy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytWGiOuzpe4

Why should we know about them? They are EVERYWHERE: in tv and radio commercials, print ads, television shows, movies, political speeches and ads They have been used for centuries: everything from speeches in Julius Caesar to ads from the 1800’s to commercials today We can avoid logical fallacies in our own writing and detect them in the writing of others Knowledge of logical fallacies empowers us to be educated consumers in society.

Faulty reasoning Circular reasoning: Trying to prove a statement by repeating it in different words “Antibiotics are being overused because people take them too often.” Cause-and-effect fallacy: Falsely assuming that because one event follows another, the first event caused the second: “If we don’t make laws limiting tattoos, there will be more and more gang members.

Faulty reasoning Either-or fallacy: Stating that there are only two alternatives when there are many “If we don’t set limits on prescribing antibiotics, we will face worldwide epidemics caused by untreatable super microbes.” Bandwagon: Everyone else is doing it so why not you? “Millions of people have switched to [insert brand name here].”

Types of logical fallacies Testimonial: Using a “true” story to convince the reader. “If it could happen to me…” Card stacking: Only positive information is presented, without any contradictory or negative information. Nicotine has been shown to lower incidences of Alzheimer’s disease, can boost the growth of new blood vessels, and may even reduce depression.

Faulty reasoning Stereotyping: creates a simplified picture of a complex situation, individual, or group. Rhetorical questions: Asks questions for which no answer is needed, to try to force the reader/listener to agree. “Are you tired of trash bags that rip and tear?”

Examples Cause-and-effect http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE&feature=relmfu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SEGbRy5mIw&feature=autoplay&list=PLA88D7CD8A8A54AEA&index=4&playnext=3

Examples Either/or, bandwagon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2y_GwKzxck Bandwagon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvCTaccEkMI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02vku-6fZWQ

Examples Cause-effect http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge8aZqgxV7Q&NR=1 Testimonial, beautiful people http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLPltgIhZrI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ1_CQD1jS8  

Examples Card stacking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiWTcVHdSFo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl22YOOCreE Stereotyping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCA_d5qEF1k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L72rATeYN98

Examples Rhetorical questions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXHUdvvHTkw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ide9dgoZkk

Four common types of writing Narration: tells a story (fiction or nonfiction), usually has a plot, climax, and resolution Descriptive: describes a person, place, or setting Persuasion: attempts to influence the readers thoughts (here’s where logical fallacies come in) Exposition: explains something (like an encyclopedia article)