TODAY’S GOALS Learn advanced strategies for addressing counterarguments Continue developing preparations for the class debate

ADVANCED COUNTERARGUMENT STRATEGIES: INFORMAL FALLACIES Post hoc, ergo propter hoc Hasty generalization False analogy Either/or reasoning Ad hominem Appeals to false authority Non sequitur Circular reasoning Red Herring Slippery slope Pg. 359

COUNTERARGUMENTS/INFORMAL FALLACIES Pg. 359 Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc: Latin for “after this, therefore because of this” When a counterargument claims that one thing has caused another, you can point out the many ways in which causation is difficult to prove and a suggested causation may only be correlation Ex: When crime rates plummeted in NY in 1990, politicians claimed this was due to police department reform. Hasty Generalizations: When an opponent generalizes information from a small study or small group to a larger one, point out how this information may not be applicable and how the larger group differs from the smaller one Ex: After extensive clinical trial testing on adults for an experimental drug, it was claimed to be safe for everyone (including children, on whom the drug was not tested)

COUNTERARGUMENTS/INFORMAL FALLACIES False Analogy When your opponents use examples and analogies between multiple things or situations, you can disprove their arguments by showing the ways in which those things are different (and thus their analogies do not apply) Ex: Gun control will work in the United States because it works in England Either/or Reasoning When an opponent tries to boil down a complex issue into only two sides or two choices, point out the myriad of other possibilities to disprove their argument. Ex: You are either pro-choice are you are against the advancement of women in society

COUNTERARGUMENTS/INFORMAL FALLACIES Ad Hominem Latin for “against the person” If you cannot find fault with an argument, attack the credibility of the arguer instead Ex: Almost any political campaign/debate where personal matters are brought up rather than discussing issues or topics Appeals to False Authority When an opponent supports their argument with the fact that “many people” or a famous person support it, point out that these people are not experts or authorities on the matter. Just because something is the most common view does not mean that it is right Ex: Millions of

COUNTERARGUMENTS/INFORMAL FALLACIES Circular Reasoning When an opponent draws in or restates their main idea as part of the evidence to support it, illustrate this for readers to show the argument has not external evidence Ex: Marijuana is injurious to your health because it harms your body. Slippery slope When your opponent implies that doing one action will lead to an inevitable series of events, point out the problems with causation and the many ways and times it can be stopped. Ex: If we allow embryonic stem cell research, we will open the door for full-scale human cloning

GROUP ACTIVITY: ADVANCED COUNTERARGUMENT STRATEGIES In your unit 4 groups Read through the claims on page 353 For each claim, develop two counterargument strategies you could use to refute it

GROUP ACTIVITY: DEBATE PLANNING In your unit 4 groups Brainstorm ideas for how to structure your group’s debate as well as ideas for the content of your team’s speaking points 1.Create a final list of speaking points, one for each member of your group. Identify which group member will be working with this speaking point and who will be a backup speaker for this point (who can take over if the original speaker is not present) 2.(Write this on a separate sheet of paper) What are three supporting points that you will share with your opposing group? (Hint: they will be using these to plan their counterarguments, so plan strategically)

GROUP ACTIVITY: DEBATE PLANNING PT. 2 In your unit 4 groups: Continue planning for the strategy of your debate team. Focus on double checking your debate content, the quality of your sources, and backup plans that may be necessary. Make sure to determine: 1.What strategies will you use to counter the speaking points of the opposing group that have been shared with you? (Plan one strategy for each point) 2.What kind of data will you look for to support each your own main speaking points? Who will be responsible for finding this data? Try to find one piece of data per speaking point. 3.What kind of organization/order will your group use for its presentation? Will you follow a set order or respond to the content of your opposing team? 4.Rhetorical appeals checklist: how are you using ethos, pathos, and logos? Try to come up with one example or supporting points for each. Suggestions: Don’t forget ethos and pathos, and make sure to focus on counterarguments, which are of central importance to this debate!

HOMEWORK Bring in any sources you will use for the class debate Class debates begin on Wednesday Classical Argument First Draft 500+ words and 3+ sources Due by Monday or your conference time, whichever comes first Journal Entry 29 Focus: CA Source Evaluation 2 Find the second source you will use for your classical argument essay Read and analyze the source. Sum up the argument it makes or find its thesis statement and write it here Identify the source as supporting your view, supporting an opposing view, or providing neutral background information Finally, play the Believing and Doubting Game to find the strongest and weakest elements of the source.