1. 10.RI08
I can analyze and evaluate specific claims in a text to determine if the reasoning is valid and the evidence fully supports the claim.

2. What are Parts of an Argument?
ISSUE - problem or controversy about which people disagree
Ex: Athletes’ salaries

3. What is a claim?
the position on the issue
Ex: Athletes are overpaid.

4. What is support?
reasons that the claim is reasonable and should be accepted
These are “mini” claims that usually become topic sentences under the central claim.
Ex: We value entertainment more than health and safety.

5. What is evidence?
consists of facts, statistics, experiences, comparisons, and examples that show why the claim is valid (MAIDS).
Ex: Average annual salary of nurses is $70,000 compared to $2 -$5 million annual salary of athletes.

6. What is a counterargument?
a viewpoint that opposes the main argument
Ex: Careers of athletes are short which means a smaller window of time to earn money

7. What is a rebuttal? a refutation or disapproval of the counterargument
Ex: Many former pros can go on to lucrative jobs like coaches, sports commentators, or public speakers.

8. What are Logical Fallacies?
Flaws in an argument
Often subtle
Learning to recognize these will:
Strengthen your own arguments
Help you critique other’s arguments

9. Hasty Generalization
A generalization based on insufficient or unrepresented evidence
Example: Even though it's only the first day, I can tell this is going to be a boring course.
In this example, the author is basing his evaluation of the entire course on only the first day, which is notoriously boring and full of housekeeping tasks for most courses. To make a fair and reasonable evaluation the author must attend not one but several classes, and possibly even examine the textbook, talk to the professor, or talk to others who have previously finished the course in order to have sufficient evidence to base a conclusion on.

10. False Causality (Post Hoc)
The assumption that because one event follows another, the first is the cause of the second.
Since Governor Smith took office, unemployment for minorities in the state has decreased by seven percent. Governor Smith should be applauded for reducing unemployment among minorities.

11. Ad Hominem (Argument against the Person )
An attack on the character of the person rather than his/her argument.
Senator Jones was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, so his proposal to limit military spending has no merit.

12. “Either… or” Fallacy
The suggestion that only two alternatives exist when in fact there are more.
Either learn how to program a computer, or you won’t be able to get a decent job after college.

13. Ad Populum (Bandwagon Appeal)
A claim that an idea should be accepted because a large number of people favor it or believe it to be true.
Everyone knows that smoking marijuana is physically addictive and psychologically harmful.

14. False Analogy
The assumption that because two things are alike in some respects, they are alike in others.
If we put humans on the moon, we should be able to find a cure for the common cold.

15. Slippery Slope
This is a conclusion based on the premise that if A happens, then eventually through a series of small steps, through B, C,..., X, Y, Z will happen, too, basically equating A and Z. So, if we don't want Z to occur, A must not be allowed to occur either.
If we ban Hummers because they are bad for the environment eventually the government will ban all cars, so we should not ban Hummers.

16. Oversimplification

17. Ad populum

18. Circular reasoning

19. Either/Or

20. Credits
Annenberg Public Policy Center (2008). Monty Python and the Quest for the Perfect Fallacy. Retrieved from Hacker, D. (1999). A Writer’s Reference, 4th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins. Mike, H. B. (1999). Language and Logic. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing, Wheeler, K. (2008). Logical fallacies handlist. Retrieved from Many thanks to Shawn Mole for providing much of the condensed research.

21. Self-Contradiction
When the argument is self-contradictory and cannot possible be true.
I don’t care what you believe as long as you don’t harm others.
The arguer must always care if the person believes something that will harm others or not.

22. *Circular Reasoning
An argument in which the writer, instead of applying evidence simply restates the point in other language.
Students should not be allowed to park in lots now reserved for faculty because those lots should be for faculty only.