1. Logical Fallacies
Invalid Arguments

2. Slippery Slope
If A happens, then through small steps more things will happen (B, C, D…. X, Y) all the way to Z. So if we don’t want Z to happen then we can’t do A.
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.

3. Hasty Generalization Vocab: Hasty = quick, generalization = conclusion
Rushing to a conclusion before you have all the relevant facts.
Example: Even though it's only the first day, I can tell this is going to be a boring course.
Example: Fred, the Australian, stole my wallet. Thus, all Australians are thieves

4. Circular Argument/Begging the Question
Restates the argument rather than actually proving it.
Example: John is a good communicator because he speaks effectively.
Example: You can’t give me a C, I’m an A student

5. Ad Hominem (personal attack)
This is an attack on the character of a person rather than her/his opinions or arguments.
Example: Green Peace's strategies aren't effective because they are all dirty, lazy hippies.
Example: We should discount what Steve Forbes says about cutting taxes because he stands to benefit from a lower tax rate.
Example: I don’t care what you think- you’re too young

6. Ad Populum/Bandwagon/ Appeal to Populartity
Emotional appeal to positive (such as patriotism, religion, democracy) or negative (such as terrorism or fascism) concepts rather than the real issue at hand.
“Everyone knows that ______ so this must be true”
Example: If you were a true American you would support the rights of people to choose whatever vehicle they want.
Example: Since 88% of the people polled believed in UFOs, they must exist

7. Red Herring
Distraction tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding opposing arguments rather than addressing them.
Example: The level of mercury in seafood may be unsafe, but what will fishers do to support their families?
Example: Girlfriend asks, “Honey, does this dress make me look fat?” Boyfriend replies, “Say, babe, your hair is really gorgeous! And those earrings are a knock-out!”

8. Straw Man
Oversimplifies/ignores the other side’s viewpoint and then attacks it.
(Creates a man made of straw that can easily be knocked down)
Example: People who don't support the proposed state minimum wage increase hate the poor.
Example: “Senator Jones says that we should not fund the attack submarine program.  I disagree entirely.  I can’t understand why he wants to leave us defenseless like that.”

9. Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc:
Vocab: Latin, "after this, therefore because of this"
Assumes that if 'A' occurred after 'B' then 'B' must have caused 'A.’ (mistake of thinking correlation implies causation)
Example: I drank bottled water and now I am sick, so the water must have made me sick.
Example: Michelle’s mother is an English teacher, so that’s why Michelle got an A in Language Arts

10. Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc: If A then B, then B must have caused A
Straw Man: Oversimplifying the argument
Red Herring: Talking about something unrelated
Ad Populum/Bandwagon/Appeal to Populartity: Appeal to the masses
Ad Hominem: Attacking the person
Circular Argument/Begging the Question: Restating the question rather than proving
Hasty Generalization: Jumping to conclusions
Slippery Slope: If this happens all these other things will happen