1. CM 220 Unit 2 Seminar General Education, Composition Kaplan University 1

2. Today’s agenda Thesis workshop Logical fallacy discussion Discussion about graphic cigarette warning labels article 2

3. UNIT 2 reading Unit 2 overview with discussion of advertising and deceptive argument The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing, pp. 5-6 in ch. 1 (logical fallacy chart), pp. 36-43 in ch. 6 [NOTE: the reading assignment listed when you click the reading icon is incorrect] Fallacy Gallery [posted in Doc Sharing, unit 2 folder] Netemeyer, Andrews, and Burton article on antismoking advertising [available in Kaplan library, Academic Search Premier database] O’Hegarty, et. al article on cigarette warning labels [find link at end of overview reading] 3

4. Unit 2 activities Invention Lab: Develop research questions and a potential working thesis statement Project: “Elevator pitch” of big idea and research strategy Tech Lab: Slide presentations, traditional and animated options 4

5. Tech Lab: Slide Presentations 5

6. What is a THESIS? The main idea expressed in a written or visual work It may be stated or implied The author’s hypothesis or argument encapsulated in a sentence is the THESIS STATEMENT 6

7. Thesis statement A thesis statement is composed of two parts: your topic + some point you want to make about your topic. Once you’ve chosen your topic, find a research question that you’d like to answer. That will give you your point. Without a thesis, your paper lacks direction. 7

8. Research question This is a question YOU would like to answer through your research. It can help you LIMIT your topic/big idea and provide you with a focus for a paper or argument. It should be appropriate to the subject and limitations of the assignment. 8

9. Sample research questions WHO benefits from decreased dependence on foreign oil? WHAT is the best type of alternative fuel vehicle? WHEN is the best time to invest in alternative fuel vehicles? WHERE is the engine in an electric car? HOW does an electric car work? WHY does the US support offshore drilling? SHOULD the US government offer tax incentives? 9

10. Research question to thesis Education Public Health Topic/BIG IDEAS How can student performance be improved in public schools? Should health insurance for smokers be more expensive? Research Question/LIMITATION Adopting an all year school schedule will improve student performance. Insurance premiums for smokers should not be increased. Thesis/POSITION 10

11. Preliminary thesis (hypothesis) This is your INITIAL argument, what you think may be the answer to your research question. Remember that a preliminary thesis CAN and WILL change. It will be TESTED and REFINED through research. If you are arguing a position, that position should be clear in the thesis. Good persuasive thesis statements often include clauses beginning with “since, because, therefore” that indicate why you feel something should or should not be done. 11

12. Thesis workshop Share your ideas. What are some potential BIG IDEAS you might like to focus on this term? What are some possible RESEARCH QUESTIONS you might like to explore with this topic? What are some PRELIMINARY THESIS STATEMENTS you might wish to pursue? 12

13. What is an ARGUMENT? An argument is an issue that has at least TWO SIDES. In order to present your side of the argument, you must know the various positions on your issue. If you don’t know the arguments for the other side, you leave yourself open to be blindsided by an attack. This is true for everything in life 13

14. What is a DECEPTIVE ARGUMENT? Deceptive arguments may mislead you, causing you to believe the wrong information. Because deceptive arguments often confuse and distract people, they may take attention from important issues. Deceptive arguments are often more emotionally charged, gaining bigger headlines. 14

15. Recognizing and Avoiding Deceptive Arguments When researching, you need to read the information carefully and to apply your best critical thinking skills to what the author is saying. Analyze and find the “holes” in the arguments that you are reading. Decide which arguments are valid and which are not. With practice, you will become better at detecting deceptive arguments. 15

16. Logical fallacies Bandwagon Slanters Persuasive Definitions Personal Attacks Post Hoc Scare Tactics Slippery Slope 16 Strawman Testimonials Generalizations Categorical Statements Begging the Question False Analogy Appeal to Authority

17. Bandwagon: the idea that everybody does it or believes it 80 percent of Americans dislike the idea of increased taxes; therefore, the government should reduce taxes in order to improve our economy. What is weak in this argument? 17

18. ‘Prove’ anything you want! If the survey question says, “Do you like or dislike the idea of increased taxes?” Well, I bet we can do better than a lowly 80%, don’t you? Why not aim for 100%? 18

19. Slippery Slope: If A happens, then B will occur If we break one rule, first thing you know, everyone will be breaking all the rules. First it’s taking the tops off Oreos, then it’s eating them without dipping them in milk, then it’s buying store-brand sandwich cookies, and before you know it, civilization as we know it is over. What is weak in this argument? 19

20. The sky is falling, the sky is falling! Sometimes we all think the worst, or the best, or just can’t seem to get off the tracks that lead to absurdity. Because, after all, if the dominoes start falling, we’ll never get them stopped…unless we take one domino out. Take one absurdity out, and suddenly the sky isn’t falling anymore! 20

21. Ad hominem: an attack on the character of a person rather than her/his opinions or arguments Green Peace's strategies aren't effective because they are all liberals and hippies. What is weak in this argument? 21

22. Post hoc ergo propter hoc: assumes that if 'A' occurred after 'B' then 'B' must have caused 'A.' After President Clinton raised taxes, our economy went into decline; therefore the increase in taxes caused our economic downturn. What is weak in this argument? 22

23. Appeal to Authority: If X says so, it must be so. President Ronald Reagan supported the death penalty; therefore, we should continue to support capital punishment. What is weak in this argument? 23

24. Begging the Question: accept this conclusion without evidence (also may present an argument where the premise and conclusion are the same) Active euthanasia is morally acceptable. It is a decent, ethical thing to help another human being escape suffering through death. What is weak in this argument? 24

25. Applying what you know... Let’s review the article by O’Hegarty, et al. The article concludes that the U.S. should use graphic warnings on cigarette packages because these are likely to be effective in encouraging people not to smoke. Is their research valid? Does it have any weaknesses? Could the hypothesis be tested further? Would the use of graphic warnings be an example of the “appeal to fear” fallacy and, if so, would using them in an anti-smoking campaign be ethical? What were drawbacks that study participants noted with some of the ads? Does their argument rely on any LOGICAL FALLACIES? 25

26. Canadian warnings 26

27. How do we AVOID fallacies in our own writing? Imagine you disagree with your own argument. Which of your arguments would not convince you and why? Which arguments are “fishy” or weak? List your argument. List the evidence you provide for each claim. Look critically at this evidence. Ask yourself which fallacies you are prone to make. Look for these in your arguments. Review your argument for absolutes and sweeping generalizations (all, every, never, always) Review the types of Logical Fallacies listed in the handbook on pp. 5-6 and review your argument for these problems. 27