Fallacies

Love is a Fallacy

What is wrong with the following sentences? 1.I love Disneyland because I’m always happy there. 2.Everyone on the team wears Nike shoes; it’s the only way to go! 3.I love music, therefore I love Justin Bieber.

Objective To understand what makes a logical fallacy, how to catch someone when they are using one (perhaps to pull a fast-one on you), and how to avoid using them in your own writing and dialogue.

Logical Fallacy A logical fallacy is a statement that contains faulty reasoning. Don’t give your reader a reason to doubt your information. Persuasive writing especially requires sound logic to support opinions.

Circular Reasoning Supporting a statement by simply repeating it in different words. Teens should avoid fad diets, because it is important for adolescents to stay away from weight-loss plans.

Either / Or Fallacy A statement that suggests that there are only 2 choices available in a situation that really offers more than 2 options. Either students should be allowed to go off campus for lunch to Burger King, or they should choose from the cafeteria’s food.

Oversimplification An explanation of a complex situation or problem as if it were much simpler than it is. Making the team depends on whether the coach likes you.

Overgeneralization A broad generalization. No one cares about the story. A little kid might say: “All birds can fly.”

Stereotyping A dangerous type of overgeneralization. All girls can’t play sports. All boys lie and cheat.

Attacking the person or name- calling (poisoning the well) An attempt to discredit an idea by attacking the person or group associated with it. My opponent is not smart enough to be mayor. She is basic.

Evading the Issue Refuting an objection with arguments and evidence that do not address its central point. I know I am late, but you look beautiful. What you do with your parents when you are in trouble! daily/teachers-hilarious-response-awful- exam html daily/teachers-hilarious-response-awful- exam html

Non sequitur (post hoc) A statement that uses irrelevant proof to support a claim. The "After This, Therefore, Because of This" Fallacy Ten minutes after walking into the auditorium, I began to feel sick to my stomach. There must have been something in the air in that building that caused my nausea. The stock market declined shortly after the election of the president, thus indicating the lack of confidence the business community has in the new administration. I know I’ll pass math. Mr. Gray is my math teacher and my football coach.

False Cause The mistake of assuming that because one event occurred after another event in time, the first event caused the second to occur. I failed English because of football.

False Analogy A comparison that doesn’t hold up because of a critical difference between the two subjects. She walks to school and back every day, so surely she can walk in a 10K race.

Hasty Generalization A conclusion drawn from too little evidence or from evidence that is biased. That corner must be dangerous. There were two car accidents there last week.

Bandwagon Appeal Uses the argument that a person should believe or do something because “everyone else” does. The Cardinals are a winning team and everyone likes them so you should to.

Testimonial Relies on endorsements from well-known people or celebrities. Proactive-Jessica Simpson Gatorade-Michael Jordan

Snob Appeal Taps into people’s desire to be special or be part of an elite group. Treat yourself to a tropical paradise because you deserve the best.

Transfer Connects a product, candidate, or cause with a positive emotion or idea. Freedom…you can feel it the instant you put your hands on the new Jeep Wrangler.

Appeal to Loyalty Relies on people’s affiliation with a particular group This car is made in America by Americans.

Appeals to pity, fear, or vanity Use strong feelings rather than facts to persuade. Without more police, we will be at the mercy of thieves.

Glittering Generality Makes a generalization that includes a word or phrase with positive connotations (feelings) to promote a product or idea. A vote for Tom Jones is a vote for democracy!

Review 1.Camaro Axe Chicken Coke Dove Hulu Mac Grey Poupon Pepsi Gatorade – 11.McDonald’s Hanes Smoking Subway – 15.ASPCA Chevrolet Truck Brain Food Infiniti Doritos Sleaziest Political Ads -

Answers 1.Camaro – Either/ Or, Appeal to Loyalty, Glittering Generality, Transfer 2.Axe – False Cause, Oversimplification, stereotyping, hast generalization, bandwagon 3.Chicken - stereotyping 4.Coke - Either/ Or, appeal to loyalty, glittering generality 5.Dove - Appeal to vanity, transfer, evading the issue 6.Hulu – False Analogy, Testimonial, appeal to emotion 7.Mac – either/ or., name-calling, 8.Grey Poupon – Snob Appeal 9.Pepsi - Bandwagon, testimonial., transfer, glittering genrality 10.Gatorade – Transfer, bandwagon, glittering generality, false analogy 11.McDonald’s – testimonial, 12.Hanes - testimonial 13.Smoking – appeal to fear 14.Subway – appeal to vanity, 15.ASPCA – appeal to pity 16.Chevrolet Truck - ethos, oversimplification, snob appeal 17.Brain Food – appeal to vanity, 18.Infiniti – false analogy, snob appeal 19.Doritos - bandwagon 20.Sleaziest Political Ads – name- calling,