Fallacies

Love is a Fallacy

• http://safeshare.tv/w/GHCvzQQsLU

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.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/ZmZFEOhlbV

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.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/mMbPUiIHwk

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.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/DJjKaOUeEs

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. • http://safeshare.tv/w/bcJSiXpgxD

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!

• http://screen.yahoo.com/broken-news-daily/teachers-hilarious-response-awful-exam-224511848.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.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/TRKivAKTGn

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.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/CNZtvvyKrR

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.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/zurHtCcAve

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.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/mQQQmwLGcd

Testimonial

• Relies on endorsements from well-known people or celebrities.

• Proactive-Jessica Simpson• Gatorade-Michael Jordan• http://safeshare.tv/w/yuhHTXhvTb

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.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/HossgoHPlI

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.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/ykLnOPgQWH

Appeal to Loyalty

• Relies on people’s affiliation with a particular group

• This car is made in America by Americans.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/PCZDQVyVGa

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.

• http://safeshare.tv/w/wEQpaVPtdQ• http://safeshare.tv/w/yyTqCtnMZx

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!

• http://safeshare.tv/w/jJdVQDGwku

Review1. Camaro - http://safeshare.tv/w/DJReZbYKsR2. Axe - http://safeshare.tv/w/LytLFWXeNG3. Chicken - http://safeshare.tv/w/oDZOeYnhOA

4. Coke - http://safeshare.tv/w/toiHvngCuM5. Dove - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U6. Hulu - http://safeshare.tv/w/GArBdojZlw7. Mac - http://safeshare.tv/w/OuvlVSCXDf8. Grey Poupon - http://safeshare.tv/w/oDjEoXAFlU9. Pepsi- http://safeshare.tv/w/ZFGEaMDHhh10. Gatorade – http://safeshare.tv/w/mYwiLXtarV11. McDonald’s - http://safeshare.tv/w/JbtvEXpXwP12. Hanes - http://safeshare.tv/w/twvUyIztdL13. Smoking - http://safeshare.tv/w/DLAWyqIGDJ14. Subway – http://safeshare.tv/w/CxEqImtrMA15. ASPCA - http://safeshare.tv/w/DYvoVjrMfg16. Chevrolet Truck - http://safeshare.tv/w/VeNxKBcQvn17. Brain Food - http://safeshare.tv/w/DIukLRxOtn18. Infiniti - http://safeshare.tv/w/unKLnrciDQ19. Doritos - http://safeshare.tv/w/cgzeJiwFAk20. Sleaziest Political Ads - http://safeshare.tv/w/FYWIiMnHSn

Answers1. Camaro – Either/ Or, Appeal to Loyalty, Glittering Generality, Transfer 2. Axe – False Cause, Oversimplification, stereotyping, hast generalization, bandwagon3. Chicken - stereotyping4. Coke - Either/ Or, appeal to loyalty, glittering generality5. Dove - Appeal to vanity, transfer, evading the issue6. Hulu – False Analogy, Testimonial, appeal to emotion7. Mac – either/ or., name-calling, 8. Grey Poupon – Snob Appeal 9. Pepsi - Bandwagon, testimonial., transfer, glittering genrality10. Gatorade – Transfer, bandwagon, glittering generality, false analogy11. McDonald’s – testimonial, 12. Hanes - testimonial13. Smoking – appeal to fear14. Subway – appeal to vanity, 15. ASPCA – appeal to pity16. Chevrolet Truck - ethos, oversimplification, snob appeal17. Brain Food – appeal to vanity, 18. Infiniti – false analogy, snob appeal19. Doritos - bandwagon20. Sleaziest Political Ads – name- calling,