Fallacies

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 the Justin Beiber.

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CVbku6nxhU

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnpqG3h6pY8

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ktgBpdy99c

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U

g75diEyiA0&list=PL2Rf1R6EcGZTov9OQUWpwaA7xczA7cXRF

Evading the Issue

• Refuting an objection with arguments and evidence that do not address its central point.

• Yes, I broke my promise to not raise taxes, but taxes have paid for your new highways.

• 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.

• I know I’ll pass math. Mr. Gray is my math teacher and my football coach.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRJUvFG8gbE

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M

TbZoKEOkUg

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60NSO9pJyVI

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGLHlvb8skQ&list=PL4CC0F6415CD51AC4

Testimonial

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

• Proactive-Jessica Simpson• Gatorade-Michael Jordan• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq

_EZjhHaDY

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JABV8Sez45s

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0

Appeal to Loyalty

• Relies on people’s affiliation with a particular group

• This car is made in America by Americans.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wa_6g9WNgU

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92kPKbXHqss

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2Cz5dZOtAc

Review1. Camaro - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvmOYqVUGuI2. Axe - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clmr9JUyTIc3. Chicken - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y-cxdruYQc

4. Coke - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMo6o0BtFG85. Dove - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U6. Hulu - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHiJ7v18-EM7. Mac - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoGnOscqyg8&list=PLD9A1DEAE38815CBB8. Grey Poupon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmannAYiwh09. Pepsi- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po0jY4WvCIc10. Gatorade – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0AGiq9j_Ak11. McDonald’s - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oACRt-Qp-s12. Hanes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuNUbAkJajE13. Smoking - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfAxUpeVhCg14. Subway - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxqRg2Nohso&list=PLD9A1DEAE38815CBB15. ASPCA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO9d2PpP7tQ16. Chevrolet Truck - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPgEBRAgcIQ17. Brain Food - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX6ngMias7w18. Infiniti - http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2qPbSal3fI&list=PL2Rf1R6EcGZTov9OQUWpwaA7xczA7cXRF

19. Doritos - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhMaUiufjcU20. Sleaziest Political Ads - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDT-LN5-Edw

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. Bandwagon, testimonial., transfer, glittering genrality10. Gatorade – Transfer, bandwagon, glittering generality, false analogy11. McDonald’s - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oACRt-Qp-s12. Hanes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuNUbAkJajE13. Smoking – appeal to fear14. Subway – appeal to vanity, 15. ASPCA – appeal to pity16. Chevrolet Truck - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPgEBRAgcIQ17. Brain Food – appeal to vanity, 18. Infiniti -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2qPbSal3fI&list=PL2Rf1R6EcGZTov9OQUWpwaA7xczA7cXRF

19. Doritos - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhMaUiufjcU20. Sleaziest Political Ads – name- calling