LOGICAL FALLACIES

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LOGICAL FALLACIES

• Critical Reading
• 10th Grade Graduation Standard

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1. Logical Fallacies

• Strategies and techniques used by writers to
  persuade readers and viewers.

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2. Appeal to Ignorance

• Pretending evidence against your argument doesnt
  exist.
• Example Show me one study that proves seat belts
  save lives.

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3. Appeal to Pity

• Telling a sad story to sway your audience.
• Example Animal testing is wrong just imagine
  all the long, sad faces of the helpless animals
  being tested on!

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4. The Bandwagon

• Join the bandwagon! No matter where it is going!!
• Example Everyone feels that students need a
  shorter school day. Everyone cant be wrong!

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5. Broad Generalization

• Making a generalization with too little evidence.
• Example All teenagers spend too much time
  watching TV.

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6. Circular Thinking

• Proving your point by restating your point.
• Example Students should have shorter school days
  so they dont have to be in school as long.

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7. Either Or Thinking

• Giving the readers only two options on which to
  base their opinion.
• Example
• America Love it or leave it.

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8. Oversimplification

• Making an issue that is complex too simple--not
  showing all the sides.
• Example To be successful in life, you simply
  need a nice smile.

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9. Testimonial

• Using an opinion from someone who is not
  qualified to give an expert opinion in that area.
• Example I am a doctor, but I play one on TV.

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10. Appeal to Fear

• Using fear to persuade people.
• Example The last thing you want to ruin your
  day is bad breath.

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11. Card-Stacking

• Stacking your points to persuade
  readers/listeners.
• Example No money down, no interest, and no
  payments until Aug, 2004.

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12. Transfer-Association

• Like testimonial, people will transfer positive
  feelings about a celebrity with a product.
• Example Britney Spears ads for Pepsi.

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13. Half-Truth

• Same as Appeal to Ignorance--Looking only at one
  side of an issue and not acknowledging the other
  side

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14. Glittering Generality

• Positive connotations usually appealing to
  patriot feelings.
• Example If elected, I will make the American
  dream a reality.

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15. Plain Folks

• Writing, speaking, or advertising geared towards
  the average Joe.
• Example Im just a simple man looking for an
  easy way to do laundry.

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16. Snob Appeal

• Opposite of plain folks, geared toward the
  high-class elite.
• Example For the top line of hair products, get
  the best AVEDA.

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17. Name-Calling

• Labels or names given to viewers listeners and/or
  readers.
• Example Any idiot can see that using this
  calling plan will save you money.