Argument: Evidence, Fallacy, and Bias Vocabulary

Argument: evidence, fallacy, and bias

By Jennifer Richard

Multiple Choice

A logical fallacy directed at a person, rather than at the point he or she is trying to make.

• Straw man

• Ad Hominem

• Slippery Slope

• False Equivalance

Multiple Choice

The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief, proposition or argument is true or valid.

• Evidence

• Assertion

• Sources

• Truth

Multiple Choice

Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

• Evidence

• Truth

• False Equivalence

• Bias

Match

Match the logical fallacy with its definition

• A logical fallacy directed at a person, rather than at the point he or she is trying to make.

• A logical fallacy in which there is an apparent similarity between two things, but they have important differences that are ignored for the purposes of the argument.

• An argument that makes the claim that a relatively small first step will set off a chain reaction leading to disastrous, unavoidable results.

• A logical fallacy in which an either/or proposition is set up when there are actually more options available.

• A logical fallacy that is used when someone appears to be refuting or knocking down an argument when, in fact, they are refuting an argument that is easy to knock down, but doesn’t accurately represent the other side.

Ad Hominem

False Equivalence

Slippery Slope

False Dilemma

Straw Man

• Ad Hominem

• False Equivalence

• Slippery Slope

• False Dilemma

• Straw Man

Multiple Choice

Pieces of journalism that, unlike news reports, do not seek to avoid bias but rather are intended to share an opinion or perspective and, often, to try to persuade the audience to embrace a point of view about an issue or subject. They include op-eds, columns, editorials and editorial or political cartoons. At reputable news organizations, pieces of opinion journalism are still expected to be based on accurate information and should be clearly marked to help the public avoid confusing them with straight news reports.

• Truth

• Opinion Journalism

• Bias

• Evidence

Match

Match the type of bias with its definition

• A type of bias in which the business or advertising interests of a news outlet, or its parent company, influence how — or even whether — a story is reported.

• When assumptions or opinions favoring one side or interpretation of an issue or event skew news reporting in a way that is unfair or distorting. 

• A type of bias in which race, gender, ethnicity or other factors — such as culture or economic class — affect news coverage. 

• The process that news outlets use to decide which issues and events to cover. This is a form that various types of bias can take in news coverage.

• A type of bias in which journalists’ perceptions of an event or development as a major, important story can cause them to rush the story, overlook essential details and misrepresent key facts. 

Corporate Bias

News Media Bias

Demographic Bias

Story Selection Bias

Big Story Bias

• Corporate Bias

• News Media Bias

• Demographic Bias

• Story Selection Bias

• Big Story Bias

Fill in the Blanks

Bias is a type of bias in which the journalists' own political views affect news coverage. 

Multiple Choice

What type of logical fallacy is this argument: "We shouldn’t listen to Jamie’s opinion on school policies because he failed math last year."

• Straw Man

• Slippery Slope

• Ad Hominem

• False Equivilance

Multiple Choice

What type of logical fallacy is this exchange?

Person A: "I think we should have later school start times to help students get more sleep."

Person B: "So you just want students to be lazy and sleep all day instead of learning?"

• Straw Man

• Ad Hominem

• False Equivalence

• False Dilemma

Multiple Choice

What type of logical fallacy is this statement: "If we allow students to use their phones during lunch, soon they’ll be on them in class all the time, and eventually, no one will pay attention to their lessons at all!"

• Straw Man

• False Dilemma

• Ad Hominem

• Slippery Slope

Multiple Choice

What type of logical fallacy is this statement: "Either we ban all junk food in school, or everyone will become unhealthy."?

• False Dilemma

• Ad Hominem

• Slippery Slope

• Straw Man

Multiple Choice

What type of logical fallacy is this statement: "Cheating on a test is no different from asking a friend for homework help."

• Ad Hominem

• False Equivalence

• Strawman

• Slippery Slope