Faulty Reasoning Practice

This occurs when a single cause is assumed to have created a problem or an issue. In reality, the problem or issue may have been created by a number of causes.

• Overgeneralization

• Circular Reasoning

• Oversimplification

An assumption is made that one event causes the other.

• False Cause

• Overgeneralization

• Circular Reasoning

The writer (or speaker or ad) supports a claim with restatements of that same claim. The argument goes around and around with the reason making the same claim as the original argument.

• Oversimplification

• Circular Reasoning

• False Cause

The writer reaches conclusions from a limited number of facts. (Look for words such as all, every, and always.)

• False Cause

• Overgeneralization

• Circular Reasoning

Cats are mean spirited animals.

• Oversimplification

• Overgeneralization

• False Cause

Clay Matthews’ long hair is what makes him

a good football player.

• False Cause

• Oversimplification

• Circular Reasoning

The Heat won the second playoff game

because LeBron made some awesome

plays.

• False Cause

• Overgeneralization

• Oversimplification

Giant Pandas are an endangered species

because there aren’t very many of them.

• Oversimplification

• Circular Reasoning

• False Cause

Learning about history is boring because it

is dull.

• Circular Reasoning

• False Cause

• Overgeneralization

Students enjoy summer vacation because

they do not have to do homework.

• Oversimplification

• Overgeneralization

• False Cause