Logical Fallacy

Attacking the person rather than argument 

Ex: My opponent should not be elected mayor because he had an affair five years ago. 

• 1. appeal to faulty/doubtful authority

• 1. ad hominem 

• 1. false analogy 

• 1. circular reasoning and begging the question

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Appeal to doubtful authority is the treatment of a non expert as an expert 

Ex:Michael Jordan uses Colgate toothpaste, so you should too.

• 1. false analogy 

• 1. circular reasoning and begging the question

• 1. appeal to faulty/doubtful authority

• 1. false dilemma 

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Comparing two things that have nothing to do with each other. 

Ex:Choosing not to do homework is like choosing not to brush your teeth: The long-term consequences outweigh the short-term benefits. 

• circular reasoning and begging the question

• 1. false analogy 

• 1. false dilemma 

•  hasty or sweeping generalization

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Restates the argument or claim rather than proving 

Assuming something is true with no effect 

Ex: Bigfoot isn’t real because there is no proof of his existence. 

•  hasty or sweeping generalization

• false dilemma

• non sequitur

• circular reasoning and begging the question

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

 Only two options as consequences for any particular choice

Ex:We either have to cut Medicare or leave a huge debt for our children. 

• false dilemma

•  hasty or sweeping generalization

• non sequitur

• post hoc, ergo propter hoc

To small to draw a fair conclusion

Ex:My friend’s sister is a terrible driver which proves that all girls are bad drivers.

• non sequitur

• red herring

• 1. hasty or sweeping generalization 

• post hoc, ergo propter hoc

Conclusion has no connection to the premises  

Ex:I love tomatoes, so I’m going to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese.

• slippery slope

• 1. post hoc, ergo propter hoc

• red herring

• non sequitur

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

An assumption based on the past that relates together in a way 

Ex: When I study for tests, I fail them. When I don’t study for tests, I pass. Therefore, I am not going to study for tests anymore.

• post hoc, ergo propter hoc

•  red herring

• ad populum

• slippery slope

 Switched the focus from the original argument  

Ex: Moderator: Candidate, our city has faced corruption issues at City Hall for the past three decades. How do you plan to combat corruption in city government?

Participant: I have a multistep plan for combating corruption, and I also have a ten-point plan for reducing emissions. The first step in that ten-point environmental plan is . . .

-Grammarly.com

• ad populum

• slippery slope

•  straw-man argument

• red herring

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Exaggerates the potential consequences of an event or choice.

Ex: If you don’t let me go out tonight, I will lose all my friends. If I lose all my friends, I’m not going to graduate.

• ad populum

• 1. slippery slope 

•  straw-man argument

• 1. ad hominem 

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1