2/28 ELA II Argument Fallacies

Give an example of the False Dilemma Fallacy.

• Choosing between chocolate and vanilla ice cream

• Picking between studying for 10 hours a day or failing all your classes

• An example of the False Dilemma Fallacy is when a politician says, 'You're either with us, or you're against us.' This presents a false dilemma by suggesting that there are only two options, when in reality there could be a variety of positions or opinions in between.

• Deciding to either go to the gym every day or never exercise at all

Explain the Post Hoc fallacy with an example.

• After the town installed more streetlights, crime rates dropped. Therefore, the new streetlights caused the reduction in crime.

• Following the introduction of a new teaching method, student performance improved. Therefore, the new teaching method caused the improvement in performance.

• After a company implemented a wellness program, employee productivity increased. Therefore, the wellness program caused the increase in productivity.

• An example of the Post Hoc fallacy is: 'The country implemented new economic policies and then the economy improved. Therefore, the new economic policies caused the economy to improve.'

During a debate on animal rights, one speaker brings up a story of a single suffering puppy to sway the audience's opinion. How does this tactic relate to the Appeal to Pity fallacy?

• It manipulates emotions by appealing to the audience's intelligence

• It manipulates emotions by using logical reasoning and evidence

• It manipulates emotions by appealing to the audience's emotions rather than presenting a valid argument.

• It manipulates emotions by presenting a strong and valid argument

Consider a city council debating the installation of a new playground in a local park. An opponent argues, 'If we allow this playground to be built, next they'll want to add a water park, then an amusement park, and before we know it, our quiet neighborhood will be overrun with traffic and noise.' What fallacy is being used in this argument?

• The Slippery Slope fallacy is a type of dessert made with layers of slippery ingredients

• The Slippery Slope fallacy is a type of weather phenomenon that causes roads to become slippery and dangerous

• The Slippery Slope fallacy is a logical fallacy where one asserts that a relatively small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of related events resulting in some significant impact or event. It is used in arguments by exaggerating the potential consequences of an action in order to persuade others to avoid it.

• The Slippery Slope fallacy is a popular dance move used in arguments to distract the opponent

Provide an example of the Hasty Generalization fallacy.

• Drawing a conclusion about a whole group based on a small sample size.

• Concluding that all teenagers are lazy because you know a few who are.

• Assuming all birds can fly because you've only seen sparrows and robins fly.

• Believing all politicians are corrupt because of a few scandals.