Types of Rhetorical Appeals and Reasoning

What type of reasoning takes a specific representative case or facts and then draws generalizations or conclusions from them?

• Deductive reasoning

• Inductive reasoning

• Abductive reasoning

• Conductive reasoning

What must inductive reasoning be based on to ensure that the facts drawn fairly represent the larger situation or population?

Which of the following is an example of a slippery slope fallacy?

• Banning Hummers will lead to banning all cars

• Genetically modified seeds causing problems in Mexico

• Fair trade agreements with coffee producers working for other farmers

• Evaluating a course as boring after attending several classes

What is a hasty generalization?

• A conclusion based on a reliable generalization

• A conclusion based on a series of logical steps

• A conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence

• A conclusion that equates two unrelated events

What does the term "Post hoc ergo propter hoc" refer to in logical fallacies?

• A conclusion that assumes if 'A' occurred after 'B' then 'B' must have caused 'A'.

• A conclusion that oversimplifies the argument by reducing it to only two sides or choices.

• A conclusion that is based on the origins of a person, idea, institute, or theory to determine its character, nature, or worth.

• The restatement of the argument rather than actually proving it.

Which example illustrates the "Genetic Fallacy"?

• A) "George Bush is a good communicator because he speaks effectively."

• B) "Filthy and polluting coal should be banned."

• C) "The Volkswagen Beetle is an evil car because it was originally designed by Hitler's army."

• D) "I drank bottled water and now I am sick, so the water must have made me sick."

Which of the following is an example of a "Circular Argument"?

• A) "George Bush is a good communicator because he speaks effectively."

• B) "Filthy and polluting coal should be banned."

• C) "The Volkswagen Beetle is an evil car because it was originally designed by Hitler's army."

• D) "I drank bottled water and now I am sick, so the water must have made me sick."

What does the "Either/or" fallacy involve?

• Assuming that if one event chronologically follows another, the first event must have caused the second.

• Equating the character of something with the character of its origins.

• Assuming the argument that should be proved is already proven within the claim.

• Oversimplifying the argument by reducing it to only two sides or choices.

What is an ad hominem rhetorical strategy?

• A strategy that presents only two choices when more exist

• An attack on the character of a person rather than their opinions or arguments

• An emotional appeal that speaks to concepts rather than the real issue at hand

• A diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues

What is an example of a red herring rhetorical strategy?

• Discussing car sharing systems to discourage daily driving

• Attacking the character of individuals in a group

• Equating being a "true American" with a certain belief

• Switching the discussion from food safety to the economic impact on fishermen