Debate and Argument Fallacies Quiz

Why might someone use a fallacy in a debate or argument?

• To ensure their argument is supported by facts and evidence.

• To distract the audience from weak reasoning in their argument.

• To focus on the claim of the argument.

• To demonstrate their reasoning and improve the logic of the argument.

Jamie suggests that the school cafeteria should include a salad bar to cater to students with different diets. Alex responds, "What if I don’t want to be a vegetarian? I should be allowed to make my own choices!" Which of the following fallacies is represented by the scenario above?

• Straw man fallacy

• Red herring fallacy

• False equivalence fallacy

• Appeal to emotion fallacy

What is the best way to rewrite a logical fallacy so that it provides logical reasoning?

• Add evidence that focuses on emotions to make the argument more relatable.

• Replace exaggerated or distracting language with evidence that supports the claim.

• Focus on criticizing the opponent's main argument to distract from your own reasoning.

• Compare different topics to add detail to make it more convincing for the audience.

Read the question carefully. Then enter your answer in the space provided. The student council suggests creating a rewards program for students with perfect attendance to encourage consistent participation in school. One student council member responds, "If we reward students for perfect attendance, we’re basically saying that students who get sick or have family emergencies aren’t as valuable. Do we really want to send the message that only students who never miss a day are worth recognizing?" How could the student council respond to the suggestion using logical reasoning?

• Think about how heartbroken a sick child would feel, knowing they can never win this reward. It’s just cruel to those who can’t control their circumstances.

• Rewarding perfect attendance is like saying students who get sick or face emergencies are less committed than those who don’t.

• Rewarding perfect attendance can encourage participation, but it may overlook challenges like illness or emergencies. A better approach could recognize effort once students are present in class.

• The students that get sick won’t care about the rewards program anyway.

Identify the fallacy in the text, and rewrite it so that it provides logical reasoning. Support your answer with evidence from the text.