Rhetorical Fallacies

This happens when someone diverts the attention of the audience from the real issue or the matter at hand.

• ad hominem

• circular reasoning

• bandwagon

• ignoring the question

What is the either/or fallacy?

• It is when the argument suggests that because a large number of people have adopted a solution we should, too.

• It is when we have to make a rushed conclusion without considering other sides of the argument.

• It is when we believe something is true just because it hasn't been disproven.

• It is when the argument suggests that there are only two options or potential outcomes

What is an example of an appeal to ignorance?

• Nobody has proven that Bigfoot doesn't exist, so therefore Bigfoot exists.

• 1 billion people were served at McDonald's last year, so therefore McDonald's serves delicious food and we should eat there, too.

• Would you rather eat chicken at lunch today or starve?

• That student is wearing the same clothes as yesterday, so therefore that is the student's favorite outfit.

What is an example of ad hominem?

• You can either eat what the cafeteria is serving or starve.

• Mrs. Moe's argument about how we are responsible for completing the assignment is invalid because she is wearing an ugly scarf.

• Mrs. Moe has a Starbucks drink today so that means she will not go to Caribou and then Caribou will go out of business.

The straw man fallacy is ...

• is the same as the bandwagon fallacy

• when an argument has only two possible solutions but you are led to believe there are more so you can no longer track the argument

• when a debater constructs a more easily defeated version of his opponent's position to attack, rather than addressing his real arguments

Using a personal experience or an isolated example instead of a sound argument or compelling evidence

• Anecdote

• Stereotypes

• Loaded Language

• Bandwagon Appeals

The assumption that the opinion of the majority is always valid: that is, everyone believes it, so you should too.

• Loaded Language

• Stereotypes

• Bandwagon Appeals

• Sweeping Generalizations

The reasoner begins with what they're trying to end with

• Circular Reasoning

• Bandwagon Appeals

• Loaded Language

• Anecdote

I need your voice. So I want to know---are you fired up?

Audience: Fired up!

President: Ready to go?

Audience: Ready to go!

President: Fired up?

Audience: Fired up!

• Circular Reasoning

• Anecdote

• Bandwagon Appeals

• Loaded Language

Young people it's about what kind of country you want to be. We are the only nation on earth that leaves millions of people without health insurance. We spend more than any country on Earth, but we're not any healthier for it. So this is about what kind of country you want your children to grow up in.

• Bandwagon Appeal

• Circular Reasoning

• Anecdote

• Loaded Language