Name that Fallacy
This fallacy is directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.
What is an Ad Hominem ?
1. In an essay about social media's effects on teenagers, which statement would most likely be the central claim?
A. Teenagers use many different social media platforms
B. Social media significantly impacts teenage mental health
C. The first social media platform was created in 2004
D. Some teenagers post daily on their accounts
What is B?
A claim is a statement of your opinion?
What is True?
A logical fallacy that occurs when someone claims something is true because many people believe it or do it.
What is the Bandwagon fallacy?
1. What is the central claim of a text?
A. The main idea that the author proves or defends throughout the text
B. A summary of all the supporting details
C. The first sentence of each paragraph
D. The conclusion paragraph of the text
What is A? The main idea the author proves or defends throughout the text
A logical fallacy that occurs when a conclusion is made based on a small sample of people or a single incident
What is a Hasty Generalization ?
2. In a research paper about fast food consumption, which statement would most likely be the central claim?
A. McDonald's opened its first restaurant in 1940
B. Many teenagers eat fast food weekly
C. Fast food restaurants offer different menu items
D. Fast food consumption is directly linked to rising obesity rates
What is D?
Other names for claim include: thesis statement, main idea, and opinion
What is true?
A fallacy that leads to something unacceptable, wrong, or disastrous based on a chain reaction.
What is Slippery Slope?
2. Which statement best identifies a central claim?
A. The battle lasted for three days
B. Social media negatively impacts teenage mental health
C. The author uses many statistics
D. Chapter 3 discusses technology
What is B? Social media negatively impacts teenage mental health
The fallacy where a clue or piece of information is meant to mislead or distract from the actual issue.
What is Red Herring?
3. In an essay about video game addiction, which statement would most likely be the central claim?
A. Many teenagers own gaming consoles
B. The first video game was created in 1958
C. Video games are causing significant behavioral changes in youth
D. Some people play games for entertainment
What is C?
Every claim should include a topic and opinion only.
What is false? A claim should include topic + opinion + reasons
A fallacy used to misrepresent someone's argument to make it easier to attack.
What is Strawman?
3. When identifying a central claim, what should you look for?
A. Only facts and statistics
B. The longest paragraph
C. An arguable position that the text supports
D. The most interesting sentence
What is C? An arguable position that the text supports
The fallacy where charged language and feelings are used to persuade the audience to accept a conclusion
What is the Overly Emotional Fallacy?
4. In a study about youth sports, which statement would most likely be the central claim?
A. Baseball is played in many countries
B. Some children practice sports after school
C. Organized sports significantly enhance children's development
D. The first Little League was founded in 1939
What is C?
A claim statement should include the phrase "I believe" or "In my opinion."
What is false? A claim statement should sound like a statement
A logical fallacy where someone uses the opinion of a person who is not a legitimate expert on the topic at hand to support their argument.
What is Appeal to False Authority?
4. In academic writing, a central claim is most similar to:
A. A thesis statement
B. A topic sentence
C. A transition phrase
D. A concluding sentence
What is A? A thesis statement