Logical Fallacies
Appeals
Rhetorical Terms
More Rhetorical Terms
General
100
Arguing against the man instead of against the issue. Example: We can’t elect him mayor. He cheats on his wife! Or: He doesn’t really believe in the First Amendment. He just wants to defend his right to hold racist views.
What is ad hominem
100
"It’s a matter of common sense that people deserve to be treated equally. The Constitution calls it ‘self-evident.’ Why, then, should I have been denied a seat because of my disability?"
What is appeal to logos
100
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose"
What is a antithesis
100
arranged in order of climax; withholds important or critical information to make the end information a surprise.
What is a periodic sentence
100
Also called a proposition – answers the question “What are you trying to prove? **Think Toulmin...
What is a claim?
200
The conclusion does not follow logically from the premise. Example: My teacher is pretty; I’ll learn a lot from her. Or: John McCain was a war hero; he’ll be willing to stand tough for America.
What is non sequitur
200
"There’s no price that can be placed on peace of mind. Our advanced security systems will protect the well-being of your family so that you can sleep soundly at night."
What is appeal to pathos
200
An assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, but that may yet have some truth in it.
What is a paradox?
200
two or more ideas, places, characters and their actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts.
What is juxtaposition?
200
What is the average number of sources you MUST use during the synthesis essay?
What is three?
300
A generalization based on too little evidence, or on evidence that is biased. Example: All men are testosterone-driven idiots. Or: After being in New York for a week, I can tell you: all New Yorkers are rude.
What is hasty generalization
300
"Better men than us have fought and died to preserve this great nation. Now is our turn to return the favor. For God and country, gentlemen!"
What is appeal to pathos
300
On his return he received medals, honors, treasures, titles, fame
What is asyndeton?
300
The meal was huge – my mother fixed okra and green beans and ham and apple pie and green pickled tomatoes and ambrosia salad and all manner of fine country food – but no matter how I tried, I could not consume it to her satisfaction.
What is polysyndeton?
300
Having identical or very similar sentence structure. Example: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
What is parallel structure?
400
Asserting a point that has just been made. Sometimes called “circular reasoning.” Example: She is ignorant because she was never educated. Or: We sin because we’re sinners.
What is begging the question
400
"You don’t need to jump off a bridge to know that it’s a bad idea. Why then would you need to try drugs to know if they’re damaging? That’s plain nonsense."
What is appeal to logos
400
“When the enemy struck on that June day of 1950, what did America do? It did what it always has done in all its times of peril. It appealed to the heroism of its youth"
What is hypophora?
400
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. Ex: The weather is great today; let's make the most of it by going to the beach.
What is antecedent?
400
What type of examples should you use on the argument essay? Which type of examples shouldn't you use?
What are examples from literature, history, pop culture, current events general examples
500
The mistake of assuming that, because event a is followed by event b, event a caused event b. Example: It rained today because I washed my car. Or: The stock market fell because the Japanese are considering implementing an import tax.
What is post hoc
500
"If my age doesn’t convince you that my opinion matters, at least consider that I am your grandfather and I love you dearly."
What is appeal to ethos
500
We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.”
What is anaphora?
500
when a writer raises an irrelevant issue to draw attention away from the real issue
What is a red herring?
500
What is your main focus during the rhetorical analysis essay? (What are you tasked with?)
What is analyze an author's argument - identifying rhetorical strategies that an author uses to structure his/her argument
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