Using Sources
The CAARP Test
Fallacies by Definition
Name that Fallacy
Grab Bag
100
This is best used when HOW something is said is as important as WHAT is said.
What is a quotation?
100
The "R" in "CAARP," asking "Does this relate to your topic" or "Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is the one you will use" helps to evaluate this.
What is relevance?
100
Exaggerating possible dangers well beyond their statistical likelihood
What are scare tactics?
100
If we make medical marijuana legal that will lead to legalizing the drug; eventually heroin and cocaine will be legal too.
What is slippery slope?
100
"Attacking the person" (rather than their argument or position)
What is ad hominem?
200
This distills a lengthy piece of writing into a condensed form in order to convey the basic idea.
What is a summary?
200
One of the "A"s in "CAARP," you could ask "Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given" to evaluate this.
What is authority?
200
Discrediting an opponent by associating him or her with an unpopular group, person, or idea
What is guilt by association?
200
Millions of people agree with me, so I must be right.
What is bandwagon?
200
Argument is a form of _________.
What is inquiry?
300
A paragraph should (almost) never begin or end with this.
What is a quotation?
300
One of the "A"s in "CAARP," several questions, such as "Has this information been reviewed or refereed," "Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors," or "Where does this information come from" can help determine this about a source.
What is accuracy?
300
Argument that presents a set of two possible categories and assumes that everything being discussed must be an element of that set
What is false dilemma (either/or)?
300
You don't want to take history from a man. They always have a sexist bias.
What is hasty generalization?
300
"After this" (because B occurred after A, A caused B)
What is post hoc (attributing false cause)?
400
This represents the IDEAS from a source without using the LANGUAGE of the source.
What is paraphrasing?
400
The "P" in "CAARP," questions like "Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases in the source" evaluates this.
What is purpose?
400
Caricaturing a person's argument with the aim of attacking the caricature rather than the actual argument
What is the straw man?
400
People who have to have a cup of coffee every morning before they can function have no less a problem than alcoholics who have to have their alcohol each day to sustain them.
What is faulty analogy?
400
Statements that reasonable people may disagree with; the basis for good arguments
What are arguable claims?
500
Quotes always require this.
What is an introductory clause?
500
The "C" in "CAARP," asking questions such as, "When was this article published" and "Has the information been revised or updated" is a means of evaluating this.
What is currency?
500
An argument that a conclusion must be true because there is no evidence against it.
What is appeal to ignorance?
500
I agree with Alec Baldwin's stance on global warming. He must know what he's talking about, being a famous celebrity and all.
What is appeal to false authority?
500
Reasoning that moves from specific instances to a generalized conclusion. This argument structure works well with an abundance of evidence.
What is inductive?
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