Janet believes that she failed the big test because she left her lucky pencil at home.
What is False Cause?
100
Using information from sources that have something to gain or lose from the ideas presented.
What is Using Sources that Reflect Bias?
100
The author explains away evidence that does not support his/her claim.
What is Poisoning the Well?
100
The majority of people like soda. Therefore, soda is good.
What is Appealing to the People.
100
Asserting something about all of the parts when it is only generally true of the whole.
What is Division?
200
Raymond believes that spiders play no positive role in the world. Jack tells him that, in fact, spiders play a very important roll by eating annoying insects. Raymond replies, "It doesn't matter. Spiders are creepy."
What is Poisoning the Well?
200
Using a generalization in a situation where it can not be properly applied.
What is Misapplying a Concept or Generalization?
200
The author restates his/her claim in the justification.
What is Begging the Question?
200
I've had a really bad week and I've been sick. That's why I missed the deadline for my assignment.
What is Appealing to Emotion?
200
Saying negative or derogatory things about someone to disprove their claim.
What is Arguing Against the Person?
300
Clearly, the United States is a more powerful country than Canada because Canada has less world influence than the United States.
What is Begging the Question?
300
A failure to recognize that an argument is based on an exception to the rule.
What is Accident?
300
The written information on a website says one thing, but the pictures show opposite information.
What is Contradiction?
300
Those rules don't apply to me since I am older than you.
What is Contradiction?
300
Referring to an authority figure to give your claim credibility.
What is Appealing to Authority?
400
Since you cannot prove that ghosts do not exist, they must exist.
What is Arguing from Ignorance?
400
Changing the topic to avoid the issue.
What is Evading the Issue?
400
The author gives relevant information, but avoids the tough questions.
What is Evading the Issue?
400
If you don't want to get beaten up, you will agree with what I say.
What is Appealing to Force?
400
Using information that seems to be factual, but an element has been changed so the information is no longer true.
What is Confusing the facts?
500
I went to a lecture by a Harvard professor who said that hybrid cars are dangerous, so they must not be safe to drive.
What is Appealing to Authority?
500
Asserting something about the whole that is only true of its parts.
What is Composition?
500
The author claims that something must be true because it hasn't been proven to be false.
What is Arguing from Ignorance?
500
Downy fabric softener is the best. I know it is, because my cousin's friend told me it was.
What is Using Sources that Lack Credibility?
500
Using threats to establish the validity of a claim.