Logical Fallacies (Basics)
This fallacy attacks the person making the argument instead of the argument itself.
What is ad hominem?
The person who tells the story in a text.
What is the narrator?
“When students complain about homework, they should remember that teachers work very hard.”
What is a red herring?
An argument becomes stronger when it includes facts instead of just opinions.
What is evidence?
Before deciding whether a claim is convincing, a reader should first identify what the author is trying to do.
What is the author’s purpose?
This fallacy claims something must be true because many people believe it.
What is bandwagon?
This is the struggle or problem that drives the story forward.
What is conflict?
“If we don’t ban phones, grades will drop, colleges won’t accept students, and education will collapse.”
What is a slippery slope?
This step improves an argument by clearing up “either/or” thinking.
What is clarifying false dilemmas?
Why is it important for an argument to address opposing viewpoints instead of ignoring them?
To make the argument stronger and more believable.
This fallacy assumes that because one event happened after another, the first caused the second.
What is post hoc ergo propter hoc?
When an author hints at something that will happen later in the story, it is called this.
What is foreshadowing?
“I saw three students break the dress code today, so the dress code clearly doesn’t work at all.”
What is a hasty generalization?
Replacing “everyone thinks this” statements strengthens an argument by removing this fallacy.
What is bandwagon?
Patrick Henry points out that every attempt at compromise with Britain has failed. From these repeated examples, he concludes that peaceful solutions will not work.
What is inductive reasoning?
This fallacy presents only two choices when more options actually exist.
What is a false dilemma?
This type of conflict happens inside a character’s mind.
What is internal conflict?
“You can’t tell students not to eat junk food when teachers drink soda every day.”
What is tu quoque?
An argument that explains why claims are true instead of repeating them avoids this fallacy.
What is circular reasoning?
The colonies are losing freedom, British control is increasing, and past solutions have failed. Henry argues the most likely explanation is that Britain does not intend to change.
What is abductive reasoning?
This fallacy twists someone’s argument to make it easier to attack.
What is a straw man?
In a TV show, a character keeps saying “I’m totally fine” while slamming doors and avoiding everyone.
Instead of telling us directly how the character feels, the writer shows it through behavior.
What is indirect characterization?
“School dress codes are just like military uniforms — both automatically create discipline.”
What is a false analogy?
An argument that is revised to be logical, clear, and supported by evidence is more likely to do this.
What is convince a skeptical audience?
Henry’s logic follows this pattern:
If a government threatens liberty, the people must resist.
Britain threatens colonial liberty.
Therefore, the colonies must resist Britain.
What is deductive reasoning?