Formal Fallacies
Assuming that because the result is true, one specific cause must be true.
What is Affirming the Consequent?
Using the conclusion as one of the premises supporting itself.
What is Circular Reasoning / Begging the Question?
Persuading through sympathy rather than evidence.
What is Appeal to Pity?
The first thing to watch for when trying to detect a fallacy.
What is an emotional appeal instead of facts?
A transition word that signals contrast.
What is "however"?
Assuming that if the cause is false, the result must be false too.
What is Denying the Antecedent?
"Giving money to charity is the right thing to do, so charities have a right to our money."
What is Equivocation?
Persuading by suggesting many people already agree.
What is Appeal to Popularity?
What you should ask about any argument's conclusion.
What is: Does it logically follow from the premises?
A transition word that signals cause and effect.
What is "therefore"?
Continuing something only because of what's already been invested.
What is the Sunk Cost Fallacy?
"Guns are like hammers, so restricting guns is as silly as restricting hammers."
What is a Weak Analogy?
Persuading through flattery or praise.
What is Appeal to Flattery?
One reason recognizing fallacies matters in everyday life.
What is: it helps you avoid being misled by weak arguments?
A feature of formal style involving avoiding "don't" and "can't."
What is avoiding contractions?
A conclusion that simply doesn't follow from the premises given.
What is a Non Sequitur?
"No one has proven aliens don't exist, so they must be real."
What is Appeal to Ignorance?
Persuading by provoking anger.
What is Appeal to Anger?
The term for statements that express the reasons or evidence in an argument.
What are premises?
The skill of evaluating arguments and evidence rather than accepting claims at face value.
What is avoiding exaggeration or generalizations?
"All birds can fly. Penguins are birds. Therefore, penguins can fly."
What is a Syllogistic Fallacy?
"President Jones raised taxes, then crime went up, so Jones caused it."
What is Post Hoc (False Cause)?
Persuading by creating fear of consequences.
What is Appeal to Fear?
Why fallacious arguments are especially common, according to the Writing Center.
What is:they're persuasive to a casual reader or listener?
What a strong concluding section should never introduce.
What is brand-new information not discussed in the body?