Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Definitions
100
You should turn to channel 6. It’s the most watched channel this year.
What is Appeal to the People
100
Space aliens must have broken the vase.
What is Scapegoating
100
[Prosecuting attorney in court] When is the defense attorney planning to call that twice-convicted drug dealer, David Barnington, to the stand? OK, I’ll rephrase that. When is the defense attorney planning to call David Barnington to the stand?
What is Poisoning the Well
100
German people aren’t good at dancing our sambas. She’s German. So, she’s not going to be any good at dancing our sambas.
What is Stereotyping
100
This error occurs when the issue is not treated fairly because of misrepresenting the evidence by, say, suppressing part of it, or misconstruing some of it, or simply lying.
What is slanting
200
More and more people are buying sports utility vehicles. Isn’t it time you bought one, too?
What is Bandwagon
200
I've met three race drivers today and they all were rather aggressive. Clearly, race drivers are all be aggressive.
What is Hasty Generalization
200
We can't allow students any voice in decision making on campus; if we do, it won't be long before they are in total control.
What is Slippery Slope
200
Smith: I’ve been reading about a peculiar game in this article about vegetarianism. When we play this game, we lean out from a fourth-story window and drop down strings containing “Free food” signs on the end in order to hook unsuspecting passers-by. It’s really outrageous, isn’t it? Yet isn’t that precisely what sports fishermen do for entertainment from their fishing boats? The article says it’s time we put an end to sport fishing. Jones: Let me quote Smith for you. He says “We…hook unsuspecting passers-by.” What sort of moral monster is this man Smith?
What is Quoting out of Context
200
a reason to justify our action even though we know this reason is not really our own reason for our action
What is rationalization
300
In a survey, 8 out of 10 doctors agreed that this drug is dangerous.
What is Common Belief
300
"We admit that this measure is popular. But we also urge you to note that there are so many bond issues on this ballot that the whole thing is getting ridiculous."
What is Red Herring
300
1) Cats like to hunt creatures that have four legs. 2) Cows are creatures that have four legs. 3) Therefore cats like to hunt cows
What is Oversimplification
300
In court, Thompson testifies that the defendant is a honorable person, who wouldn’t harm a flea. The defense attorney rises to say that Thompson’s testimony shows once again that his client was not near the murder scene.
What is Irrelevant Conclusion
300
Improperly concluding that one thing is a cause of another
What is false cause
400
Money makes people arrogant.
What is False Cause
400
I can't believe how much money is being dumped into the space program
What is Slanting
400
“I bought the matzo bread from Kroger’s Supermarket because it is the cheapest brand and I wanted to save money,” says Alex [who knows he bought the bread from Kroger's Supermarket only because his girlfriend works there].
What is Rationalization
400
The book Investing for Dummies really helped me understand my finances better. The book Chess for Dummies was written by the same author was published by the same press, and costs about the same amount. So, this chess book would probably help me understand my finances.
What is False Analogy
400
If you suggest that someone’s claim is correct simply because it’s what most everyone is coming to believe, then you’re committing the
What is band wagon fallacy
M
e
n
u