Logical Fallacies
Appeals & Claims
Rhetorical Terms
Syntax
General
100
Arguing against the man instead of against the issue. Example: We can’t elect him mayor. He cheats on his wife! Or: He doesn’t really believe in the First Amendment. He just wants to defend his right to hold racist views.
What is ad hominem
100

A proposal that relies heavily on strong emotional reactions.

What is appeal to emotion/ethos

100
Substitution of an agreeable or at least non-offensive expression for one whose plainer meaning might be harsh or unpleasant.
What is a euphemism?
100
arranged in order of climax; withholds important or critical information to make the end information a surprise.
What is a periodic sentence
100

Also called a proposition – answers the question “What are you trying to prove?

What is a claim?

200
The conclusion does not follow logically from the premise. Example: My teacher is pretty; I’ll learn a lot from her. Or: John McCain was a war hero; he’ll be willing to stand tough for America.
What is non sequitur
200

an argument that focuses heavily on expert opinions, statistics, and factual evidence.

What is appeal to authority/logos

200
An assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, but that may yet have some truth in it.
What is a paradox?
200

qualifies the meaning of a noun or a verb 

What is a modifier 

200
a witty saying 

what is an epigram? 

300
A generalization based on too little evidence, or on evidence that is biased. Example: All men are testosterone-driven idiots. Or: After being in New York for a week, I can tell you: all New Yorkers are rude.
What is hasty generalization
300

arguments that promise to protect our values (success, freedom, equality, courage, etc.)

What is appeal to values/ethos

300
The deliberate use of ambiguity in a phrase or image--especially involving sexual or humorous meanings.
What is a double entendre?
300

the act of positioning opposites next to each other

What is juxtaposition

300

if it's not literal it's...

figurative 
400
Asserting a point that has just been made. Sometimes called “begging the question.” Example: She is ignorant because she was never educated. Or: We sin because we’re sinners.
What is circular reasoning
400

The emotional and physical weight we walk with is a theme of this book 

What is The Things they Carried 

400

All seeing, all knowing narrator 

what is omniscient? 

400
A question not answered by the writer because its answer is obvious or obviously desired, and usually just a yes or no. It is used for effect, emphasis, or provocation, or for drawing a conclusionary statement from the facts at hand.
What is a rhetorical question?
400
Compares two things, which are alike in several respects, for the purpose of explaining or clarifying some unfamiliar or difficult idea or object by showing how the idea or object is similar to some familiar one.
What is an analogy?
500
The mistake of assuming that, because event a is followed by event b, event a caused event b. Example: It rained today because I washed my car. Or: The stock market fell because the Japanese are considering implementing an import tax.
What is post hoc, ergo propter hoc
500
Ambiguous morality and loneliness and isolation in The Things they Carried are examples of what rhetorical device? 

what are Motifs

500

an extravagant exaggeration 

What is hyperbole 

500

urges the audience to take action 

what is a hortative sentence 

500
Having identical or very similar sentence structure. Example: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
What is parallel structure?