Using highly connotative words to describe favorably or unfavorably without justifying the description
(Communists, Fascists, bleeding hearts, right-wingers, welfare chislers, law and order)
What are loaded words?
100
Attributes a postion to the opposition that the opposition does not hold or claim and then proceeds to attack that position instead of the real one, the "straw-man" is a dummy, in other words, and not the "real" man (position) who is attacked.
What is "straw man"?
100
"To the man"- a person's character is attacked, instead of
his argument.
Example: He is unfit to be governor because he drank too much when he was in
college.
What is Ad hominem fallacy?
100
Falsely relies on the use of a term in two different senses.
Example: We know this is a natural law because it feels natural.
What is equivocation?
100
FREE POINTS
Pick again!
200
The tendency to see an issue as only having two sides.
Example: We have only two choices; to build more nuclear power plants or to be completely dependent on foreign oil.
What is either/or thinking; false dilemma?
200
"To the crowd" - Used to appeal to the prejudices of the crowd, a misconception that a widespread occurrence of something is assumed to make it true or right.
What is ad populum fallacy?
200
BONUS
+300 POINTS
200
An expert in one field can be an expert in another.
Example: The defense budget must be cut as the country’s leading pediatrician has shown.
What is False authority?
200
Unfair attempt to make someone responsible for the beliefs or actions of others.
Example: Senator Barlow must be dishonest because she belongs to the same club as that judge who was recently disbarred.
What is guilt by association?
300
Writing that seeks to persuade through appeals to emotion rather than to logical proof.
What is propaganda?
300
Assumes as true that which needs to be proven.
Example: We need to fire the thieves in the police department.
What is begging the question; circular reasoning?
300
If one thing is allowed, it will be only the first step in a downward spiral.
Example: Handgun control will lead to a police state.
What is Slippery Slope?
300
"after this, therefore, because of this"- assuming that
an incident that precedes another is the cause of the second incident.
What is Post hoc/Ergo propter hoc?
300
Says something should be done in a certain way simply because it has been done that way in the past.
Example: We should not allow women to attend XYZ because XYZ has always been a school for men.
What is Appeal top tradition?
400
Saying in effect, "Everyone is doing or saying or thinking this so you should too."
Example: Everyone else is cheating, so why shouldn't you?
What is bandwagon?
400
Offering only weak or limited evidence to support a conclusion.
Example: Ellen is a poor student because she failed her first quiz.
What is hasty generalization?
400
Because two things are alike in some ways, they must be alike in other ways
Example: Since the books are about the same length and cover the same material, one is probably as good as the other.
What is false analogy?
400
BONUS
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400
Dodging the real issue by drawing attention to an irrelevant issue.
Example: Why worry about overcrowded schools when we ought to be trying to attract a professional hockey franchise?
What is red herring?
500
Leaves out relevant considerations about an issue to imply that there is a simple cause or solution for a complex question.
Example: We can eliminate hunger by growing more food.
What is oversimplification?
500
SURPRISE
SKIP A TURN
500
"It does not follow" – an inference or conclusion that does not follow from established premises or evidence
Example: Billy Joe is honest; therefore, he will get a good job.
What is non sequitur?
500
Says something should be done in a certain way simply because it has been done that way in the past.
Example: We should not allow women to attend XYZ because XYZ has always been a school for men.