Creating an Argument

Appeals

100

stir feelings and often invoke values that the audience is assumed to hold.

What are, Emotional Appeals

200

provide REASONS and EVIDENCE to support our claims

What are, Logical Appeals

300

invoke the credibility and good character of whoever is making the argument

What are, Ethical Appeals

400

draw sweeping conclusions on the basis of too little evidence

Hasty Generalizations

Claims

100

Claim that is backed by evidence/facts

Substance Claim

200

Claim based on how much something matters, personal beliefs

Value Claim

300

Claim that is based on a change that needs to be made

Policy Claim

400

contend that if a certain event occurs, it will (or at least might) set in motion a chain of events that will end in disaster

Slippery Slope

Problems with Logic

100

(Latin for “to the man”) arguments make personal attacks on those who support an opposing position rather than addressing the position itself

Ad Hominem

200

simply urge the audience to go along with the crowd

Band Wagon

300

tries to support an argument by simply restating it in other language, so that the reasoning goes around in circles

Begging the Question

400

also called false dilemmas, argue that only two alternatives are possible in a situation that actually is more complex.

Either or Arguments 

500

misrepresents an opposing argument, characterizing it as more extreme or otherwise different than it actually is, in order to attack it more easily

Straw Man