Logical Fallacies I
“Everyone is switching to this app, so you should too.”
Bandwagon?
The freshmen on the field trip behaved horribly. All freshman don't know how to behave appropriately.
Hasty Generalization
Parent: It's time to go to bed.
Child: Why?
Parent: because it's your bedtime
Circular Reasoning
“Imagine a child going to bed hungry every night—your help can change that.”
What is pathos?
“I’m right because I said I’m right.”
Circular Reasoning?
“If we let students redo assignments, soon no one will even try the first time.”
Slippery Slope
Either you care enough about our team to participate in the fundraiser or you just hate all of us.
False Dichotomy or Either-Or Fallacy
Aaron wore his red jersey and passed his history test; his jersey must be lucky to cause that.
Post Hoc Ergo Proptor Hoc
“Studies show that reading 20 minutes a day improves test scores by 30%.”
What is logos?
Parent: "You need to finish your homework before playing games."
Child: "So you're saying I can never have fun and you hate me!".
Straw Man
“Don’t listen to him about nutrition—he failed math last year!”
Ad Hominem?
“Either you pass the test or your whole future is ruined.”
What is a False Dilemma?
Mom: You should spend more time studying.
Joe: So you want me to be a nerd and have no social life?
Red Herring
“Trust me—I’ve never lied to you before.”
What is ethos?
I clicked this button, and the computer crashed. The button click caused the crash.
Post Hoc Ergo Proptor Hoc
“Why worry about homework policies when the football team needs better jerseys?”
Red Herring?
You can't trust her to write the essay, she failed math last year!
Ad Hominem
I know you don’t want me to borrow the car, but I was going to pick up coffee for you. Don’t you love coffee?
“Do you want your loved ones to be safe? Then support this law.”
What is pathos?
Person A: Climate change is a hoax propagated by scientists with ulterior motives.
Person B: Why do you believe that?
Person A: Because scientists who support the idea are just trying to get more funding for their research.
Circular Reasoning
“You think we should have less homework? So you want students to learn nothing at all!”
Straw Man?
It's cold outside, so I think I'll make a sandwich.
Non Sequitor
“She has red shoes, so she must be great at basketball.”
What is a Non Sequitur?
“As a veteran teacher, I can tell you this method works.”
What is ethos?
Non Sequitor