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1) Red Herring:

Where someone introduces an irrelevant point into an

argument. He may think (or he may want us to think) it proveshis side, but it really doesnt.

Examples:

1. Grizzly bears cant be dangerous they look so cute.

2. Grading this exam on a curve would be the most fairthing to do. After all, classes go more smoothly whenthe students and the professor are getting along well.

3) Appeal to Authority:

Where someone appeals to the authority of someone who has

no special knowledge in the area they are discussing.

Examples:

1. My car mechanic says the best way to fix computerproblems is to just give the computer a good, sharpkick.

2. Bert: Ive been homeschooled all of my life, and I thinkit has helped me out a lot. Clyde: The man who hasthe highest IQ in the world said he didnt thinkhomeschooling turned out good citizens. He said hedidnt think homeschoolers received enoughsocialization, so they will become social misfits. Do youstill think homeschooling is a good idea?

4) Straw Man:

Where someone misinterprets his opponent's argument, and

proceeds to attack that argument.

Examples:

1. Evolution is a ridiculous theory! Macro-evolution says thata fish can just evolve into a bird! Clearly this ispreposterous!"

2. John: We should liberalize the laws on alcohol. Steve: No,any society with unrestricted access to intoxicants loses

its work ethic and goes only for immediate gratification.

2) Ad Hominem:

Where someone attacks an opponents character, or his

motives for believing something, instead of disproving hisopponents argument.

Examples:

1. You can't believe John when he says God exists. Hedoesn't even have a job.

2. You have been blinded by Satan, and you are a creatureof the devil. Neither you nor what you say can be trusted.

You will rot in Hell for your ways.

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5) Circular Reasoning:

Where someone attempts to prove his conclusion by simply

restating it. He says A is true because B is true, and B is truebecause A is true.

Examples:

1. Jimmy: Dad, why do I have to learn logic? Dad:Because it will help to develop your mind. Jimmy: Whywill it develop my mind? Dad: Because it will help youthink better.

2. Jimmy: He is annoyed right now. Dad: How do youknow? Jimmy: Well, because he is really angry.

7) False Dilemma:

Where someone asserts that we must chose between two

things, when in fact we have more alternatives.

Examples:

1. You're either part of the solution or part of the problem.

2. There are only two solutions for the question of how theUniverse was created: the Big Bang, which says thatthe Universe was formed out of nothing from randomchance, or Biblical Creation, which gives us a loving,

awesome, caring God.

8) Weak Analogy:

Where someone claims that some items which have only a

few minor similarities are practically the same in almost

everything else.

Examples:

1. Clyde: I think it is all right for governments in developingcountries to execute citizens who dont agree with thegovernment. If you want to make an omelet, then youhave to break a few eggs.

2. A cloud is 75% water. A watermelon is 75% water. Since

a plane can fly through a cloud, therefore a plane can flythrough a watermelon.

6) Loaded Question:

Where someone asks a question which assumes the answer.

Examples:

1. Neighbor: Why do you like to disturb the neighborhood byplaying your music so loud everybody can hear it a mileaway? [Does the neighbor really like to disturb theneighborhood?]

2. Should a smack as part of good parental correction be acriminal offence in New Zealand? [good correction?]

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9) Post-hoc-ergo-propter-hoc:

Where someone assumes that since A happened before B, A

must have caused B.

Examples:

1. Our rooster crows every morning. Then the sun comesup. Now do you understand how important roostersare?

2. President Jones raised taxes, and then the rate of

violent crime went up. Jones is responsible for the risein crime.

11) Bandwagon:

Where someone pressures us to do something just because

many other people are doing it.

Examples:

1. More Americans get their news from ABC than fromany other source.

2. Gay marriages are just immoral. 70% of Americansthink so!

3. Fifty million Elvis fans can't be wrong.

12) Appeal to Tradition:

Where we are encouraged to buy a product or do something

because it is associated with something old.

Examples:

1. These rules were written 100 years ago and we havealways followed them. Therefore, there is no need tochange them.

2. Men should always pay for dates, because men havealways paid for dates.

10) Proof by lack of evidence:

Where someone claims something is true simply because

nobody has yet given them any evidence to the contrary.

Examples:

1. There must be mountain lions living in Illinois, because Ihavent seen any proof that none exist.

2. I can't believe this is possible, so it can't be true.