LOGICAL FALLACIES

Critical Reading

10th Grade Graduation Standard

1. Logical Fallacies

Strategies and techniques used by writers to persuade readers and viewers.

2. Appeal to Ignorance Pretending evidence

against your argument doesn’t exist.

Example: Show me one study that proves seat belts save lives.

3. Appeal to Pity Telling a sad story to

sway your audience.

Example: Animal testing is wrong: just imagine all the long, sad faces of the helpless animals being tested on!

4. The Bandwagon Join the bandwagon! No

matter where it is going!!

Example: Everyone feels that students need a shorter school day. Everyone can’t be wrong!

5. Broad Generalization Making a

generalization with too little evidence.

Example: All teenagers spend too much time watching TV.

6. Circular Thinking Proving your point

by restating your point.

Example: Students should have shorter school days so they don’t have to be in school as long.

7. Either Or Thinking Giving the readers

only two options on which to base their opinion.

Example:

America: Love it or leave it.

8. Oversimplification Making an issue that

is complex too simple--not showing all the sides.

Example: To be successful in life, you simply need a nice smile.

9. Testimonial Using an opinion

from someone who is not qualified to give an expert opinion in that area.

Example: I am a doctor, but I play one on TV.

10. Appeal to Fear Using fear to

persuade people.

Example: “The last thing you want to ruin your day is bad breath.”

11. Card-Stacking Stacking your points

to persuade readers/listeners.

Example: “No money down, no interest, and no payments until Aug, 2004.”

12. Transfer-Association Like testimonial,

people will transfer positive feelings about a celebrity with a product.

Example: Britney Spears ads for Pepsi.

13. Half-Truth Same as Appeal to

Ignorance--Looking only at one side of an issue and not acknowledging the other side

14. Glittering Generality Positive

connotations usually appealing to patriot feelings.

Example: “If elected, I will make the American dream a reality.”

15. Plain Folks Writing, speaking, or

advertising geared towards the “average Joe”.

Example: “I’m just a simple man looking for an easy way to do laundry.”

16. Snob Appeal Opposite of plain

folks, geared toward the high-class; elite.

Example: “For the top line of hair products, get the best: AVEDA.

17. Name-Calling Labels or names

given to viewers listeners and/or readers.

Example: “Any idiot can see that using this calling plan will save you money.”