Writing and Reading Activity

Riverside Community College Name ____________________________

Writing and Reading Center

Directed learning Activity CT.2a Date _____________________________

Logical Fallacies I

Purpose: Upon completion of this activity, students will be able to define the term “logical fallacy” and will learn about several different fallacies. This DLA should take approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete.

Directions: Go to the following website: http://www.fallacyfiles.org/introtof.html

Once at the website, read the definition of a logical fallacy; then, travel to the “Complete Alphabetical List of Fallacies” (on the left), and read the definitions of “Appeal to/Argument From” Fallacies, specifically “Authority”, “Pity”, and “Fear” (note: both Fear and Pity will lead to the Emotional Appeal page).

1. Answer the following questions on the back of this sheet:

A. What is a logical fallacy? (in your own

words)

B. What are three of the major ways that an Appeal to Authority can go wrong?

C. When is an Appeal to Emotion NOT a

fallacy?

2. Label the following as Appeal to Authority, Appeal to Pity, Appeal to Fear, or Not a Fallacy.

a. A supervisor tells his employee that he has to

write him up for being late to work for the third time. The employee says “Please don’t write me up! If I get fired, I’ll lose my house and be homeless!”

________________________________________________

EQ: What is a logical fallacy and

how do I spot fallacies in writing?

Riverside Community College Name ____________________________

Writing and Reading Center

Directed learning Activity CT.2a Date _____________________________

b. Senator Jones holds a press conference at which she says “If we don’t bail out the banking industry, the whole economy will collapse. Therefore, I am going to request a bailout.” ______________________________________________________________

c. A commercial for toothpaste says that four out of five dentists surveyed would recommend this

particular brand of toothpaste to their patients. __________________________________________________________________

d. A presidental candidate brings a young man on stage at a political rally to tell his emotional story

of how the candidate’s government program had helped him stop using drugs and alcohol and get a job that he still holds. The audience hears specifically how the program has worked for this man. ___________________________________________________________________

When you finish, meet with a tutor or an instructor on duty to go over your answers. Be sure to explain the reasoning behind your choices, and be sure you can answer the EQ (essential question) above.

Instructor/tutor Signature:______________________________ Date: _______________________

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