Discussion Critical Thinking

Week 3 Discussion Critical Thinking

Use the Internet or Strayer Library to research for an example of an enthymeme in the media. You may find an op-ed, political piece, advertising, et cetera.

Identify the implied premise in the enthymeme.

Why did you choose this example?

Be sure to respond to at least one of your classmates’ posts below.

I found an ad on the Internet for Coca Cola. It said Open a Coke, Open happiness. The implied premise is if you open a Coke, you open happiness. I choose this example as a prime example of an enthymeme. We all should know that just because you open a Coke does not mean you open happiness. Although Coca Cola would like for their drink to bring happiness it's not always the truth. I may drink a Coke just because I'm thirsty. That does not mean that it's going to change the mood I'm in. I drank a Coke before only because that was all I had to drink. It definitely didn't bring happiness because I wanted a Dr. Pepper.     

Week 4 Discussion Critical Thinking

There are several types of fallacies: equivocation, false authority, ad hominem, appeal to ignorance, and bandwagon.

· Please provide two different examples of advertising that show any of these topics.

· Which of these fallacies is used in each advertisement? Why do you think the advertisers used that fallacy in the ad? Did the advertisers use the fallacy effectively?

· If you were an advertiser, what would you have done differently to better use the fallacy?

Be sure to respond to at least one of your classmates’ posts below.

The two fallacies I chose were false authority and bandwagon.

McDonald's uses the fallacy bandwagon for advertising. Under the Golden Arches on their sign it says over 100 MILLION SOLD. Although it may be true, McDonald's wants people to believe that millions of people purchased hamburgers and they are encouraging you to be a part of it. Great idea because people tend to gravitate towards popular places. The only thing I would have done differently would be to change the sign from millions to billions. At this point I think it's safe to say McDonald's has sold over a billion hamburgers world wide.

False Authority fallacy to me would be any celebrity endorsing products. Example, Julia Roberts for Lancome makeup, Oprah Winfrey for Weight Watchers and Jennifer Aniston for SmartWater. Wonderful idea to use celebrities because of their influence but they are not experts when it comes to any of these things. I do not feel as though they used this fallacy correctly. If I were the advertiser I would have used both, real experts to give expert opinions about the products and why you should purchase them and I would use the celebrities because of their influence so that their fans can see that they use the product.