Critical and Creative thinking

Assumptions & Fallacies

Student Name

HUM/111

March 2, 2014

Jonathan Squyres, MA, LPC

Running head: WEEK EIGHT ASSIGNMENT

1

WEEK EIGHT ASSIGNMENT

2

Assumptions & Fallacies

Resource

Review page 34 of Elder, L., & Paul, R. (2002). Critical thinking: Distinguishing between inferences and assumptions. Journal of Developmental Education, 25(3), 34.

Review pages 6-17 of Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2008). The thinker’s guide to fallacies: The art of mental trickery and manipulation. Dillon Beach: CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking Press.

Answer the following questions with 100- to 150-words each:

1) What are assumptions as defined on page 34 of Critical Thinking: Distinguishing Between Inferences and Assumptions? How do you think assumptions might interfere with critical thinking?

2) What are fallacies? Select one of the fallacies (Dirty Tricks, p. 18-36) discussed in the article The Art of Metal Trickery and Manipulation and provide an example of how this fallacy could be used in written, oral, or visual arguments? What might you do to avoid using this particular fallacy in your thinking?