logical fallacies

LOGICAL FALLACIES ASSIGNMENT

Purpose: To establish your knowledge of logical fallacies in order to a) develop an understanding of how writers effectively use logical fallacies to persuade, and b) to avoid logical fallacies in your own research writing.

Assignment: Find three (3) different fallacies (these can be from the same source or person). Possible sources to choose from include: an ad, a web site home page, a newspaper article, an academic text, a legal document, a brochure. You may include sources not mentioned here, as long as you can recreate the fallacy on paper. Once you have located your logical fallacies, mention the source, identify the fallacy, and include a description of how the fallacy is used to persuade.

Requirements: MLA headings, but doesn't have to be double spaced. I will be looking for a thorough understanding of the fallacy and how it is used to persuade the audience.

Due: tuesday, 10/28, submitted to D2L.

Weight: 50%

FOR EXAMPLE:

1. nyt.com, October 2013. Paul Krugman's opinion article, "Pointing Towards Prosperity."

"Mr. Romney doesn't have an economic plan at all, but he is determined not just to repeal Obamacare but to impose savage cuts in Medicaid. So never mind all those bullet points. Think instead about the 45 million Americans who either will or won't receive essential health care, depending on who wins on Nov. 6."

Fallacy #1: Straw man. Creates a watered-down version of the argument in question in order to knock it down. Here Krugman suggests that Romney doesn't have a plan but that he just wants to get rid of Medicare. There are underlying assumptions in a straw man argument that create an overall negative impression of that argument. The purpose here, though, is undoubtedly to reinforce Krugman's own agenda, and perhaps attempt to reinforce his readership's vote.

Fallacy #2: Ad Populum, or Bandwagon: Suggesting that the reader should accept his argument because of "the 45 million Americans." The inference here is that if you don't jump on the bandwagon, then you are against this large segment of people. Thepersuasive tactic here is to get you to go along with the conclusion based on the majority.

Fallacy #3: Either/Or: Furthermore, Krugman claims that these 45 million "either will or won't" receive healthcare based on the outcome of the presidential election. The either/orfallacy is used to put the reader in the mindset that these people have no other options, which is rarely the case.

Here are the notes for fallacy