VocabularyLogic: Having good reason or sound judgement. A phrase the follows a good, logical reason is: "That makes sense."
Fallacy: Something false or a mistaken idea. Logical Fallacy: An incorrect, or false use of reason or judgement. |
Today's Target: Learn what logical fallacies are, and be able to spot them in a sentence.
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"A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid"
What is a logical FallacyA logical fallacy is when are trying to convince someone, but you use flawed or bad logic. Writers need to avoid using logical fallacies as much as possible as having them weakens your writing. Frequently, logical fallacies try an extreme appeal to emotion without using reasoning, evidence or points.
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Logical Fallacies
Part 1
Strawman FallacyThe Strawman Fallacy is when someone twists an opposing argument so they can more easily counter the point, without talking about the real ideas.
Parent: Your curfew is at 10 pm tonight. Teenager: But the party doesn't even start until 9:00. Parent: It's a school night, so you need to be home by 10:00. Teenager: You just want me to be unpopular! You don't care about my happiness! The above is a Strawman Fallacy because the teenager does not address the fact that it is a school night and there is a curfew. The Teenager redirects the conversation to be about popularity, and not the curfew. |
Slippery Slope FallacyThe Slippery Slope Fallacy is my favourite because it is easy to recognize. This fallacy is when someone exaggerates and twists the situation and makes the chain of events lead to a negative outcome. The name Slippery Slope is similar to the phrase "one things leads to another."
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Bandwagon FallacyThe Bandwagon Fallacy is another easy fallacy to recognize. When you use the Bandwagon Fallacy, you are agreeing or disagreeing with something simply because it is popular. Just because something is popular, does not mean it is a logical reason.
"I am going to get that new [game/book/device] because all my friends have it, and I cannot live without it. It is the greatest thing ever made" The Bandwagon Fallacy provides no logical reasons why something is good or bad, simply agrees with it because it is popular. |
Activity
Of the Three Fallacies covered, identify which fallacy is being used in the sentence.
Extending Thoughts: How does the Fallacy weaken the statement?
After you have worked on the 6 sentences, work to create your own logical fallacy sentence. Make 1-2 sentences using a logical fallacy we have covered. We will share our responses after.
Extending Thoughts: How does the Fallacy weaken the statement?
- If I don't go to bed early tonight, I won't get to go to the park with my friends in the morning. They'll come by to see me, but I'll be sleeping and then go to the park without me. Then they'll never invite me to the park again.
- I know the food at this restaurant is ok at best, but 500 people recommended it, so I must be wrong.
- John says that he thinks he and Jerry should be more sensible about local littering. Jerry says that John's idea is bad because he considers local littering more important than global warming.
- Too much homework causes stress in students. With a lot of stress, students can't think properly. For this reason, homework should be removed because it causes students to not think properly.
- Caroline says that she thinks her friends should not be so rude to the new girl. Jenna says that she cannot believe that Caroline is choosing to be better friends with the new girl than the girls who have always known her.
- We should have a day off of school because other students have a day off school.
After you have worked on the 6 sentences, work to create your own logical fallacy sentence. Make 1-2 sentences using a logical fallacy we have covered. We will share our responses after.