common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument

The arguer poses a conclusion to another person and tells that person either implicitly or explicitly that some harm (physical, emotional, psychological) will come to them if they do not accept that conclusion.

The arguer attempts to support a conclusion by evoking pity (either for the arguer himself or for some third party) from the reader.

Do it because lots of others also do it.

Do it because you will be admired, or you will be like someone who is admired.

Do it because it is high-class to do it.

someone tries to discredit an ARGUMENT by attacking the person.

An arguer distorts, mis-state, or mis-represents an opponent’s argument (usually making it WEAKER than it actually is) and argues against the distorted argument.

The arguer diverts the attention of the reading by switching the subject to a different but usually subtly related one or a flashy subject

appeal to an unqualified authority

An authority figure is cited in support of the conclusion, but that figure either lacks appropriate authority, is biased, has motive to lie, or lacks the ability to comment on the matter.

When the premises of an argument state that nothing has been proven, and then the conclusion states something definitive about that thing.

The fallacy that assumes that because one event preceded another event, it was the CAUSE of that event.

When the conclusion of an argument rests on an alleged (and tenuous) chain reaction of causes and there is not sufficient reason to thing that chain reaction will actually take place.

a disjunctive statement (‘either…or’) is used to present two unlikely alternatives as if they were the only ones available, and then the undesirable alternative is eliminated, leaving only the more desirable alternative.

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AP Lang Unit 1:2

Term	Definition
fallacies	common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument
appeal to force	The arguer poses a conclusion to another person and tells that person either implicitly or explicitly that some harm (physical, emotional, psychological) will come to them if they do not accept that conclusion.
appeal to pity	The arguer attempts to support a conclusion by evoking pity (either for the arguer himself or for some third party) from the reader.
bandwagon	Do it because lots of others also do it.
appeal to vanity	Do it because you will be admired, or you will be like someone who is admired.
appeal to snobbery	Do it because it is high-class to do it.
ad hominem	someone tries to discredit an ARGUMENT by attacking the person.
straw man	An arguer distorts, mis-state, or mis-represents an opponent’s argument (usually making it WEAKER than it actually is) and argues against the distorted argument.
red herring	The arguer diverts the attention of the reading by switching the subject to a different but usually subtly related one or a flashy subject
appeal to an unqualified authority	An authority figure is cited in support of the conclusion, but that figure either lacks appropriate authority, is biased, has motive to lie, or lacks the ability to comment on the matter.
appeal to ignorance	When the premises of an argument state that nothing has been proven, and then the conclusion states something definitive about that thing.
post hoc	The fallacy that assumes that because one event preceded another event, it was the CAUSE of that event.
slippery slope	When the conclusion of an argument rests on an alleged (and tenuous) chain reaction of causes and there is not sufficient reason to thing that chain reaction will actually take place.
false dichotomy	a disjunctive statement (‘either…or’) is used to present two unlikely alternatives as if they were the only ones available, and then the undesirable alternative is eliminated, leaving only the more desirable alternative.

Created by: billie_blalock

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