Logical Fallacies

?TUDENT HANDOUT LOGICAL FALLACIES report of rational Fallacies * What is logic? * Logic is actoring that is conducted according to strict principles. * How is logic related to expository writing? * When you organize unnecessary an expository essay, you be victimization logic to provide the layers of proof for your statements. * You atomic number 18 proving your thesis when you construct your field of training fates. * e. g. , final resulting the wherefore, How, What ar they questions approximately the thesis * You are proving your national clock times when you construct your ancient supports * e. g. answering the Why, How, What are they questions well-nigh the field sentence * You are proving/fleshing out your primary support when you construct your inessential supports. * e. g. , answering the What do you mean, range me more than, Why, How, What are they questions close to the primary supports * You stern value of logic/reasoning as the answers to the que stions that turn up the thesis, government issue sentences, and primary supports. * What is a logical fallacy? * A logical fallacy (a. k. a. rhetorical fallacy) is an fallacy in reasoning. In expository writing, it is the wrong answer to one of the questions.There are many reasons why multitude come up with the wrong answers. just about of the most common reasons are listed below ( pass contrasting Types of Logical Fallacies). * Logical fallacies in writing polarity two boldnesss about the source * The source is non honest * The author is not smart. * Uses for Logical Fallacies * Writers of advertisements, editorials, and political propaganda forget use logical fallacies to their advant sequence. Different Types of Logical Fallacies * Circular Logic (a. k. a. ingest and mirrors) an occupation in which the generator supports his/her position by partially restating it. other effect of academic hardship is cast outly charged feelings. Depression, resulting from aca demic failure, result g bring low a persons self-esteem. Similarly, natural depression pull up stakes increase ground a persons despondency about the inadequacy of trading options available to them because of their academic setbacks. * The guinea pig sentence states that one result of academic failure is prejudicious feelings. Thus, the proofreader exit search the author to relieve HOW academic failure causes prejudicious feelings. The reader may also expect the writer to explain WHAT the dis realizeing feelings are. Depression is one type of negative feeling.However, the writer does not picture how academic failure causes depression. Instead, he/she states that depression will lower a persons self-esteem, which is very(prenominal) sympathetic to depression. In the next sentence, the writer states that depression will increase ground on a persons despondency about the lack of employment. Because despondency is the same as depression, the writer has said absolute ly aught by making that statement. Moreover, he/she has preoccupied the direct connection in the midst of academic failure and negative feelings when he/she chose to include employment. * Non Sequitur (a. k. a.Lying) It does not follow. A statement in which the deduction does not logically follow the premise. * another(prenominal) problem with the current insobriety ripen of 21 is that it results in ignominious function. One way it results in black consumption is the long farsightedness for the appropriate age, which is likely to render excessive drinking after it becomes available. A lot of young raft who reach the legal age pitch to go overboard when they are finally able to drink whenever they want. They do not care about their strangulates and the consequences of irresponsible drinking because nobody can tell them not to drink.As a result, they end up drinking in like manner much. Another way it causes abusive drinking is that teenagers under the age of 21 are requiren by the temptation of embezzled activity. The age limit has not eliminated drinking for hoi polloi under 21. Instead, it has pushed them to do it in reclusive environments, where they can hide from parents and the law. * The subject field sentence specifies that the current drinking age results in the abusive consumption of alcoholic drink. In order to prove this topic sentence, the writer would contain to answer the HOW question with regard to the topic sentence.To be specific, HOW does current drinking age lead to the excessive consumption of alcohol? Although the writer does answer the question, he/she provides incorrect answers. First, the writer contends that wad who wear to wait until a full-strength age to drink alcohol go overboard because theyve waited so long. This is not true People who are unable(p) to control their behavior are likely a indisputable disposition type, not a certain age. Even if the age were to change to 18 (as the writer of this pap er suggested), plenty with this particular personality type would up to now have the same problem.Second, the writer contends that lot under the age of 21 are driven by a temptation to participate in vile activity. Again, this is not true People who have an affinity for illicit activity can be any age. Unless the writer can muster up several reputable studies that confirm his/her claim, it is entirely false. * Slippery Slope (a. k. a. Exaggerating) assume that one thing will cause something extremely drastic. * Smoking hemp will lead to cocaine addiction. When young people smoke marijuana, they unremarkably become addicted to the feelings of entertainment that they derive from the activity.Once people become utilize to those feelings, they will seek something stronger. Eventually, they will try harder drugs. Cocaine is one of the harder drugs and very addictive. As young people seek a harder drug that will allow them to feel the gamey that they seek, they are likely to try cocaine and, unfortunately, become addicted. * The topic sentence makes a claim that is REALLY assuming What evidence does the author have that people normally become addicted to marijuana? Has a study proven that?Even if some people do become prone to the feelings of pleasure associated with marijuana, it is a big assumption to put that they will pick out something stronger. It is an even bigger assumption to determine that they will try cocaine as the stronger drug. * Ad Hominem (a. k. a. low blows) a personal attack on an opponent rather than dealing logically with the issue itself * Another reason why teenagers should not be allowed to drive is because they do not make dangerous decisions. Teenagers have not authentic the social skills needed to be ourteous drivers. They are self-centered people whose negative attitudes are clearly seen in the ways that the currently behave speckle on the road. * The topic sentence states that teenagers do not make good decisions.The writers first-class honours degree primary support does begin to prove the TS because it answers the WHY question about the TS. However, the secondary support is erroneous. Instead of providing more evidence about the PS (by answering one of the appropriate questions associated with it), the writer insults teenager by adage they have negative attitudes and poor behavior. inflammation Herring (the hidden ammunition) an argument in which the writer introduces an irrelevant consign * Another way that smuggled immigrants work to the economy is by working. patronage doing back-breaking work, many of the immigrants are merely paid minimum wage.People who affiance illegal immigrants can pay them lower wages than a regular U. S. proletarian because the illegal immigrant has no rights. Employers who hire illegal immigrants bash they can notwithstanding money if they hire them, and they know the immigrants will not tell anyone because of the fearfulness of being deported. The wr iter has lost his/her focus. The topic sentence specifies that the illegal immigrant workers contribute to the economy. Thus, readers will expect to see the different ways that the workers do that (e. g. , the jobs they run and HOW those jobs contribute to the economy, perhaps the goods they subvert and HOW they contribute to the economy). However, the writer spends the entire divide focusing on how the illegal immigrant workers are unfairly treated. Their unfair give-and-take has nothing to do with their region to the economy.Logical Fallacies?TUDENT HANDOUT LOGICAL FALLACIES Explanation of Logical Fallacies * What is logic? * Logic is reasoning that is conducted according to strict principles. * How is logic related to expository writing? * When you write an expository essay, you are using logic to provide the layers of proof for your statements. * You are proving your thesis when you construct your topic sentences. * e. g. , answering the Why, How, What are they questions ab out the thesis * You are proving your topic sentences when you construct your primary supports * e. g. answering the Why, How, What are they questions about the topic sentence * You are proving/fleshing out your primary support when you construct your secondary supports. * e. g. , answering the What do you mean, Tell me more, Why, How, What are they questions about the primary supports * You can think of logic/reasoning as the answers to the questions that prove the thesis, topic sentences, and primary supports. * What is a logical fallacy? * A logical fallacy (a. k. a. rhetorical fallacy) is an error in reasoning. In expository writing, it is the wrong answer to one of the questions.There are many reasons why people come up with the wrong answers. Some of the most common reasons are listed below (see Different Types of Logical Fallacies). * Logical fallacies in writing signal two assumptions about the writer * The writer is not honest * The writer is not smart. * Uses for Logical F allacies * Writers of advertisements, editorials, and political propaganda will use logical fallacies to their advantage. Different Types of Logical Fallacies * Circular Logic (a. k. a. smoke and mirrors) an argument in which the writer supports his/her position by partially restating it. Another effect of academic failure is negative feelings. Depression, resulting from academic failure, will lower a persons self-esteem. Similarly, depression will increase based a persons despondency about the lack of employment options available to them because of their academic setbacks. * The topic sentence states that one result of academic failure is negative feelings. Thus, the reader will expect the writer to explain HOW academic failure causes negative feelings. The reader may also expect the writer to explain WHAT the negative feelings are. Depression is one type of negative feeling.However, the writer does not show how academic failure causes depression. Instead, he/she states that depre ssion will lower a persons self-esteem, which is very similar to depression. In the next sentence, the writer states that depression will increase based on a persons despondency about the lack of employment. Because despondency is the same as depression, the writer has said absolutely nothing by making that statement. Moreover, he/she has lost the direct connection between academic failure and negative feelings when he/she chose to include employment. * Non Sequitur (a. k. a.Lying) It does not follow. A statement in which the conclusion does not logically follow the premise. * Another problem with the current drinking age of 21 is that it results in abusive consumption. One way it results in abusive consumption is the long anticipation for the appropriate age, which is likely to create excessive drinking after it becomes available. A lot of young people who reach the legal age tend to go overboard when they are finally able to drink whenever they want. They do not care about their limits and the consequences of irresponsible drinking because nobody can tell them not to drink.As a result, they end up drinking too much. Another way it causes abusive drinking is that teenagers under the age of 21 are driven by the temptation of illegal activity. The age limit has not eliminated drinking for people under 21. Instead, it has pushed them to do it in private environments, where they can hide from parents and the law. * The topic sentence specifies that the current drinking age results in the abusive consumption of alcohol. In order to prove this topic sentence, the writer would have to answer the HOW question with regard to the topic sentence.To be specific, HOW does current drinking age lead to the excessive consumption of alcohol? Although the writer does answer the question, he/she provides incorrect answers. First, the writer contends that people who have to wait until a certain age to drink alcohol go overboard because theyve waited so long. This is not true P eople who are unable to control their behavior are likely a certain personality type, not a certain age. Even if the age were to change to eighteen (as the writer of this paper suggested), people with this particular personality type would still have the same problem.Second, the writer contends that people under the age of 21 are driven by a temptation to participate in illegal activity. Again, this is not true People who have an affinity for illegal activity can be any age. Unless the writer can cite several reputable studies that confirm his/her claim, it is entirely false. * Slippery Slope (a. k. a. Exaggerating) assuming that one thing will cause something extremely drastic. * Smoking marijuana will lead to cocaine addiction. When young people smoke marijuana, they normally become addicted to the feelings of pleasure that they derive from the activity.Once people become used to those feelings, they will seek something stronger. Eventually, they will try harder drugs. Cocaine is one of the harder drugs and very addictive. As young people seek a harder drug that will allow them to feel the high that they seek, they are likely to try cocaine and, unfortunately, become addicted. * The topic sentence makes a claim that is REALLY PRESUMPTUOUS What evidence does the author have that people normally become addicted to marijuana? Has a study proven that?Even if some people do become accustomed to the feelings of pleasure associated with marijuana, it is a big assumption to determine that they will need something stronger. It is an even bigger assumption to determine that they will try cocaine as the stronger drug. * Ad Hominem (a. k. a. low blows) a personal attack on an opponent rather than dealing logically with the issue itself * Another reason why teenagers should not be allowed to drive is because they do not make good decisions. Teenagers have not developed the social skills needed to be ourteous drivers. They are self-centered people whose negative attitud es are clearly seen in the ways that the currently behave while on the road. * The topic sentence states that teenagers do not make good decisions.The writers first primary support does begin to prove the TS because it answers the WHY question about the TS. However, the secondary support is erroneous. Instead of providing more evidence about the PS (by answering one of the appropriate questions associated with it), the writer insults teenager by saying they have negative attitudes and poor behavior. Red Herring (the hidden ammunition) an argument in which the writer introduces an irrelevant point * Another way that illegal immigrants contribute to the economy is by working. Despite doing back-breaking work, many of the immigrants are barely paid minimum wage.People who hire illegal immigrants can pay them lower wages than a regular U. S. worker because the illegal immigrant has no rights. Employers who hire illegal immigrants know they can save money if they hire them, and they kno w the immigrants will not tell anyone because of the fear of being deported. The writer has lost his/her focus. The topic sentence specifies that the illegal immigrant workers contribute to the economy. Thus, readers will expect to see the different ways that the workers do that (e. g. , the jobs they obtain and HOW those jobs contribute to the economy, perhaps the goods they buy and HOW they contribute to the economy). However, the writer spends the entire paragraph focusing on how the illegal immigrant workers are unfairly treated. Their unfair treatment has nothing to do with their contribution to the economy.