Fallacies
Love is a Fallacy
• http://safeshare.tv/w/GHCvzQQsLU
What is wrong with the
following sentences?
1. I love Disneyland because I’m always
happy there.
2. Everyone on the team wears Nike shoes;
it’s the only way to go!
3. I love music, therefore I love Justin
Bieber.
Objective
• To understand what makes a logical
fallacy, how to catch someone when they
are using one (perhaps to pull a fast-one
on you), and how to avoid using them in
your own writing and dialogue.
Logical Fallacy
• A logical fallacy is a statement that
contains faulty reasoning. Don’t give
your reader a reason to doubt your
information. Persuasive writing
especially requires sound logic to
support opinions.
Circular Reasoning
• Supporting a statement by simply repeating it in
different words.
• Teens should avoid fad diets, because it is
important for adolescents to stay away from
weight-loss plans.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/ZmZFEOhlbV
Either / Or Fallacy
• A statement that suggests that there are only 2 choices
available in a situation that really offers more than 2
options.
• Either students should be allowed to go off campus for
lunch to Burger King, or they should choose from the
cafeteria’s food.
Oversimplification
• An explanation of a complex situation or
problem as if it were much simpler than it
is.
• Making the team depends on whether the
coach likes you.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/mMbPUiIHwk
Overgeneralization
• A broad generalization.
• No one cares about the story.
• A little kid might say: “All birds can fly.”
Stereotyping
• A dangerous type of overgeneralization.
• All girls can’t play sports.
• All boys lie and cheat.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/DJjKaOUeEs
Attacking the person or namecalling (poisoning the well)
• An attempt to discredit an idea by
attacking the person or group associated
with it.
• My opponent is not smart enough to be
mayor.
• She is basic.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/bcJSiXpgxD
Evading the Issue
• Refuting an objection with arguments and
evidence that do not address its central
point.
• I know I am late, but you look beautiful.
• What you do with your parents when you
are in trouble! 
• http://screen.yahoo.com/broken-newsdaily/teachers-hilarious-response-awfulexam-224511848.html
Non sequitur (post hoc)
• A statement that uses irrelevant proof to support a claim. The
"After This, Therefore, Because of This" Fallacy
• Ten minutes after walking into the auditorium, I began to feel
sick to my stomach. There must have been something in the
air in that building that caused my nausea.
• The stock market declined shortly after the election of the
president, thus indicating the lack of confidence the business
community has in the new administration.
• I know I’ll pass math. Mr. Gray is my math teacher and my
football coach.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/TRKivAKTGn
False Cause
• The mistake of assuming that because one
event occurred after another event in time,
the first event caused the second to occur.
• I failed English because of football.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/CNZtvvyKrR
False Analogy
• A comparison that doesn’t hold up
because of a critical difference between the
two subjects.
• She walks to school and back every day,
so surely she can walk in a 10K race.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/zurHtCcAve
Hasty Generalization
• A conclusion drawn from too little
evidence or from evidence that is biased.
• That corner must be dangerous. There
were two car accidents there last week.
Bandwagon Appeal
• Uses the argument that a person should
believe or do something because
“everyone else” does.
• The Cardinals are a winning team and
everyone likes them so you should to.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/mQQQmwLGcd
Testimonial
• Relies on endorsements from well-known
people or celebrities.
• Proactive-Jessica Simpson
• Gatorade-Michael Jordan
• http://safeshare.tv/w/yuhHTXhvTb
Snob Appeal
• Taps into people’s desire to be special or
be part of an elite group.
• Treat yourself to a tropical paradise
because you deserve the best.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/HossgoHPlI
Transfer
• Connects a product, candidate, or cause
with a positive emotion or idea.
• Freedom…you can feel it the instant you
put your hands on the new Jeep Wrangler.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/ykLnOPgQWH
Appeal to Loyalty
• Relies on people’s affiliation with a
particular group
• This car is made in America by
Americans.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/PCZDQVyVGa
Appeals to pity, fear, or vanity
• Use strong feelings rather than facts to
persuade.
• Without more police, we will be at the
mercy of thieves.
• http://safeshare.tv/w/wEQpaVPtdQ
• http://safeshare.tv/w/yyTqCtnMZx
Glittering Generality
• Makes a generalization that includes a
word or phrase with positive connotations
(feelings) to promote a product or idea.
• A vote for Tom Jones is a vote for
democracy!
• http://safeshare.tv/w/jJdVQDGwku
Review
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Camaro - http://safeshare.tv/w/DJReZbYKsR
Axe - http://safeshare.tv/w/LytLFWXeNG
Chicken - http://safeshare.tv/w/oDZOeYnhOA
Coke - http://safeshare.tv/w/toiHvngCuM
Dove - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U
Hulu - http://safeshare.tv/w/GArBdojZlw
Mac - http://safeshare.tv/w/OuvlVSCXDf
Grey Poupon - http://safeshare.tv/w/oDjEoXAFlU
Pepsi- http://safeshare.tv/w/ZFGEaMDHhh
Gatorade – http://safeshare.tv/w/mYwiLXtarV
McDonald’s - http://safeshare.tv/w/JbtvEXpXwP
Hanes - http://safeshare.tv/w/twvUyIztdL
Smoking - http://safeshare.tv/w/DLAWyqIGDJ
Subway – http://safeshare.tv/w/CxEqImtrMA
ASPCA - http://safeshare.tv/w/DYvoVjrMfg
Chevrolet Truck - http://safeshare.tv/w/VeNxKBcQvn
Brain Food - http://safeshare.tv/w/DIukLRxOtn
Infiniti - http://safeshare.tv/w/unKLnrciDQ
Doritos - http://safeshare.tv/w/cgzeJiwFAk
Sleaziest Political Ads - http://safeshare.tv/w/FYWIiMnHSn
Answers
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Camaro – Either/ Or, Appeal to Loyalty, Glittering Generality, Transfer
Axe – False Cause, Oversimplification, stereotyping, hast generalization, bandwagon
Chicken - stereotyping
Coke - Either/ Or, appeal to loyalty, glittering generality
Dove - Appeal to vanity, transfer, evading the issue
Hulu – False Analogy, Testimonial, appeal to emotion
Mac – either/ or., name-calling,
Grey Poupon – Snob Appeal
Pepsi - Bandwagon, testimonial., transfer, glittering genrality
Gatorade – Transfer, bandwagon, glittering generality, false analogy
McDonald’s – testimonial,
Hanes - testimonial
Smoking – appeal to fear
Subway – appeal to vanity,
ASPCA – appeal to pity
Chevrolet Truck - ethos, oversimplification, snob appeal
Brain Food – appeal to vanity,
Infiniti – false analogy, snob appeal
Doritos - bandwagon
Sleaziest Political Ads – name- calling,