Rhetorical Fallacies
Mr. Hall
English III
Miami High School
Rhetorical Fallacies

3 types of Fallacies of Argument



1. Logical Fallacies-arguments that depend on
flawed logic.
2. Ethical Fallacies-unreasonably advance the
writer’s own authority or character
3. Emotional Fallacies-appeal to the
audience’s emotions
Logical Fallacies

Hasty Generalization-- draws
conclusions from scanty evidence.


Example: I wouldn’t eat at that restaurant—
the only time I ate there, my entrée was
undercooked
Faulty Casualty-- one event can occur
after another without causing it.

Example: A year after the release of the
violent video game, Annihilator, incidents of
school violence tripled-surely not an accident.
Logical Fallacies

Non Sequitur– a statement that does
not logically follow what comes before.

Example: If the protesters really loved their
country, they wouldn’t question the
government.
Logical Fallacies

Equivocation– a statement that is
partially correct, but that purposefully
obscures the entire truth.

Example: An accused murderer’s response
when asked if he had communicated with the
victim, to whom he had sent an email: “No, I
did not speak to her.”
Logical Fallacies

Begging the Question– when a writer
assumes that a statement under dispute is in
fact true; such an argument is circular.


Example– Since I am a good writer, I certainly do not
need to revise my writing.
Faulty Analogy– an inaccurate, inappropriate,
or misleading comparison

Example: UT is like a game of Monopoly: the campus
is the board, the students are tokens, and the longedfor diploma is a “Get out of Jail Free” card.
Ethical Fallacies

False Authority– appeals that ask the
audience to agree with a writer based
simply on his character or the authority of
another person or institution.

Example: Red’s Dippin’ Sauce must be great—
the Carlton County King of BBQ likes it!
Ethical Fallacies

Dogmatism– shuts down discussion by
asserting that the writer’s beliefs are the
only one’s acceptable.


Example: I’m sorry, but I am right and that’s
that.
Moral Equivalence– compares minor
problems with serious crimes.

Example: These mandatory seatbelt laws are
like something out of Nazi Germany.
Ethical Fallacies

Ad Hominem– attacking a person’s character
instead of reasoning through the issues.


Example: Why should we believe that a candidate
who has recently divorced will keep her campaign
promises.
Strawman– simplifying the opposing viewpoint
to argue it more easily.

Example: Allowing criminals to serve probation
instead of jail time is nothing less than an attempt to
set murderers and rapists free on our streets.
Emotional Fallacies

Sentimental Appeals– tug at the
audience’s heartstrings to the point of
ignoring the facts, perhaps to keep the
audience from disagreeing with the writer.

Example: Our relief program has admittedly
lost track of some donations, but just think of
all the suffering children we have saved from
starvation and disease.
Emotional Fallacies

Red Herring– attempting to distract an
audience by shifting attention away from
the important issue.

Example: People can keep debating whether
the camping ban is unconstitutional, but what
we need is action now! Do you want
homeless bums discouraging customers from
doing business with you.
Emotional Fallacies

Scare Tactics– trying to frighten people
into arguing with the arguer by
threatening them or predicting
unrealistically dire consequences.

Example: If you do not support the party’s tax
plan, you and your family will be reduced to
poverty.
Emotional Fallacies

Bandwagon Appeals– encourage audience to
agree with the writer because everyone else is
doing it.


Why be the only parent on the block whose kids do
not have the Water Widget Fun Set?
Slippery Slope– predicts enormous
consequences from relatively minor causes

Example: Not allowing students to pray before
football games not only infringes on their right to free
speech but undermines the very foundation of our
government.
Emotional Fallacies

Either/Or Choices– reduces complicated
issues to only two possible courses of
action; often involve scare tactics or
slippery slope arguments

Example: The patent office can either approve
my generator design or say goodbye forever
to affordable energy.
Sources

Undergraduate Writing Center, University
of Texas at Austin


www.uwc.fac.utexas.edu
OWL Writing Lab, Purdue University

www.owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource