By Madison Kerley and Rachel Haynes
 Presenting
the argument in such a way
that makes the argument look ridiculous,
usually by misrepresenting the argument
or the use or exaggeration.
 Form:
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Person 1 claims that X (some statement) is true.
Person 2 makes X look ridiculous by
misrepresenting X.
Therefore, X is false.
This picture
juxtaposes a quote
that Obama said about
abortion with a
picture of a baby in
order to make
Obama’s argument for
abortion appear more
ridiculous.
 “Those
crazy conservatives! They think a
strong military is the key to peace! Such
fools!”
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This is an example of Appeal to Ridicule because
the person is saying that conservatives are
“crazy” for wanting a strong military to protect
us. This person believes that having a strong
military is nonsensical, so s/he is mocking
conservatives for believing that we should have a
strong military. This follows the fallacy’s form by
saying that conservatives are crazy, then by over
exaggerating the fact that conservatives believe
in a strong military, and then by restating the
fact that conservatives are “fools.”
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX_1B0
w7Hzc –Obama vs. Romney Rap Battle (play
only through the first round)

This is an example of Appeal to Ridicule because
both “candidates” misrepresent one another in
order to win the battle. For example, Romney
claims that Obama has “done nothing about” the
economy, which is obviously false due to the
stimulus package that Obama passed. Obama
also mocks Romney by alluding to Romney’s
quote about 47% of American people being
dependent on the government. Obama over
exaggerates the quote by just stating a
percentage so that people may look it up.
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Appeal to Ridicule
John Proctor
Act 1 page 181:
“To live in, yes. But to ask ownership is like you shall own
the meeting house itself; the last meeting I were at you
spoke so long on deeds and mortgages I thought it were an
auction.”
Puritans believe that a pastor is in place to preach God’s
word, not to worry about owning a house or money.
However, Proctor is over exaggerating how much Reverend
Parris speaks about deeds and mortgages by stating that it
feels like being at an auction.
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Appeal to Ridicule
John Proctor
Act 2 page 198
“Since we built the church there were pewter candlesticks
upon the altar; Francis Nurse made them, y’know, and a
sweeter hand never touched the metal. But Paris came,
and for twenty week he preach nothin’ but golden
candlesticks until he had them. I labor the earth from
dawn of the day to blink of night , and I tell you true,
when I look to heaven and see my money glaring at his
elbows-it hurt my prayer, sir, it hurt my prayer. I think,
sometimes, the man dreams cathedrals, not clapboard
meetin’ houses.”
Proctor is over exaggerating the fact that Parris had golden
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candlesticks made by stating that Parris “dreams
cathedrals.” This makes Parris look like he is trying to recreate the Catholic cathedrals and excessive decoration
that the Puritans wish to get away from. Proctor also
states that the candlesticks hurt his prayers, therefore
somewhat justifying the fact that Proctor doesn’t go to
church often by attributing it to the atmosphere of the
church and the many decorations within the church.
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Appeal to Ridicule
Danforth
Act 3 page 214
“Oh, is it a proper lawyer! Do you wish me to declare the
court in full session here? Or will you give me good reply?”
Giles will not confess to Danforth, and then jokes saying he
cannot be held in contempt of court since it is not in
session. Danforth then mocks Giles, “Oh, is it a proper
lawyer!” Everyone in the court (and town) know that Giles
is not an actual lawyer. Danforth uses this ridiculous
remark to make Giles seems incapable of sharing and
testifying in a court.
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Appeal to Ridicule
John Proctor
Act 3 page 217
“There might also be a dragon with five legs in my house,
but no one has ever seen it.”
This is an example of Appeal to Ridicule because Proctor is
using the ridiculous example of a dragon with five legs in
his house, when everyone knows that is very unlikely.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2006.
Print.

Bennett, Bo. "Appeal to Ridicule." Appeal to Ridicule. Archieboy
Holdings, LLC, 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2013.

"Fallacy: Appeal to Ridicule." The Nizkor Project. N.p., 1991.
Web. 25 Feb. 2013.

LaBossiere, Dr. Michael C. "A Fallacy Recognition Handbook."
Appeal to Ridicule. N.p., 2002. Web. 06 Mar. 2013.
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"Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney. Epic Rap Battles Of History
Season 2." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Oct. 2012. Web. 06 Mar. 2013.
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"Arguments From The Heart." N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2013