Intro to Logic
Lisa Duffy
October Week 4
(Suggested use: October 22-26)
Monday
Let’s continue our Logic study with a look at an informal fallacy used by the best and brightest.
Please turn to a blank page in your Logic notebook and copy the following statements:
1. “You should buy me lunch. Very few are given this unique opportunity.”
2. “This company is head and shoulders above the rest. You only hire the best, so hire me.”
3. “You’re raising distinctive children. They deserve Distinctive Brand cookies.”
Each of these examples uses the same type of bad reasoning. Based on your experience and
background knowledge, try to find the faulty logic in each example. What do you notice about
the evidence or justification (or the lack of evidence or justification) presented in each example?
What just doesn’t sound right to you?
Jot down a few notes about the bad reasoning you think these examples have in common. Don’t
worry if you’re not sure! Just study each example and look for reasoning that doesn’t make sense
to you. It’s a great idea to talk this over with others if you’d like. We’ll discuss the faulty
reasoning used in each of these statements in the next session.
Tuesday
Read the explanation below of the informal fallacy used in yesterday’s examples.
The examples you read yesterday shared a distinguished and unique form of faulty logic that is a
cut above the rest. In each case, instead of backing up the statement or claim with reasons to
support it, the speaker tries to make the other person feel special, unique, or distinguished from
the crowd, in an effort to manipulate that person in some way. Each of these statements is an
example of the informal fallacy known as Snob Appeal. It’s easy to see why this type of bad
reasoning is given this title!
At the top of the notebook page on which you wrote the examples on Monday, please write the
title Snob Appeal.

Under the examples you copied yesterday, write the definition of Snob Appeal in your
own words.

Read the following examples. Jot down the letter of each example that you believe
contains the informal fallacy Snob Appeal.
1. “We should elect Mr. Boss. He’s educated, committed, and smart, like us.
Unfortunately, we can’t say that about all voters, so it’s up to us.”
2. “We should hire Mr. Gray. He has been trying to get a job in this field for 25
years, and no one has ever given him the chance. It makes him so sad, he hasn’t
worked in any field all these years. Poor guy! We can turn that around for him
today!”
3. “The highest-achieving homeschoolers use Shining Star Curriculum, so you’ll
want to buy it for your family, too!”
4. Five Star Canine Cuisine. For discriminating dogs and their companions.

Double-check your conclusions with the answers below. Then, copy those examples that
contain the week’s fallacy into your notebook.
Answers for Tuesday’s exercise:
Tuesday’s examples that contain the informal fallacy Snob Appeal: a,c,d.
Example b is not an example of Snob Appeal, but it doesn’t support the statement that we should
hire Mr. Gray with any good reasons to do that, either. Instead, the speaker appeals to our
emotions and attempts to make us feel sorry for Mr. Gray. This is an example of the Appeal to
Pity fallacy.
Wednesday
It’s time to find your own examples of this week’s informal fallacy, Snob Appeal, and record
them in your notebook. Snob Appeal is a particular favorite of advertisers. Your challenge this
week is to find two examples of the Snob Appeal fallacy in advertising in print, TV, radio, or
other media. Advertisers spend billions of dollars trying to get consumers to buy their products
and services. Why do you suppose Snob Appeal is such a commonly-used advertising tool?
Thursday
It’s quiz day! Some of the examples below contain the informal fallacy Snob Appeal. Others may
be examples of other informal fallacies we’ve covered, or they may not include an informal
fallacy. Please read each example and note which, if any, of the informal fallacies we’ve covered
is contained in each. Then, check your responses with the answers that appear below the quiz.
You should be developing a keen ability to spot these types of bad reasoning and faulty logic!
1. “You are a discerning investor. You don’t fall for scams and schemes. Only the best,
most fiscally sound investments are good enough for you! That’s why we’re offering you
and a few other knowledgeable investors this unique opportunity to purchase ownership
of the Brooklyn Bridge.”
2. “You can’t make us pay rent! The landlords on South Street get invited to the Emmy
Awards every year, and they just stopped collecting rent from their tenants. You’re at
least as good as the landlords on South Street. Seriously, you’re better than them! Don’t
belittle yourself by asking us to pay rent.”
3. A flyer requests donations for a clothing drive and specifically states where and when
items will be collected.
4. “Can I please go to the game, Dad? You’re the best dad in the whole county! I know I’m
grounded, but you’ve done an awesome job raising me to be the number one sports fan in
the state. The other dads don’t even come close. Not many dads can be that proud of their
little sports fans, Dad! You’re the best. I’ll be home at 10:00, OK?”
5. World-renowned chefs know the importance of smooth, flavorful gravy. Your family
knows it, too. Serve Famous Chef Gravy this year!
6. Don’t let your toddlers turn into couch potatoes! Buy our new book, Fight For Your Fit
Family, while there’s still a chance of winning this battle for your babies!
7. Nine out of ten Americans will enjoy Totally Turkey this Thanksgiving. You should too!
8. “We can’t support the school nutrition bill he’s proposed! He’s a restaurant owner, for
goodness sakes!”
9. “Why am I voting in favor of the school nutrition bill? I’ll tell you why. My mother and
my two aunts were teachers. They devoted their lives to helping children learn. After
decades of teaching in the United States, they all moved to Ireland, where they retired
and learned about the rich history and culture of that country. It was a fascinating,
enlightening experience for all of them.”
10. “Why would I take your advice on voting for the school nutrition bill? I’ve seen you
order in restaurants! You follow a terrible diet.”
Answers to Logic quiz
The following examples employ the informal fallacy Snob Appeal: 1, 2, 4, 5. Instead of giving
evidence, reasons, or facts to support the claim in these statements, the writer or speaker attempts
to make us feel superior and special.
Example 3 doesn’t include an informal fallacy; the flyer just gives information donors would
need.
Example 6 demonstrates the Appeal to Fear fallacy. No parent wants their babies to grow up to
be couch potatoes!
Example 7 is an example of Appeal to the People. According to this fallacy, if everybody else is
doing it (or almost everyone else) you’ll want to do it, too!
Example 8 uses the Ad Hominem fallacy. The fact that the bill is supported by a restaurant
owner doesn’t tell us anything at all about the merits of the bill. It might be worth supporting, or
it might not; knowing that it was proposed by a restaurant owner doesn’t give us any information
about the bill itself. Notice that this attack against the person is based on the bill’s supporter
being a restaurant owner. An Ad Hominem attack doesn’t always claim that the person is a liar,
criminal, or cheater.
Example 9 is an example of the Red Herring fallacy. Remember that this fallacy distracts by
leading us down another, unrelated trail. The ladies may have been wonderful teachers and may
have had a marvelous time in Ireland, but that doesn’t give us any information about whether the
school nutrition bill is something we should support.
Example 10 demonstrates the Tu Quoque fallacy. Even if the bill’s supporter does follow an
unhealthy diet, that alone doesn’t indicate why we should or shouldn’t support the bill. It might
be a good bill; it might not. We still don’t know, because we haven’t been given any facts about
the bill.