Logical Fallacy Assignment : Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
Chipley High School AP Language and Composition B Collins
There are a number of claims that many of the characters in the play make in their attempts to persuade each other to think one way or another about the probability of witches in Salem and the likelihood that someone is or is not telling the truth.
You will be given an a type of logical fallacy to explore. Using the fallacy definitions in your AP
Reader and/or from credible online resources, gain an understanding of your fallacy, then you will research to find examples of the logical fallacies made by any of the characters in the play.
Record any examples you see of the fallacy on your envelope onto index cards. CITE the ACT and
Page number of EACH fallacy.
Turn in the following in written form for at least TWO examples of YOUR fallacy from the play:
Define: Your fallacy in SIMPLE terms.
Provide: A universal example not tied to The Crucible that demonstrates your fallacy.
Exemplify: your two fallacy examples with Exact quotes from The Crucible as follows: o Type of fallacy committed o Character committing fallacy o Statement of fallacy (Quote the passage from the play with (Act and page number) o Explain the problem with the argument
Fallacy List:
Begging the Question/ Circular Reasoning Slippery Slope
Appeal to Fear/ Scare Tactics
Ad Hominem/ Poisoning the Well
False Dilemma/ Either-Or/ False Dichotomy
Ad Populum/ Appeal to Popularity/ Bandwagon
Appeal to Ignorance
Straw Man
Argument from Authority/ False Authority
Appeal to Ridicule
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc/ Faulty Causality/ Non-Sequitur
Hasty Generalization
**Red Herring (diversion / something, especially a clue, that is or is intended to be misleading or distracting.)
**Not on your list**

or each fallacy, include a ONE sentence explanation that includes the reason it is illogical and the fallacy label by which it is best described.
Fallacy #1: Act I
Rebecca: "Goody Ann! You sent a child to conjure up the dead?" Mrs. Putnam:"
Let god blame me, not you, not you, Rebecca! I’ll not have you judging me anymore! Is it natural work to lose 7 children before they live a day?"
Fallacy #2: Act I
Parris: "I am not used to this poverty...why am I persecuted here?" Mr. Putnam: "Mr. Parris, you are the first minister ever to demand the deed to this house --
“
Fallacy #3: Act I
Abigail: She sends her spirit on me on church; she makes me laugh at prayer.
Fallacy #4: Act I
Giles: Last night--I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she closed her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly--I could pray again.
Fallacy #5: Act I
Par ris: You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba!”
Fallacy #6: Act II
Proctor: “I like it not that Mr. Parris should l ay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man."
Fallacy #7: Act II
Proctor: I have no love for Mr. Parris. It is no secret. But God I surely love. Cheever: He plow on
Sunday, sir. Danforth: Plow on Sunday! Cheever: I think it be evidence, John. I am an official of the court, I cannot keep it. Proctor: I-I have once or twice plowed on Sunday. I have 3 children, sir, and until last year my land give little.
Fallacy #8: Act III
Marry Warren: “You’re the Devil’s man!”
Fallacy #9: Act III
Danforth: You will confess yourself or you will hang! Do you know who I am? I say you will hang if you do not open with me!
Fallacy #10: Act III
Martha Corey: "I am innocent to a witch. I know not what a witch is." Hathorne: "How do you know, then, that you are not a witch