When Claims Go Wrong Recognizing & Avoiding Logical Fallacies Kim Miller Davis.

When Claims Go Wrong

Recognizing & Avoiding Logical FallaciesKim Miller Davis

Academic Essay Writing Process:Step 1: Writer intakes informationStep 2: Writer analyzes information to formulate conclusionStep 3: Writer develops plan to communicate conclusion The plan is centered around proving the writer’s conclusion which is called the Major Claim (aka Thesis). The Thesis is proven through 3 Supporting Claims (aka Arguments).

First Step of Successful Communication:

Developing Logical Claims

Logical Claims

Allow the readers to easy follow the argument as it progresses

Claims Without Logic

Stop the Reader from going anywhere

The writer’s conclusion might be valid, but the road to get there is broken

These errors in reasoning are called

Logical Fallacies

They tend to occur for three major reasons:

• False or weak premises• Irrelevance• Ambiguity

The Most Common Fallacies• Ad Hominem• Bandwagon• Begging the Question or Circular Reasoning• Either/Or Reasoning• Weak Analogy• Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc• Hasty Generalization & Proof by Example• Slippery Slope• Dubious or False Authority• Non-Sequitur

Ad Hominem

Attacking the character of the arguer rather than the argument

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncw-acVB368

Bandwagon

Suggesting that a person should agree to something because it is popularhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQPN3UKQM-U

Begging the Question

Using Circular Reasoning to prove a conclusion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CVbku6nxhU

Either/Or Reasoning

Presenting someone with a limited choice, when other choices are possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sfNROmn7bc

Weak Analogy

Making an improper comparison between two things that share a common feature

Post Hoc Reasoning

Arguing that one event caused another when they are unrelatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ1a0ymGCKA

Hasty Generalization

Using a part to make an inaccurate claim about a wholehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2gvY2wqI7M

Romney makes a hasty generalization about people who do not pay income tax. In reality, that 47% includes:

• Elderly and People living on Social Security• People making less than $20,000/year• Active Duty Military & Retired Military • People living solely on pension plans• The Wealthy who make their living off of Capital Gains taxes• Young People who are working hourly jobs• College Students

Proof by Example

• Purporting a claim as “truth” through the use of minimal examples

“A lot of people on welfare are lazy. There is the one woman who comes into H.E.B. with a cell phone, a BMW, and her nails done; yet she buys her food with food stamps.”

“Illegal immigrants are damaging this country with crimes. Several men who crossed the border in Nogales last week are known rapists.”

Slippery Slope

Suggesting that one event will automatically lead to a chain of other events

False or Dubious Authority

Defending a claim with a biased or untrustworthy source

Non Sequitur

Stating a conclusion that doesn’t follow from the premiseshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErRHJlE4PGI