Class notes
Common Fallacies in Arguments
- Course
- ENG 106
- Institution
- Des Moines Area Community College
These are notes on the different fallacies that are often used in arguments. I took these notes for my course, Composition II.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Three Types of Arguments of FallacyLogical- an argument is false due to poor logical reasoning by mischaracterizing the argument.
Ethical- an argument is false by using emotional appeals in an unjust way or attempts to make personal
attacks which mischaracterize the person or group in question
Emotional- an argument is false by using the desire to be liked and fit in and broad generalizations as a
way of persuading the audience to their position
Emotional Fallacies
Scare tactic- (veiled threats) – using fear to scare their audience into accepting their point of view
Example: “If the garbage collection rates are not increased, your garbage will likely start piling up.”
Logical Fallacies
Paralipsis- a false argument where a point is emphasized only to “pass over it”
Example: “I’m not saying you never take the trash out. I’m not saying I’m the only one around here who
does laundry.”
False Analogy- a false argument where a comparison is made despite lack of similarities in those things
to support the comparison
Example: “This summer camp job is like a rat cage. They feed us and let us out on a schedule.”
Red Herring- a false argument where an irrelevant detail is presented to distract the audience from the
issue at hand
Example: My room might be a mess, but I got an A in math.
Straw Man- a false argument where an arguments is rebutted by a claim by oversimplifying or
exaggerating the argument of the opposition
Example: “Claim—You should take a long walk every day. Rebuttal—You want me to sell my car, or
what?”
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller racheldebner. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.69. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
73918 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now