A rubbernecker comments : “The accident was caused by a typical woman driver.”

1. Logical FallaciesA logical fallacy is an error in logic, especially evident when one’s arguments are based on assumptions, invalid evidence, or breakdowns in reasoning.

2. A rubbernecker comments:“The accident was caused by a typical woman driver.”

3. A rubbernecker comments:“The accident was caused by a typicalwoman driver.”STEREOTYPE – placing a common group trait onto specific individuals in that group

4. A patriot shouts:“America is the greatest country in the world!”

5. A patriot shouts:“America isthe greatest country in the world!”OVERGENERALIZATION – statements that are so general that they oversimplify reality

6. Classic TV advertisement: “This is your brain.  These are drugs.  This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?”

7. Classic TV advertisement: “This is your brain.  These are drugs.  This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?”FALSE ANALOGY – an elaborate comparison of two things that are too dissimilar

8. A clever child holds a quarter: “You want this quarter? Then let’s flip a coin for it.  Ready?  Heads, I win; tails, you lose!”

9. A clever child holds a quarter: “You want this quarter? Then let’s flip a coin for it.  Ready?  Heads, I win; tails, you lose!”STACKING THE DECK — rigging the outcome so that one side gains a favorable result

10. A lonely man says: “Kissing spreads disease faster than most other methods. Therefore, people should stop kissing each other so that we can be healthier.”

11. A lonely man says: “Kissing spreads disease faster than most other methods. Therefore, people should stop kissing each other so that we can be healthier.”DISTORTION — a misrepresentation of an opposing view by intentionally reporting it in a slippery waySLANTING — the practice of selecting facts that are favorable to one’s opinion while suppressing those against them

12. Classic TV Advertisement: “Four out of five dentists surveyed preferred Crest toothpaste over the other leading brands.”

13. Classic TV Advertisement: “Four out of five dentists surveyed preferred Crest toothpaste over the other leading brands.”BANDWAGON APPEAL – the belief that something should be done because the majority of people do it (or wish to do it)DISTORTION — a misrepresentation of an opposing view by intentionally reporting it in a slippery fashion

14. A superstitious individual exclaims:“A black cat crossed Parker’s path yesterday, and he died last night from the bad luck.”

15. A superstitious individual exclaims:“A black cat crossed Parker’s path yesterday, and he died last night from the bad luck.”NON SEQUITUR – a conclusion that has no apparent connection to the premises or reasonsFALSE CAUSE – identifying an improper or unrelated cause for an observed effect

16. Babble overheard at the movie theatre: “We have to see this movie because it’s a movie that we just can’t miss!”

17. Babble overheard at the movie theatre: “We have to see this movie because it’s a movie that we just can’t miss!”CIRCULAR REASONING – supporting a premise with the premise rather than a conclusion

18. An anti-smoking campaign reads:“Smoking cigarettes is nothing short of suicide – the smoker is willingly killing himself.”

19. An anti-smoking campaign reads:“Smoking cigarettes is nothing short of suicide – the smoker is willingly killing himself.”MORAL EQUIVALENCE – defining distinct moral behaviors in similar terms

20. A bad history teacher tells you:“The American Revolution was a revolt against the heavy tax imposed by Great Britain on imported tea.”

21. A bad history teacher tells you:“The American Revolution was a revolt against the heavy tax imposed by Great Britain on imported tea.”ONLY REASON – identifying one valid reason, but ignoring the other possible reasons

22. An X-Files Fan says: “Aliens must exist because no one has ever proven that they don’t.”

23. An X-Files Fan says: “Aliens must exist becauseno one has ever proven that they don’t.”SHIFTING THE BURDEN OF PROOF — occurs when speakers do not prove their own claims, while forcing others to prove theirs

24. Girlfriend: “Honey, does this dress make me look fat?” Boyfriend: “Uh, say, babe … your hair is really gorgeous! And those earrings really bring out your eyes!”

25. Girlfriend: “Honey, does this dress make me look fat?”Boyfriend: “Uh, say, babe … your hair is really gorgeous! And those earrings really bring out your eyes!”LOADED QUESTION — a question that carries an assumption, and is worded in such a way that the respondent who answers the question directly admits to accepting that assumptionRED HERRING — an argument that distracts the audience from the original topic of discussion

26. Monty Python (from The Meaning of Life): “You're born from nothing.  You go back to nothing.  What do you lose?  Nothing!”

27. Monty Python (from The Meaning of Life): “You're born from nothing.  You go back to nothing.  What do you lose?  Nothing!”EQUIVOCATION — using a word or phrase to convey two different meanings simultaneously (from the Latin term meaning “equal voice”)

28. A naïve boss discusses a job applicant:“Purdue is a great engineering school. This applicant went there, so he must be a great engineer.”

29. A naïve boss discusses a job applicant:“Purdue is a great engineering school. This applicant went there, so he must be a great engineer.”DIVISION – assuming that complex parts can be removed, but retain their integrity

30. Your best friend explains:“I’m not a doctor, but your runny nose and cough tell me that you either have a cold or the flu.”

31. Your best friend explains:“I’m not a doctor, but your runny nose and cough tell me that you either have a cold or the flu.”FALSE AUTHORITY – using a biased, suspicious, or incredible source to defend a conclusionEITHER/OR– a claim that presents an artificially limited range of choices

32. An angry politician shouts: “We all know that we can’t trust the policies of my opponent, who is merely a childless, atheist, tax-and-spend liberal.”

33. An angry politician shouts: “We all know that we can’t trust the policies of my opponent, who is merely a childless, atheist, tax-and-spend liberal.”CHARACTER ATTACK — attacks that are directed against a person rather than his/her argumentsNAME CALLING — an attempt to discredit an opponent by labeling or describing him with words that have unfavorable connotationsLOADED LANGUAGE — diction that carries with it a heavy emotional charge

34. George W. Bush (July 4, 2005):“We’re taking the fight to the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home.”

35. George W. Bush (July 4, 2005):“We’re taking the fight to the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home.”EITHER/OR – a claim that presents an artificially limited range of choices

36. Bill Clinton(1998):“I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.”

37. Bill Clinton(1998):“I did not have sexual relationswith that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.”FALSIFICATION — this is another name for a lie or a misrepresentation, the ultimate form of distortion