Bias and Fallacy

1. Bias and Fallacy How to recognize it in others’ work And Avoid it in your own

2. Bias • Bias means holding opinions about a person or group that are stereotypical, prejudiced, or judgmental.

3. Types of Bias Type of Bias Example Political bias Republicans are the reason gay marriage laws will not pass. Gender bias Men take all the good jobs and always make more money than women do. Racial or ethnic bias Our country has so many economic problems because of all the illegal immigrants from Mexico. Religious bias Muslims believe in killing others for eternal reward. Age bias Senior citizens do not know how to drive properly and should not have driver’s licenses.

4. Bias • Academic writing requires you to be unbiased. • your reader does not feel offended or excluded • you emerge as a fair and accurate researcher and writer.

5. Bias • use caution to avoid bias in your own writing • avoid using research that is biased or one-sided

6. Fallacy • Using emotion the wrong way can create what is known as a fallacy. Fallacies occur when you use an illogical argument.

7. Scapegoating: Blaming a group or a person for a problem Scare tactics: Using fear to try to scare readers Ad hominem: Attacking a person rather than attacking an argument Example: Racial quotas are the reason I cannot find a better job. Example: If you sit too close to the television set, you will go blind. Example: The president is stupid for proposing a tax cut at this time. Types of Fallacy

8. Straw man: Creating a position that is easy to refute and then attributing that position to someone else (such as a source that is arguing the opposite of what you are arguing) Example: Person One’s argument: I do not think children should have a rigorous academic schedule all day. Person Two’s misuse of Person’s One’s argument: You cannot allow children to play all day and not study. Types of Fallacy

9. False dilemma: Presenting two choices as the only choices available when there are other options that have not been revealed Slippery slope: Suggesting an action will cause a chain of bad events Apple Polishing: Appealing to reader’s vanity. Example: You are either for us or against us. Example: Once everyone owns a gun, no one will be safe. Example: All intelligent people will vote for Bruce. Types of Fallacy

10. Examples of Bias and FallacyCitizen Kane Speech • Scapegoating: Kane blames Boss Gettys for the political and economic problems in the state, accusing Gettys of being a man who does not keep his promises or care for ordinary citizens. • Scare tactics: Kane implies that no one will watch out for the interests of the working class or underprivileged if Gettys continues to control the state. • Slippery slope: Kane implies that no one will watch out for the interests of the working class or underprivileged if Gettys continues to control the state. The eventual decline if Gettys remains in office is a dangerous and frightening look into the future.

11. Examples of Bias and FallacyCitizen Kane Speech • Ad hominen: Kane refers to the downright villany of Boss Gettys. Nowhere during the speech does he explain what Gettys has done to earn this title or discuss Gettys political viewpoint or decisions. • False dilemma: Kane offers only two choices to voters: Continue under the evil reign of Gettys’ political machine and his total control of the state or vote for Kane to solve all of their problems. • Apple polishing: Kane appeals to the vanity of the listeners by implying all decent, hardworking people should agree with him.