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Logical fallacies and 4 common modes of writing. American Literature EOCT Review. Logical fallacies are…. Illogical arguments Used to persuade listeners/consumers to feel a certain way or do something Comprised of over exaggerations, scare tactics, and/or emotional appeals
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Logical fallacies and 4 common modes of writing American Literature EOCT Review
Logical fallacies are… • Illogical arguments • Used to persuade listeners/consumers to feel a certain way or do something • Comprised of over exaggerations, scare tactics, and/or emotional appeals • A way advertisers can try to manipulate consumers
What is a logical fallacy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytWGiOuzpe4
Why should we know about them? • They are EVERYWHERE: in tv and radio commercials, print ads, television shows, movies, political speeches and ads • They have been used for centuries: everything from speeches in Julius Caesar to ads from the 1800’s to commercials today • We can avoid logical fallacies in our own writing and detect them in the writing of others • Knowledge of logical fallacies empowers us to be educated consumers in society.
Faulty reasoning • Circular reasoning: Trying to prove a statement by repeating it in different words • “Antibiotics are being overused because people take them too often.” • Cause-and-effect fallacy: Falsely assuming that because one event follows another, the first event caused the second: • “If we don’t make laws limiting tattoos, there will be more and more gang members.
Faulty reasoning • Either-or fallacy: Stating that there are only two alternatives when there are many • “If we don’t set limits on prescribing antibiotics, we will face worldwide epidemics caused by untreatable super microbes.” • Bandwagon: Everyone else is doing it so why not you? • “Millions of people have switched to [insert brand name here].”
Types of logical fallacies • Testimonial: Using a “true” story to convince the reader. • “If it could happen to me…” • Card stacking: Only positive information is presented, without any contradictory or negative information. • Nicotine has been shown to lower incidences of Alzheimer’s disease, can boost the growth of new blood vessels, and may even reduce depression.
Faulty reasoning • Stereotyping: creates a simplified picture of a complex situation, individual, or group. • Rhetorical questions: Asks questions for which no answer is needed, to try to force the reader/listener to agree. • “Are you tired of trash bags that rip and tear?”
Examples • Cause-and-effect http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE&feature=relmfu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SEGbRy5mIw&feature=autoplay&list=PLA88D7CD8A8A54AEA&index=4&playnext=3
Examples • Either/or, bandwagon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2y_GwKzxck • Bandwagon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvCTaccEkMI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02vku-6fZWQ
Examples • Cause-effect http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge8aZqgxV7Q&NR=1 • Testimonial, beautiful people http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLPltgIhZrI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ1_CQD1jS8
Examples • Card stacking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiWTcVHdSFo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl22YOOCreE Stereotyping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCA_d5qEF1k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L72rATeYN98
Examples • Rhetorical questions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXHUdvvHTkw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ide9dgoZkk
Four common types of writing • Narration: tells a story (fiction or nonfiction), usually has a plot, climax, and resolution • Descriptive: describes a person, place, or setting • Persuasion: attempts to influence the readers thoughts (here’s where logical fallacies come in) • Exposition: explains something (like an encyclopedia article)