Common Fallacies
Directions: In a fully developed short essay (minimum of eight paragraphs in length), answer all of the questions. Your work should include an introduction, a body of supporting evidence, and a conclusion.
Questions for Analysis
1. What role should logic play in modern argument? Which approach to reasoning do you think will be most useful for you in the research argument?
2. Using at least three of the common fallacies listed (Limited Sampling, Appeal to Ignorance, Naturalistic Fallacy, ad hominem, ad ignorantiam, ad populum, Begging the question, Complex question or loaded question, False dilemma, Non sequitur, Post hoc, ergo propter hoc, Red herring, Slippery slope, Straw man) explain which errors in logic you see most frequently in your daily experience with the news, politics, and advertising.
Link to a news story, advertisement, or opinion piece in supporting your view (you should have at least three hyperlinks for this discussion, although you don’t need to include a “Works Cited” list as part of your discussion post).
3. In reflecting on Rebecca Jones’s essay, “Finding the Good Argument OR Why Bother With Logic,” (attached) how can we, as participants in American culture, foster a healthier environment for productive debate?
Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of finding common ground in these important public discussions?
Explain your views on finding common ground in the arguments that we engage with as participants in a complex and diverse culture.
