Argumentative

Fallacies
And your online/in-class Debate Skills

6 minute introduction to Fallacies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXLTQi7vVsI
Obamas Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgce06Yw2ro

Fallacies: are common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your
argument. Fallacies can be either illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points, and are
often identified because they lack evidence that supports their claim. Avoid these
common fallacies in your own arguments and watch for them in the arguments of
others.

Meaning
Using these fallacies will not allow you to get your point across as effectively and in
fact hurt your argument.
Think back to a post you commented on in Facebook land, say someone didnt like it
so they made fun of your grammar and not the point you originally made

First, Some Examples of Fallacies

Slippery Slope

Straw man

Fallacy Examples Cont.

Appeal to Bandwagon

AD Hominem

So, now that you have an idea of what we are talking

about
Lets break up into 4 groups (please make a creative [and appropriate] name for your group)
And take a closer look at fallacies and how to avoid them
Group 1: Slippery Slope
Hasty Generalization
Genetic Fallacy

Group 2: Begging the Claim

Circular Argument
Either/or

Group 3: Ad Hominem
Ad Populum
Red Herring

Group 4: Straw Man

Moral Equivalence
Post hoc ergo propter hoc

In your groups
1. Decide on a fun group name (be creative!)
2. Use: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/659/03/ to look up
your groups fallacies
3. Write down the definition for each fallacy at the top
4. Write down ONE example sentence like the ones provided on the
website (just dont use the example from the website)
a. -or- draw a cartoon like the ones above
b. -or- write a quick script depicting a conversation around the
fallacy.
5.Write down ONE historical argument that you can make without the
use of a fallacy. (i.e. bantu migration, Sally Slocum, who had it better
Chinese women or Indian women? Etc.)
**Post your paper on the wall closest to your group**
6.Walk around and take notes (or pictures) on/of the other groups
fallacy papers.

What Im Looking For

Evaluation Rubric:
5- Group completed all of the assignment completely with many artistic
touches that helped the assignment.
4-Group completed all of the assignment and added some artistic content
that may or may not have helped the assignment.
3- Group completed most of the assignment with little to no artistic
content.
2- Group completed half of the assignment with little or no artistic
content.
1-Groupd completed less than half of the assignment with little or no
artistic content.
Note: artistic content can include: pictures, a creative group name,
drawings or boarders, use of multiple colors to aid in understanding, a
quick script or scene, etc...