1) Slippery Slope
You Try It: Make a slippery slope argument in which you encourage people to vote for you. Remember to start of in a convincing manner before going off the deep end and suggesting that not voting for you will result in some kind of catastrophe.
2) Oversimplification
You Try It: Make an oversimplified argument that going to college is not really that important.
You Try It: (Crucible Argument) You’re a Puritan and you’ve just caught your neighbor “borrowing” a few apples from your orchard. You want them to pay big time, so you go to Reverend Parris and tell him your neighbor should receive some harsh punishment. Your task is to construct an argument for the Reverend. When you’re done explain why your causes are actually oversimplified, but why Rev. Parris would still take your suggestions to heart and punish your neighbor.
3) Insignificant Causes
You Try It: Your cousin Eli is a Puritan who believes he is one of God's chosen people and it his and his community's "burden" to live a model life. He also believes in two things: (1) because he lives in such chaotic and sinful times, (2) it is his mission to purify his life and the life of his community. So....gently explain to your cousin Eli that he may be confusing the causes and effects of these two ideas. (Feel free to mention his belief in witches if you like.)
5) Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc (Correlation not Causation)
When my friend Chris moved to Somerville, the number of Burritos sold at Ana's Tacqueria doubled. Thus, he must be eating a lot of burritos there.
6) Plain Old Faulty Logic
The Red Sox will win the World Series because all the experts say they will.
The Red Sox will win the World Series because the Dodgers blew it last year and they'll blow it again.
What's wrong or right about the logic in the following statements?
Assignments: