Cause and Effect Scenarios

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?

• When Mookie Betts gets two hits in a game, the Red Sox usually win. Night he already has two hits, so they're definitely going to win. (Is this logical? Why not?)
• When people buy more water at the ballpark, they also buy more ice cream. Ice cream must make people thirsty.
• If Walter opens a successful liquor store and buys a house, he will prove that he was right about how to best use the 10,000 dollars.
  • ...that he is a successful entrepreneur
  • ...that one doesn’t need a formal education to be successful.

Assignments:

1. Write A Monologue: You are an eight-year old child who is arguing for a later bedtime. Construct an argument that employs at least two kinds of flawed logic.

• This Logical Structure Is Called A Syllogism
• Major Premise: Walter is convinced money will bring him happiness.
• Minor Premise: The money will cloud his vision.
• Logical Conclusion: Therefore, ____________________.
• Complete it in a way that is logical and in a way that is illogical.
• Now discuss the logic of this syllogism. Is it logical?
• Mama loves and trusts Walter
• She wants him to feel like a man
• So she happily gives him the balance of the insurance money to manage