English 10 / Unit 7: Analyzing Informational Texts and Rhetoric
7.6 Logical Fallacies
Notes
A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning that weakens an argument.
| Fallacy | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ad hominem | attacks the person, not the argument | "Don't trust her plan; she failed math." |
| Straw man | misrepresents an opponent's view | "They want shorter breaks, so they hate fun." |
| False dilemma | offers only two options | "Ban phones or accept failing grades." |
| Slippery slope | claims one step leads to disaster | "Allow hats, and soon no rules will exist." |
| Bandwagon | says it's right because many do it | "Everyone is buying it." |
| Hasty generalization | concludes from too little evidence | "Two rainy days; this city always rains." |
| Red herring | distracts with an unrelated point | changing the subject |
Practice
"We shouldn't listen to his ideas about the budget. Have you seen how messy his car is?" This is:
It attacks the person instead of his ideas.
"If we let students redo one test, they'll want to redo every test, and soon grades will mean nothing." This is:
It claims one small step leads to an extreme outcome.
"You're either with us, or you're against the whole school." This is a:
It ignores other possible positions.
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