English 9 / Unit 7: Argument and Rhetoric
7.6 Logical Fallacies, Part 2
Notes
More fallacies to recognize.
- Slippery slope: claiming one small step will lead to a chain of extreme results without proof.
- Hasty generalization: a broad conclusion from too little evidence.
- Red herring: a distraction that changes the subject.
- Circular reasoning: the claim is used as its own proof.
- False appeal to authority: citing someone who is not an expert on the topic.
- Example: "This book is boring because it is not interesting." (circular reasoning)
Practice
"If we let students listen to music in study hall, soon they'll be watching movies, and then no one will ever learn anything." This is:
It assumes an unproven chain of extreme results.
"I met two rude people from that town, so everyone there must be rude." This is a:
Two people are too few to judge a whole town.
"A famous pop singer says this cough syrup is the most effective medicine." Which fallacy is this?
A singer is not a medical expert.
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