Fallacy Unit

Before we start Parliamentary Debates, we will spend the next 1 1/2 weeks going over fallacy arguments. A fallacy is a statement or argument based on incorrect or poor reasoning. There are many types of fallacies. For this unit, we are looking at the following fallacies:

1. argumentum verbosium
2. non sequitur
3. hasty generalization
4. post hoc
5. slippery slope
6. ad populum
7. straw man
8. red herring
9. appeal to authority
10. bandwagon
11. loaded question
12. fallacy of novelty
13. appeal to tradition

While I will review these fallacies in class, the assignments related to this unit include the following:

A. Flashcards--50 points. Create a a set of flash cards with the term on one side of the card, and on the other side have the definition and an example of the fallacy. The flashcards are due on Monday, April 26th. You will show me your set in class.

B. Team Test--50 points. You will be divided into teams of 3-4 students by me. Each team will be given study time together. Each individual will take a fill-in-the-blank, true/false test. The team will receive the LOWEST score earned by an individual on their team. We will take the test on Thursday, April 29 or Friday, April 30.

C. Portfolio--100 points. Each INDIVIDUAL will look in magazines, newspapers, internet advertising, political pamphlets or mailings for at least one example of 10 DIFFERENT FALLACIES. For each fallacy, make a heading with the name of the fallacy and have the definition of the fallacy underneath the heading. Then you glue or clip and paste the example you found. Underneath the example you found, you need to write an explanation of how your example fits the definition of the fallacy. You will receive extra credit for additional examples if you turn in at least one example of 10 different fallacies. The portfolio needs to be in a 3 ring binder with a cover and the use of color, neatness, and creative mounting will be taken into account. The Portfolio is due on Tues, May 4 or Wed. May 5.