FALLACY

A trick or a falsehood that an author/speaker might use while trying to persuade you to accept a conclusion.ORA mistake in logic or a form of deceptive reasoning.

An attack or insult against a person, instead of the person’s reasoning.

Assuming that a step will set off an uncontrollable chain of undesirable events.

Falsely assuming that because part of a problem remains after a solution is tried, the solution should not be adopted. An all or nothing approach.

Appealing to sentiments that “large” groups of people have in common.OrAccepting that when some idea is popular, it must be good.

Supporting a conclusion by citing an authority who lacks special expertise on the issue at hand

The use of emotionally charged language to distract someone from relevant reasons and evidence

Supporting a conclusion by citing an authority who lacks special expertise on the issue at hand

The use of emotionally charged language to distract someone from relevant reasons and evidenceCommon Examples: Appealing to fear, hope patriotism, pity, sympathy

When we distort our opponent’s point of view so that it’s easy to attack.A straw person is not real and therefore, easy to knock down.

Either you’re with me or against me““Either you are a part of the problem or a part of the solution”“Either you are a leader or a follower"

Forming beliefs or making decisions according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by appealing to evidence, rationality or realityI want P to be true; therefore, P is true.

The use of vague, emotionally appealing virtue words that dispose us to approve something without closely examining the evidence

Intentionally diverting attention from the original issue to help win an argument.Changing the topic of discussion.

A person draws a conclusion about a large group based on experiences with only a few members of the group.