Fallacies

Question 0

Argument from Authority

Answer 0

argument that tempts us to agree with the writer’s assumption based on the authority or entity of a famous person or on his/her character

Question 1

Ad Hominem Argument

Answer 1

fallacious idea that criticizes an idea by pointing something about the person who holds the idea, rather than the actual merit of the idea

Question 2

Appeal to Ignorance

Answer 2

argument based on the assumption that whatever has not been proven false must be true (or vice versa, whatever has not been proven must be false)

Question 3

Begging the Question

Answer 3

fallacious form of argument in which someone assumes that part (or all) of what the person claims to be proving are proven facts
circular reasoning

Question 4

Hasty Generalization

Answer 4

when a writer or speaker leads the audience into a conclusion by providing insufficient, selective evidence

Question 5

Faulty Causality

Answer 5

the use of a cause-and-effect relationship when none exists

Question 6

Straw Man Argument

Answer 6

oversimplification of the opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack

Question 7

Sentimental Appeals

Answer 7

appealing to the hearts of the audience so that they forget to use their minds

Question 8

Red Herring

Answer 8

attempt to shift the attention away from an important issue by introducing another issue that has no connection to the discussion at hand

Question 9

Scare Tactics

Answer 9

attempt to frighten the audience into agreeing with the speaker; often, the speaker has no logical argument to fall back on

Question 10

Equivocation

Answer 10

telling part of the truth while deliberately hiding the entire truth; similar to lying by omission

Question 11

Bandwagon Appeals

Answer 11

encourages the audience to agree with an argument because everyone else does
peer-pressure