Go to the www.fallacyfiles.org (Links to an external site.) and choose a fallacy that you thought was particularly interesting or that you have run across frequently. You will find an alphabetical list of fallacies in a selector on the left-hand side of the page.
Remember to keep structure. Write separate paragraphs. One topic per paragraph. Define and explain what the fallacy is before you explain what is wrong with it.
Make your chosen fallacy one that hasn't already been covered in Vaughn textbook.
- Pick one specific fallacy such as slippery slope fallacy, ad hominem fallacy, or any other fallacy from the sight. Define this fallacy. Try to do this in your own words. If you do quote fallacy files, don't forget to use quotation marks.
- Briefly give an example of an argument that commits this fallacy from fallacyfiles.org.
- Give a novel example (your own example) of an argument that commits this fallacy; either one that you found in the media or one you made up just for this assignment.
- Explain why the example fallacious arguments fail to give good reasons for their conclusions. In other words, what's wrong with committing this fallacy? This is an important step in critical thinking and requires a full paragraph.