comm 4 (15)
The 1950s reckless demagogue who violated our democratic ideal that we discuss and debate public issues with intelligence, civility, and respect was _______.
Joseph McCarthy
In a speech to convince citizens that the drug task force was succeeding, the official stated: "We seized twelve Meth labs in two months. This is more than we closed down in all of last year." With this statement, the official _____.
made a claim with no evidence
In a speech to convince citizens that the proposed graduated drivers licensing bill would save lives, Alicia stated: "California, Oregon, and Maryland, where GDL is instituted, found drops in teen crashes ranging from five to sixteen percent, as reported by U.S. News & World Report." With this statement, Alicia _____.
provided evidence for her claim
As an educator, Woodrow Wilson taught that ordinary citizens were ______.
quite capable of exercising "intelligent discretion"
In a debate over a bond issue for a new school, the man stated: "How can we sit here and debate whether to build this new school when the last contractor who built something for us went over budget?" This speaker's "argument," which attempts to divert attention from the real issue involved, is an example of which fallacy?
red harring
"He's crazy to run for office. He's 74 years old!" This argument turns not on the evidence but on the general assumption that people of a certain age shouldn't run for public office. This element of an argument, which is, in this case, unstated, is known as ______.
a warrant
"She's crazy to run for office. She's only 22 years old!" This argument turns not on the evidence but on the general assumption that people of a certain age shouldn't run for public office. This element of an argument, which in this case is unstated, is known as ______.
a warrant
A vibrant, healthy democracy requires ______.
x & y
Jose proposed that his community "develop after-school programs so that children will have something safe and constructive to do after classes." What might comprise the best type of evidence Jose could use for this proposed policy, given that there is no "direct evidence" since the program hasn't yet been tried by his community?
y & z
Simone proposed that the community "implement a community policing program with officers on bicycles who frequently stop and interact in a friendly manner with citizens." What might comprise the best type of evidence Simone could use for this proposed policy, given that there is no "direct evidence" since the program hasn't yet been tried by her community?
y & z
If you have made an argument that is, on its first face, a reasonable argument (a prima facie case), you can expect ______.
your listeners will take you seriously but may have questions
The talk-show host proclaimed, "So-called 'pink slime' in our hamburgers is nothing to be concerned about! It's just a phrase some crazy folks, likely those buffoons over at PETA-the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals-have dreamed up in their quest to take meat out of the food pyramid! Don't be fooled by those imbeciles!" What fallacy in reasoning does this statement illustrate?
Ad hominem
The talk-show host proclaimed, "The environmental wackos seem to think that global warming is caused by human activity. How could you believe anything these nut cases say?" What fallacy in reasoning does this statement illustrate?
Ad hominem
"He's very successful. He earns over $100,000 a year." This argument, which assumes that the audience already agrees with the general principle that people who earn more than $100,000 are successful, illustrates which form of argument?
An enthymeme
In Alberta's speech on blood donation, she stated "We all know that giving blood saves lives, so please give blood." This statement, which assumes that the audience already agrees that saving lives is important, is an example of _____.
An enthymeme
_____ is a classic form of reasoning in which a premise is omitted with the expectation that the audience will supply the premise from their own store of beliefs and values.
An enthymeme
The speaker argued: "We have always supported the fund drive, therefore we should do so again!" With this "argument," this speaker has committed which fallacy?
Appeal to tradition (ad verecundiam)
The speaker argued: "We have never allowed women to serve as deacons in this church. Why start now?" With this "argument," this speaker has committed which fallacy?
Appeal to tradition (ad verecundiam)
The speaker said: "We don't believe in torture, and we don't torture prisoners of war. So it should be clear, then, that maintaining a detention center in Guantanamo Bay for enemy combatants is not only acceptable but highly desirable." This speaker's "argument," is an example of which logical fallacy?
Disconnected conclusion (non sequitur)
"How can you believe that man's arguments against the Patriot Act? After all, he's married to a card-carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union." What fallacy in reasoning does this statement illustrate?
Guilt by association
During the campaign the candidate espoused a belief in a society where interracial cooperation was possible and everyone could succeed. Her statement was called into question by one critic who asked, "Can we possibly believe this candidate? She used to attend church where the pastor made remarks in at least one sermon insisting that the oppression of their race is still alive and well in America!" What fallacy in reasoning does this statement illustrate?
Guilt by association
After Senator Jones was convicted of accepting a bribe from a lobbyist, Barney declared: "It just goes to show you that you can't trust a politician to do right!" What fallacy in reasoning did Barney commit?
Hasty generalization
When it was discovered that the newspaper reporter had fabricated information for his story, Velma declared: "It just goes to show you that you can't trust anything you read in the paper these days!" What fallacy in reasoning did Velma commit?
Hasty generalization
The proponent of producing Ethanol from corn said: "Using corn for Ethanol production will in no way impact our food supply or the cost of food. No one has ever proven otherwise, so why would anyone argue against making our own gas out of our own stuff?" How would you evaluate the proponent's argument?
He is wrong to suggest that if something isn't proven wrong it must be right.
After Mildred addressed the community in praise of the proposed bond issue, a man on the front row rose to his feet, turned to those gathered in the auditorium, and said: "Mildred has done a lot for our community, and if she says we should support the bond issue, how can we say 'no'? How can we sit on our wallets when she has done so much?" How should we evaluate this speaker's "argument?"
It actually constitutes a distraction-a fallacy known popularly as a "red herring."
After learning that the city was considering adding more street lights in the downtown area, Don exclaimed, "Crime actually went up after we put in street lights downtown. Why on earth would we want to put in more? Crime would skyrocket then! If anything, we need to get rid of the lights already there!" With such "reasoning," Don has committed a fallacy (or error) of causal reasoning called:
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc
When a speaker concludes that because one event happened after another, the first must have caused the second event, he or she has committed a fallacy (or error) of causal reasoning called:
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc
What type of reasoning is illustrated in the following statement? "Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Dwight Eisenhower were among our greatest presidents. We may conclude, therefore, that military men make especially good Presidents."
Reasoning from specific instances
"Our only choices are a preemptive strike or to be annihilated by the enemy!" exclaimed the leader, refusing to acknowledge any other policy options as a plausible course of action other than the one he had proposed. This speaker's "argument" is an example of which fallacy?
false dilemma
According to James Madison, this governmental entity would help moderate public passions when public opinion became deluded or too aroused by "the artful misrepresentations of interested men."
The U.S. Senate
When one legislator introduced a bill to ban a particular pesticide, based on studies that linked it with cancer deaths, another legislator argued: "If we follow your logic, then we should also outlaw automobiles on the grounds that cars kill people!" How should we evaluate this legislator's statement?
The legislator has compared things that are not, in fact, similar.
In a speech to convince citizens that the drug task force was succeeding, the official stated: "We are effectively combating the importation of illegal drugs into our community." This statement, alone, represents:
a claim with no evidence
In a speech to convince citizens that they should conserve water, the city official stated: "We must act now to conserve this precious resource, or disaster will follow." This official's statement, alone, represents:
a claim with no evidence
In a speech to convince his fellow citizens that they should pass the bond issue which would fund building a new school, the man stated: "Our current school is inadequate as well as unsafe." This man's statement, alone, represents:
a claim with no evidence
A speech comparing today's "war on drugs" to the failure of Prohibition in the 1920s would involve what kind of reasoning?
analogical reasoning
The governor argued, "Just as a person should have to carry automobile insurance, they should also have to carry health insurance." What kind of reasoning has he used?
analogical reasoning
In Bill's speech, he argues: "Senator Alexander deserves our vote for re-election. His support grows with every poll. More and more people are saying 'We're for Alexander!' You should too." This "argument" is an example of which logical fallacy?
bandwagon appeal
The speaker exclaimed: "White collar crime isn't properly punished. As we all know, white collar criminals and their fancy lawyers make it so they can play golf rather than make license plates while serving time." By attempting to use one unsupported assertion as support for another, this speaker has committed which fallacy of reasoning?
begging the question
Pablo argued that bike lanes in the city would curb overall emissions from automobiles and lessen congestion on the roadways. In making this argument, Pablo has used _____ reasoning.
causal
The congressman argued that we should reinstate a military draft to deter politicians from launching wars. His rationale was that if the public had more at stake than tax dollars, they would be more attentive to policy decisions involving military actions. In making this argument, the representative has used _____ reasoning.
causal
_____ are the debatable assertions put forward by a speaker. They are the contested positions the speaker would like the audience to accept.
claims
Which types of claims are, by their very nature, the hardest to prove, since they involve, in effect, predicting the future?
claims of policy
In her speech, Becki began by stating her philosophy that "the best defense is a strong offense." On the basis of that principle, she argued that the U.S. should increase military spending to ensure superior recruits, training, and weaponry. What type of reasoning has she used?
deductive
"All workers are motivated by money. Tom Martin is a worker. Therefore, he must be motivated by money." Reaching this conclusion in this manner is an example of ____ .
deductive reasoning
_____ is the process of drawing conclusions about specific cases based upon inferences from a generally accepted premise or principle.
deductive reasoning
The essential purpose of the classical tradition of teaching persuasion is to _____.
educate people for democratic citizenship
In his speech, Jason cited various studies that found that kids who study music also excel in math and have fewer behavioral problems. On the basis of these specific studies, Jason advocated more funding for music programs in public schools. What type of reasoning has he used?
inductive
In his speech, Max cited studies of gun regulations and how they correlate with crime, noting that places like the United Kingdom, Japan, and Hungary, which have strict regulations, also have a much lower incidence of armed violence than countries with more liberal gun laws. On the basis of these specific studies, Max advocated stricter regulations on guns and ammunition. What type of reasoning has he used?
inductive
____ involves reasoning from a set of specific instances or a series of observations to a general conclusion.
inductive reasoning
Joan qualified her claim, stating: "The major causes of Colony Collapse Disorder among honey bees are probably some combination of mites, diseases, and pesticide contamination." The reasonable listener would conclude that Joan _____.
is being reasonably cautious in making her claim
Mick qualified his claim, stating: "The main reasons young men join a gang would seem to be to family disintegration, lack of education, and lack of job opportunity." The reasonable listener would conclude that Mick _____.
is being reasonably cautious in making his claim
Ron qualified his claim, stating: "The best way to decrease the dropout rate of high school students seems to entail providing more personal attention for each troubled student." The reasonable listener would conclude that Ron _____.
is being reasonably cautious in making his claim
The Senator qualified his claim, stating: "Requiring background checks for the purchase of ammunition would probably help reduce armed violence." The reasonable listener would conclude that the Senator _____.
is being reasonably cautious in making his claim
The civil engineer asserted: "The dredging of the river channel should allow barge traffic to continue for the foreseeable future unless the drought conditions worsen." The reasonable listener would conclude that the engineer _____.
is being reasonably cautious in making his claim
The medical doctor asserted: "This new medication should be safe and effective unless the patient has a heart condition." The reasonable listener would conclude that the doctor _____.
is being reasonably cautious in making his claim
Identify the fallacy evident in the following: "If we allow the government to restrict the sale of assault rifles, the next thing you know they'll take away the handguns we use to protect our families. Then they'll want to confiscate our hunting rifles. And once they have all our guns, the next step is to take away all of our constitutional liberties."
slippery slope
The goal of arguing persuasively in a democratic society is to _____.
stimulate discussion and debate of an important public issue
In the debate over how to proceed in the war effort in Afghanistan, the senator argued for diplomatic efforts to help end the war. In response, another senator exclaimed: "There you have it! Our colleague would have us to cut and run!" This speaker's response, which misrepresents the first senator's real position and criticizes his imagined position, is an example of which fallacy?
straw man
Most scholars of speech would define a good argument as _____.
w & y
When an administrator tried to keep Carrie from publishing her article in the school paper, Carrie said, "You're violating my First Amendment rights." That Americans generally have a right to free speech was Carrie's _____ .
warrant
