Skills Lesson: Types of Evidence and Logical Fallacies, Skills Lesson: Types of Evidence and Logical Fallacies Practice

Read the argument below and complete the instructions that follow. (1) American schools should utilize a national curriculum to ensure that all students graduate from the public school system with the same background, knowledge, and skills. (2) Currently, there is a great variation in the content to which students are exposed depending on what schools they attend, where they live, and even how much money families have to invest in education. (3) This observation is particularly evident in English classes because there is a lot of variation between the literature read in classrooms across the country. (4) In 1992, the National Council of Teachers of English gathered data from schools in the United States to research the most frequently required titles in grades 9 through 12. (5) The study found that there are substantial differences between the percentage of public schools covering these titles (ranging from 54% to 84%) and the percentage of private schools covering these titles (ranging from 34% to 74%). (6) While it is true that the most frequently required titles are not necessarily the best or most representative of titles available, a national curriculum can ensure that students may start college familiar with a foundation in literature pivotal to American culture and cultures around the world. Evaluate the argument above, paying special attention to the evidence used. Label each sentence as either fact or opinion

1. Sentence 1 is an opinion. 2. Sentence 2 is a fact. 3. Sentence 3 is a fact 4. Sentence 4 is a fact. 5. Sentence 5 is a fact. 6. Sentence 6 is an opinion.

Which argument could be an example of a hasty generalization?

70% of students polled do not approve of the principal, so we need a new principal.

Which statement is a fact? Coralline algae, sponges, and other organisms contribute to reef growth. Coral reefs should be protected by environmental laws. Coral reefs are the most diverse and beautiful of all marine habitats. We should respect coral reef researchers like Thomas Goreau, who began working on coral reefs in the 1950s

Coralline algae, sponges, and other organisms contribute to reef growth.

What is the difference between a fact and an opinion? Opinions can be verifiable as true or false, while facts cannot. Facts can be verifiable as true or false, while opinions cannot. Facts are based on feelings, beliefs, and perspectives. Opinions are not based on feelings, beliefs, and perspectives.

Facts can be verifiable as true or false, while opinions cannot.

Which of the following is a fallacy of ambiguity? I. division II. personal attack III. appeal to a lack of evidence I only III only I and III II and III

I only

Which of the following is a fallacy of syllogism? I. non sequitur II. faulty analogy III. hasty generalization I only III only I and II I, II, and III

I, II, and III

Which of the following is a type of evidence? I. empirical II. statistical III. anecdotal

I, II, and III

Which of the following is a fallacy of relevance? I. equivocation II. popular appeal III. argument from the negative II only III only I and II I, II, and III

II only

Read the premise for an argument below and answer the question that follows. Any species that is in danger of extinction should be legally protected. Is this premise a fact or an opinion? Why? It's a fact because it can be verified as true or false that endangered species should be protected by government action through legal means. It's an opinion because it is a belief based on the perspective that the government should be involved in stopping the extinction of animals. It's an opinion because it can be verified as true or false that endangered species should be protected by government action through legal means. It's a fact because it is a belief based on the perspective that the government should be involved in stopping the extinction of animals.

It's an opinion because it is a belief based on the perspective that the government should be involved in stopping the extinction of animals.

What is the difference between a fact and an opinion? Opinions can be verifiable as true or false, while facts cannot. Facts can be verifiable as true or false, while opinions cannot. Facts are based on feelings, beliefs, and perspectives. Opinions are not based on feelings, beliefs, and perspectives

NOT Opinions can be verifiable as true or false, while facts cannot.

Read the argument and answer the question that follows. That baseball team won the World Series, so the players must be outrageously talented baseball players. Which logical fallacy is present in this argument?

NOT equivocation NOT faulty analogy Division

What are the two types of statistics? observation and experiment descriptive and inferential observation and sampling illustration and analogy

NOT observation and experiment Descriptive and inferential

Read the excerpt from the eResource below and answer the question that follows. An examination of a school handbook from a local public high school shows that the "expectations" of students are more like laws by which a citizen must abide to live in a society. "Respect the teacher's position as leader in the classroom . . . " sounds like a statement of a tyrant. These "expectations" seem forced upon the students with no freedom. If schools want students to be successful citizens, they should allow students to take the courses they want and let them breathe. Which change would make the evidence stronger?

NOT supporting the analogical evidence with empirical evidence by providing a comparison to a similar situation in a foreign country

Which statement is an opinion? Acanthaster planci, also known as the crown-of-thorns starfish, is a carnivorous starfish that preys on coral. In the reefs off the north coast of Jamaica, one can find a species of Monatrea annularis, which is flat to capture light efficiently. Stony coral is one example of the Hexacoral polyps and has tentacles in groups of six. People must take action now to protect coral reefs by reducing pollution and emissions of noxious gases

People must take action now to protect coral reefs by reducing pollution and emissions of noxious gases.

What is anecdotal evidence? When should it be used (and not used) in a research paper?

Responses may vary but should contain some or all of the following information: Anecdotal evidence is evidence based on personal observation, personal experience, personal examples, and case studies. It can be used to disprove general statements but should not be used to support arguments or support or oppose narrower claims.

Explain fallacies of omission and give examples of this fallacy.

Responses may vary but should contain some or all of the following information: Fallacies of omission are errors due to leaving out necessary information or misdirecting from necessary information. One type of fallacy of omission is argument from the negative, which is asserting that one position is correct because the opposition is false. An example of this type of fallacy is as follows: "Pei-mei and Esmeralda are definitely not going out. Therefore, I am right that Pei-mei is dating Soshanna." A second type of fallacy of omission is appeal to a lack of evidence, which is asserting that one position is correct because there is a lack of evidence to prove that it is incorrect. An example of this type of fallacy is as follows: "You cannot prove that ghosts don't exist, so they obviously exist."

Write an example of an argument that suffers from a faulty analogy. Then, explain why it does not prove the point being argued

The correct answer should indicate an understanding of the logical fallacy of a faulty analogy, which is discussed in the Application Lecture, and of why that fallacy does not prove the point being made. Here is an example of a correct answer: Julia says, "Sam, I think we should date because we get along really well." Sam responds, "We've only known each other for three days. I don't know you that well." Julia says, "Getting to know a person is like eating a piece of cake. It only takes a bite to know if the cake's any good!" Sam responds, "I don't think that people are anything like cake. Good-bye." -In the above dialogue, Julia presents an argument that relies only on an analogy as evidence. Not only is the analogy the only piece of evidence, but it is also a weak analogy. It doesn't prove her point/conclusion that Sam and she should date.

Write an example of an argument that suffers from the fallacy of an argument from the negative. Then, explain why it does not prove the point being argued.

The correct answer should indicate an understanding of the logical fallacy of an argument from the negative, which is discussed in the Application Lecture, and of why that fallacy does not prove the point being made. Here is an example of a correct answer: Studies show that using money as an incentive to encourage people to recycle does not work. Therefore, we should not try to encourage people to recycle. -Proving that one position is false does not guarantee that another position is true.

What is a logical fallacy? a mistake in thinking or reasoning a system of thought analysis a true or false statement a process of reaching conclusions

a mistake in thinking or reasoning

A statistic that describes a sampled group is called __________. anecdotal inferential analogical descriptive

descriptive

Statistics that are used to draw conclusions about larger groups are called __________. inferential descriptive analogical anecdotal

inferential

Which of the following is a fallacy of syllogism? non sequitur personal attack division argument from the negative

non sequitur

A statistic is a(n) __________ that describes groups or samples of objects. observation analogy number experiment

number

Which logical fallacy often includes a premise that appeals to what is believed or done by the mainstream or the elite? hasty generalization popular appeal faulty analogy equivocation

popular appeal

Which of the following are fallacies of relevance? equivocation and division hasty generalization and false analogy faulty analogy and non sequitur popular appeal and personal attack

popular appeal and personal attack

Read the excerpt from the eResource below and answer the question that follows. An examination of a school handbook from a local public high school shows that the "expectations" of students are more like laws by which a citizen must abide to live in a society. "Respect the teacher's position as leader in the classroom . . . " sounds like a statement of a tyrant. These "expectations" seem forced upon the students with no freedom. If schools want students to be successful citizens, they should allow students to take the courses they want and let them breathe. Which change would make the evidence stronger? supporting the analogical evidence with empirical evidence by providing a comparison to a similar situation in a foreign country supporting the empirical evidence with anecdotal evidence by giving an example of how a specific teacher enforced the rules supporting the anecdotal evidence with empirical evidence by examining a range of school handbooks from various public schools supporting the anecdotal evidence with empirical evidence that suggests schools are wasting money by enforcing rules

supporting the anecdotal evidence with empirical evidence by examining a range of school handbooks from various public schools