Eng 101 Argumentative Appeals

1. "This child lives in a shack in one of the poorest villages in Ecuador. She sleeps on the ground, using her hands as a pillow. The nearest source of clean water is miles away. Disease is rampant. Support this child by donating to Save the Children International." This is an appeal to...

Numbers

Experience

Values

Emotion

The given statement appeals to emotion because it evokes strong feelings of empathy and compassion towards the child living in poor conditions. It highlights the child's suffering and the urgent need for support, which aims to trigger an emotional response in the audience and encourage them to donate to Save the Children International.

Explanation

The given statement appeals to emotion because it evokes strong feelings of empathy and compassion towards the child living in poor conditions. It highlights the child's suffering and the urgent need for support, which aims to trigger an emotional response in the audience and encourage them to donate to Save the Children International.

2. "You should vote for Senator Smith's tax relief bill. A recent survey shows that a majority of Americans support the bill." This is an appeal to...

Numbers

Experience

Values

Emotion

The correct answer is "Numbers" because the argument is based on the results of a recent survey, which provides statistical evidence that a majority of Americans support Senator Smith's tax relief bill. This appeals to the logical reasoning of the audience by presenting them with factual data that suggests the bill is popular among the majority.

Explanation

The correct answer is "Numbers" because the argument is based on the results of a recent survey, which provides statistical evidence that a majority of Americans support Senator Smith's tax relief bill. This appeals to the logical reasoning of the audience by presenting them with factual data that suggests the bill is popular among the majority.

3. "Everyone deserves an equal chance to get an education. Being born rich or poor shouldn't determine your future. That's why you should support Bill 23, which will provide money for low-income students to receive an education."

Numbers

Experience

Values

Emotion

The given statement emphasizes the belief that everyone should have an equal opportunity to receive an education, regardless of their financial background. This reflects a set of values that prioritize fairness and equal access to education. The statement does not rely on numbers or statistics, personal experience, or emotional appeals to support its argument, making "Values" the most appropriate answer choice.

Explanation

The given statement emphasizes the belief that everyone should have an equal opportunity to receive an education, regardless of their financial background. This reflects a set of values that prioritize fairness and equal access to education. The statement does not rely on numbers or statistics, personal experience, or emotional appeals to support its argument, making "Values" the most appropriate answer choice.

4. "The best way to start a small business is to find a need and fill it. Come up with a business plan. Borrow $20,000 from the bank. Work your butt off every day. That's how I got started, and now my business rakes in $1 million a year." This is an appeal to...

Numbers

Experience

Values

Emotion

The statement suggests that the best way to start a small business is based on the speaker's personal experience. The speaker shares their own journey of starting a business and achieving success, implying that they have firsthand knowledge and expertise in the matter. Therefore, the statement appeals to experience as a guiding factor for starting a small business.

Explanation

The statement suggests that the best way to start a small business is based on the speaker's personal experience. The speaker shares their own journey of starting a business and achieving success, implying that they have firsthand knowledge and expertise in the matter. Therefore, the statement appeals to experience as a guiding factor for starting a small business.

5. Which kind of logical fallacy is this? "Why should we take Senator Smith's tax relief bill seriously? After all…he cheated on his wife!"

Ad hominem

Bandwagon

Circular reasoning

Hasty generalization

This is an example of the ad hominem logical fallacy because it attacks the character of Senator Smith rather than addressing the merits of his tax relief bill. The speaker is trying to discredit the bill by pointing out an unrelated personal flaw of the senator, which is not a valid argument against the bill itself.

Explanation

This is an example of the ad hominem logical fallacy because it attacks the character of Senator Smith rather than addressing the merits of his tax relief bill. The speaker is trying to discredit the bill by pointing out an unrelated personal flaw of the senator, which is not a valid argument against the bill itself.

6. Which kind of logical fallacy is this? "Your theory is ridiculous, and here's why. Neither the intentional nor extensional approaches to prototype compositionality succeed in their present formulations. Instead, a hybrid extensional theory of prototype compositionality should afford a concept-driven function of what triggers its constituent prototypes. Case closed."

Straw man

Call to perfection

Non sequitur

Proof by verbosity

The given statement is an example of proof by verbosity because it uses excessive and unnecessary words to make the argument seem more valid or convincing. The speaker uses complex language and technical terms to make their point, but the actual content of the argument is not clear or logically sound. They claim that a hybrid extensional theory is the only solution without providing any evidence or logical reasoning to support their claim. This excessive use of language and lack of substance in the argument is characteristic of proof by verbosity.

Explanation

The given statement is an example of proof by verbosity because it uses excessive and unnecessary words to make the argument seem more valid or convincing. The speaker uses complex language and technical terms to make their point, but the actual content of the argument is not clear or logically sound. They claim that a hybrid extensional theory is the only solution without providing any evidence or logical reasoning to support their claim. This excessive use of language and lack of substance in the argument is characteristic of proof by verbosity.

7. Which kind of logical fallacy is this? "We cannot allow a speed-limit increase from 70 to 75 mph. If we do that, what's to stop us from raising it to 80, 85, 90, 100…?"

Ad hominem

Circular reasoning

Slippery slope

Bandwagon

The given statement is an example of a slippery slope fallacy. Slippery slope fallacy occurs when one argues that a particular action will inevitably lead to a series of increasingly extreme or negative consequences. In this case, the argument suggests that allowing a speed-limit increase from 70 to 75 mph will ultimately result in continuously raising the speed limit to higher and higher speeds. However, this argument lacks evidence or logical reasoning to support the claim that a small increase will inevitably lead to such extreme consequences.

Explanation

The given statement is an example of a slippery slope fallacy. Slippery slope fallacy occurs when one argues that a particular action will inevitably lead to a series of increasingly extreme or negative consequences. In this case, the argument suggests that allowing a speed-limit increase from 70 to 75 mph will ultimately result in continuously raising the speed limit to higher and higher speeds. However, this argument lacks evidence or logical reasoning to support the claim that a small increase will inevitably lead to such extreme consequences.

8. What kind of logical fallacy is this? "They say smoking is bad for your health, but that's not necessarily true. My grandfather smoked, and he lived to be 95."

Red herring

Relativist fallacy

Bandwagon

Ad hominem

The given statement is an example of a relativist fallacy. This fallacy occurs when someone argues that a claim is true or false based on the circumstances or personal experiences of an individual. In this case, the person is using their grandfather's longevity despite smoking as evidence to refute the claim that smoking is bad for health. However, this anecdotal evidence does not disprove the general consensus that smoking is indeed harmful.

Explanation

The given statement is an example of a relativist fallacy. This fallacy occurs when someone argues that a claim is true or false based on the circumstances or personal experiences of an individual. In this case, the person is using their grandfather's longevity despite smoking as evidence to refute the claim that smoking is bad for health. However, this anecdotal evidence does not disprove the general consensus that smoking is indeed harmful.

9. What kind of logical fallacy is this? "I know I'm going to win the lottery this year…I've played it every day for 30 years and never won. My luck is bound to change."

False dilemma

Gambler's fallacy

Hasty generalization

Circular reasoning

The given statement demonstrates the Gambler's fallacy. This fallacy occurs when someone believes that the outcome of a random event is influenced by past events, even though the two are unrelated. In this case, the person assumes that because they have played the lottery for 30 years without winning, their chances of winning must increase. However, each lottery draw is an independent event, and past outcomes have no effect on future ones.

Explanation

The given statement demonstrates the Gambler's fallacy. This fallacy occurs when someone believes that the outcome of a random event is influenced by past events, even though the two are unrelated. In this case, the person assumes that because they have played the lottery for 30 years without winning, their chances of winning must increase. However, each lottery draw is an independent event, and past outcomes have no effect on future ones.

10. What kind of logical fallacy is this? Your refrigerator in your apartment stops working. Your landlord says it must be your fault. After all…he never had a problem with it until you moved in.

Gambler's fallacy

Red herring

Proof by verbosity

Post hoc

The given scenario illustrates the post hoc fallacy, also known as post hoc ergo propter hoc. This fallacy occurs when someone assumes that because one event followed another, the first event must have caused the second event. In this case, the landlord wrongly assumes that the refrigerator stopped working because the tenant moved in, simply based on the timing of the events. However, there may be other factors unrelated to the tenant's arrival that caused the malfunction.

Explanation

The given scenario illustrates the post hoc fallacy, also known as post hoc ergo propter hoc. This fallacy occurs when someone assumes that because one event followed another, the first event must have caused the second event. In this case, the landlord wrongly assumes that the refrigerator stopped working because the tenant moved in, simply based on the timing of the events. However, there may be other factors unrelated to the tenant's arrival that caused the malfunction.