Practice Recognizing Logical Thesis Statements

1. Is this claim valid or invalid? All college stduents are lazy and don't really care about the expensive education they are getting.

Valid

Invalid

I don't know

It is invalid because it suffers from the logical fallacy called "Polarization."

Explanation

It is invalid because it suffers from the logical fallacy called "Polarization."

2. Is the following claim valid or invalid? You must be the criminal. I'm sure of this, because you walk with a slight limp. We all know that the criminal walks with a slight limp.

Invalid

Valid

Not Sure

Just because the criminal walks with a slight limp does not mean that someone else with a slight limp would automatically be the criminal.

Explanation

Just because the criminal walks with a slight limp does not mean that someone else with a slight limp would automatically be the criminal.

3. Is this claim valid or invalid: Everyone who is against the war in Afganistan is immoral. People who attend anti-war rallies are un-American at best, and at worst, they are committing treason.

Valid

Invalid

I don't know

Invalid, because it suffers from the fallacy of "Ad Hominem Attack" or "Name Calling"

Explanation

Invalid, because it suffers from the fallacy of "Ad Hominem Attack" or "Name Calling"

4. Claim: To reduce rising crime in the city of Little Rock, the city must spend more money on police services. Contrapostiive of the Claim: If the city of Little Rock does not spend more money on police services, then rising crime in the city will not be reduced. Question: Is this claim logical?

Yes

No

The claims is logical and makes sense backwards and forwards. That doesn't mean it is necessarily the best argument every made, but at least it is logical.

Explanation

The claims is logical and makes sense backwards and forwards. That doesn't mean it is necessarily the best argument every made, but at least it is logical.

5. Claim: If a woman chooses not to have children, then she is not fulfilled in life. Contra-Postivie: If a woman is fulfilled in life, she will choose to have children. Question: Is this a logical claim?

True

False

This is not something that easily be claimed is an absolutely. it is applying stereotypical thinking.

Explanation

This is not something that easily be claimed is an absolutely. it is applying stereotypical thinking.

6. Is this claim valid or invalid? Democrats won't be satisfied until every man, woman, and child pays 75% of their income in taxes.

Valid

Invalid

I don't know

This claim suffers from the "Straw Man" fallacy

Explanation

This claim suffers from the "Straw Man" fallacy

7. Is the following claim valid or invalid? All who use Macintosh computers are irresponsible artistic rebels.No one who uses a Macintosh computer likes IBM computers. All who like IBM computers are unthinking conformists. Therefore, no irresponsible artistic rebels are unthinking conformists.

Valid

Invalid

Not Sure

Choice of computer platform really has no bearing on whether or not someone is a rebel or a conformist. Just because someone chooses a particular machine does not prove that the two things are mutually exclusive. Maybe that artistic rebel is also a conformist when it comes to say, his Nascar hobby.

Explanation

Choice of computer platform really has no bearing on whether or not someone is a rebel or a conformist. Just because someone chooses a particular machine does not prove that the two things are mutually exclusive. Maybe that artistic rebel is also a conformist when it comes to say, his Nascar hobby.

8. What is the following statement an example of? If all gun crimes are committed by criminals, then only criminals commit gun crimes.

Circular Logic

Red Herring

Ad Hominem Attack

The given statement is an example of circular logic because it uses the same statement to support itself. It assumes that all gun crimes are committed by criminals and then concludes that only criminals commit gun crimes, without providing any additional evidence or logical reasoning. This creates a circular reasoning where the conclusion is already assumed in the premise.

Explanation

The given statement is an example of circular logic because it uses the same statement to support itself. It assumes that all gun crimes are committed by criminals and then concludes that only criminals commit gun crimes, without providing any additional evidence or logical reasoning. This creates a circular reasoning where the conclusion is already assumed in the premise.

9. What is the following claim an example of? Either we ban all assault weapons now, or we will all be in immediate danger of being killed by a mass shooter.

Either/Or thinking

Slipper Slope

Post Hoc Fallacy

This claim is an example of either/or thinking because it presents only two options - either banning all assault weapons or being in immediate danger of being killed by a mass shooter. It does not consider any other possibilities or alternative solutions.

Explanation

This claim is an example of either/or thinking because it presents only two options - either banning all assault weapons or being in immediate danger of being killed by a mass shooter. It does not consider any other possibilities or alternative solutions.

10. Is the following claim valid or invalid? There have been very few instances of voter fraud in the United States. Those states that are agressively looking for Voter Fraud are chasing something that doesn't really exist. This may be evidence that some parts of the Republication power-structure in those states is under a concerted effort to supress votes among minorities and the disenfranchised.

Valid

Invalid

I don't know

You may not agree with it, but there's no problem with a logical fallacy here. It is also debatable, specific, and relatively interesting. At least it is making a provocative statement -- someone may be deliberately suppressing votes.

Explanation

You may not agree with it, but there's no problem with a logical fallacy here. It is also debatable, specific, and relatively interesting. At least it is making a provocative statement -- someone may be deliberately suppressing votes.

11. What is the following claim an example of? This year was the worse drought on record, Arkansas is clearly turning into a desert before our very eyes!

Hasty Generalization

Non Sequitur

Oversimplification

The given claim is an example of a hasty generalization. The speaker is making a sweeping conclusion about Arkansas turning into a desert based on the fact that this year was the worst drought on record. However, this conclusion is not supported by enough evidence and is based on a single event. It is a hasty generalization because it jumps to a broad conclusion without considering other factors or data.

Explanation

The given claim is an example of a hasty generalization. The speaker is making a sweeping conclusion about Arkansas turning into a desert based on the fact that this year was the worst drought on record. However, this conclusion is not supported by enough evidence and is based on a single event. It is a hasty generalization because it jumps to a broad conclusion without considering other factors or data.

12. Match the following statements with the logica fallcy they represent:

Begging the Question

False Analogy

Oversimplification

Rationalization

Slippery Slope

Post Hoc Fallacy

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