Argumentative Terms (Term)

Ad hominem fallacy

A fallacy of ethics and logic in which a person's character or motive is attacked instead of that person's argument.

Ad populum fallacy

Bandwagon appeal; A fallacy of logic in which the widespread occurrence of something is assumed to make it true or right.

Begging the question

A fallacy of logical argument that assumes as true the very thing that one is trying to prove

Counterargument

An opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward.

Equivocation

Half truths; A fallacy of argument in which a lie is given the appearance of truth, or in which the truth is misrepresented in deceptive language

False dilemma

A fallacy of logical argument which is committed when too few of the available alternatives are considered, and all but one are assessed and deemed impossible or unacceptable.

Point of view

The way in which something is viewed or considered by a writer or speaker.

Post hoc fallacy

This fallacy of logic occurs when the writer assumes that an incident that precedes another is the cause of the second incident.

Slippery slope

A fallacy of argument exaggerating the possibility that a relatively inconsequential action or choice today will have serious adverse consequences in the future.

Syllogism

A form of reasoning (deduction) in which two statements or premises are made and a logical conclusion is drawn from them.