Fallacy examples

false cause

The economy rebounded after the president was elected; therefore, the president caused the economic rebound.

slippery slope

Students will never learn to read the news and be good democratic citizens if they do not receive instruction on misinformation and digital literacy.

either/or

We must either teach digital literacy in high school or college professors must stop expecting students to know how to avoid misinformation when conducting research.

circular argument

“People should stop littering because that would reduce the amount of trash left around our roads and public parks.

red herring

Reporter: Governor, did you take bribes?

Governor: No, I cut taxes for regular people.

ad hominem

“People who oppose further development and use of Artificial

Intelligence (AI) just don’t understand technology.”

bandwagoning

Buy our product, everyone is doing it.

strawman

"Those opposed to the EPA’s new regulations don't think the environment is important and want to let industrial pollution go completely unchecked."

invalid analogy

apples & oranges

hasty generalization

Evidence shows that students who have taken classes on misinformation and digital literacy are less likely to believe in conspiracy theories. This means that in the long run they will be more educated voters.

appeal to authority

According to the Department of Education digital literacy is an important skill that many students lack which is why we need to teach it.

appeal to ignorance

Anyone who opposes this policy needs to produce evidence showing that it will not be effective.

appeal to tradition

A mother tells a pregnant woman that she should give birth to her child by natural birth because all the women in the family have natural births, not cesarean sections.

moral equivalence

“We're sorry for the massive disruption it's caused their lives. There's no one who wants this over more than I do. I'd like my life back.” - BP CEO Tony Hayward’s response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster (2010)