Identifying Flaws and Basic Translation Practice

Studies show that people who sleep eight hours per night perform better on memory tests. Therefore, getting exactly eight hours of sleep improves your memory.

Dangling Variable Flaw

The city should shut down all 24-hour convenience stores. They contribute to noise and light pollution, both of which are undesirable.

Secret Value Judgment Flaw

We should definitely build the hydroelectric dam. It will increase our energy output by 20%.

Secret Downsides Flaw

If people truly valued their health, they would all become vegetarians.

Assumed Universal Goal Flaw

Since most employees in the department left after the new manager arrived, she must have driven them away.

Omitted Options Flaw

Everyone who has a driver's license passed a driving test. Jordan passed a driving test, so Jordan must have a driver's license.

Bad conditional reasoning Flaw

One intern plagiarized their research report, so interns are generally dishonest.

Overgeneralization flaw

The orchestra is the best in the country, so each of its musicians must be among the best in the country.

Whole-to-part Flaw

All the ingredients in this dish are delicious, so the dish itself must be delicious.

Part-to-Whole Flaw

A recent survey conducted at a luxury gym revealed that most people support privatized healthcare. Therefore, most people support privatized healthcare.

Survey Flaw

In an experiment, people who took Supplement A reported more energy than those who took nothing. So, Supplement A increases energy levels.

False Start Flaw

It’s possible that the candidate will win the primary, so it’s likely she will win the general election.

Possibility does not equal Certainty Flaw

Jack said he doesn't like horror movies. But if he doesn't like horror movies, then he must not like suspense. So Jack must not like suspense.

Implication Flaw

Either we eliminate standardized testing, or our education system will continue to fail students.

False Dichotomy Flaw

Critics say we should lower the military budget. But clearly, they don’t care about national security.

Straw Man Flaw

Don’t listen to Dr. Morales’s proposal on climate change; she flew on a private jet last year.

Ad Hominem Flaw

I know I’m trustworthy because I always tell the truth. And I know I always tell the truth because I’m trustworthy.

Circular Reasoning Flaw

Laws can’t be broken. Gravity is a law. So gravity can’t be broken.

Equivocation flaw

More people bought umbrellas this month, and there were more car accidents this month. Therefore, umbrella use causes car accidents.

Causation Correlation Flaw

All the students I interviewed at the elite prep school said they wanted to go to college. So most teenagers want to go to college.

Unrepresentative Sample Flaw

A recent university study found that students who attended late-night study sessions at the campus library consistently scored higher on standardized tests than their peers who studied alone in their dorm rooms. The researchers concluded that the communal nature of group study must be responsible for these improved outcomes and therefore recommended that universities encourage all students to attend group study sessions to improve academic performance.

Dangling Variable

City officials have proposed replacing the public transportation system with privately owned and operated ride-share partnerships, arguing that the transition will reduce the city’s financial burden. Since fiscal responsibility is the most important goal of any local government, the officials claim the plan should be implemented immediately, regardless of public opposition.

Secret Value Judgment

A major grocery retailer recently decided to eliminate all processed foods from its shelves in order to promote healthier lifestyles for its customers. Since diets high in processed foods are correlated with heart disease and obesity, the move is expected to significantly improve community health. The retailer therefore claims it is acting in the best interest of the community.

Secret Downsides

According to recent surveys, the majority of city residents would prefer to live in quieter neighborhoods. Given this, the city council voted to impose restrictions on all late-night businesses, including restaurants and theaters. Since reducing noise is clearly a priority for most citizens, these new policies are unquestionably beneficial.

Assumed Universal Goal

After the introduction of a new workplace mentorship program, employee turnover dropped by 25%. The company concluded that the mentorship program must have caused this drop in turnover, citing the fact that no other formal policy changes were made during that time.

Omitted Options (Causal Reasoning)

It is well known that only registered voters can cast ballots in national elections. Therefore, anyone who casts a ballot in a national election must be a registered voter. Since Miranda is a registered voter, we can conclude that she cast a ballot in the last national election.

Bad Conditional Reasoning

After one participant in a clinical trial for a new antidepressant experienced seizures, researchers warned that the medication poses a significant neurological threat to all patients. Given this outcome, the drug’s manufacturer should be prohibited from continuing trials or applying for FDA approval.

Overgeneralization

The university is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. Because of this, it is assumed that every academic department within the university must also be among the nation’s best. Prospective students should therefore feel confident in choosing any department at the university.

Whole-to-Part

Each musician in the ensemble is exceptionally talented in their own right, with several having won national competitions. Therefore, their performance as a group will be flawless.

Part-to-Whole

A recent poll conducted at a high-end fitness club found that 87% of members believe government healthcare should be privatized. Since the poll had a statistically significant sample size, one can reasonably infer that a large majority of the general population supports the privatization of healthcare.

Survey Flaw

Participants in a clinical trial were randomly assigned to two groups: one group took a new vitamin supplement daily, while the other group received no treatment. At the end of six months, the supplement group reported feeling more energetic than the untreated group. The researchers concluded that the supplement increases energy levels.

False Start

Because a small group of experts has raised the possibility that 5G technology could impact human health, it is almost certain that 5G networks will eventually be banned in urban areas.

Possibility vs. Certainty

If Olivia fails to pass the bar exam, then she cannot practice law. But Olivia can practice law, so she must have passed the bar exam.

Implication Flaw

Either we eliminate fossil fuels completely within the next decade, or we resign ourselves to the irreversible collapse of the global ecosystem. Since eliminating fossil fuels entirely in such a short time frame is unrealistic, we must accept that environmental collapse is inevitable.

False Dichotomy

Advocates for prison reform argue that solitary confinement should be abolished for nonviolent offenders. But this is clearly absurd—if we eliminate all forms of punishment, criminals will have no incentive to obey the law.

Straw Man

Environmental activist Carla Jennings claims that we need stricter emissions regulations. But Jennings has been caught flying first class across the country numerous times, so her proposal should not be taken seriously.

Ad Hominem

The mayor’s leadership must be effective because only someone who leads effectively would have made the decisions she made. We know this because her decisions reflect effective leadership.

Circular Reasoning

Freedom of speech is a fundamental right. But since yelling “fire” in a crowded theater is not protected, freedom of speech is not really a right at all.

Equivocation

Cities with more public art installations also tend to have higher rates of tourism. This shows that increasing public art directly causes more tourists to visit a city.

Correlation vs. Causation

An informal poll of patrons at a high-end steakhouse revealed that most people oppose government restrictions on meat consumption. Therefore, the general population is unlikely to support such policies.

Unrepresentative Sample