Rhetorical Analysis: Rhetorical Fallacies

Vocabulary flashcards covering emotional (pathos), ethical (ethos), and logical (logos) rhetorical fallacies based on the lecture slides.

Fallacy

A misuse of a rhetorical appeal, which can be intentional or unintentional.

Scare Tactics

Usually overly frightening or intentionally misleading language used to frighten the audience into accepting the argument more easily.

Bandwagon

The argument that because everyone else is doing it, you should too.

Oversentimentalization

Using hyper emotional language, usually sadness, love, or guilt related, to manipulate the audience into a stronger response than might be expected.

False Need

Implying or directly stating that a given audience NEEDS to believe the argument and/or take the specific action suggested by the author.

Slippery Slope

An argument suggesting that an increasingly terrible series of events will happen based on one seemingly innocuous decision.

Appeal to Tradition/Novelty

An argument that something is good because it is the way we've always done things (Tradition) OR because it is new (Novelty).

Ad Hominem

When a person attacks or insults another person rather than addressing their argument.

Argument from Authority

Claiming to be an authority when one is not.

Appeal to Anonymous Authority

Referencing cryptic or undefined source material or research rather than explicitly naming your sources.

Guilt by Association

Using the social, professional, or political group that a person belongs to as a reason why they are bad and their argument is wrong.

Authority over Evidence

When someone actually is an authority on the topic, but they rely on just that authority rather than offering real evidence for their argument.

False Cause/False Attribution

Confusing the effect with the cause OR confusing correlation (two things happen at the same time) with causation (this thing causes that thing).

Hasty Generalization

Claiming that something is 'true' or 'proven' without presenting enough evidence or using an insufficient sample size.

Either/Or Fallacy (False Dilemma)

Setting up a complex issue as a binary; that is, saying the solution to a problem must be 1 of 2 (often extreme) options.

Stacking the Evidence

Only presenting the evidence which proves your argument instead of examining the opposing viewpoint carefully.

Circular Logic (Begging the Question)

Creating a causal loop paradox to prove the truth of the argument.

Red Herring (Non Sequitur)

A distraction tactic to change the subject and/or confuse the audience or opposing side.

Straw Man

Giving the impression of disproving the opposing argument when really you've misrepresented that argument.

Sunk Cost Fallacy

Assuming that continuing to do something is better because you've already invested resources in it.

False Analogy

Comparing two things that don't share the relationship you're saying they do.

Middle Ground Fallacy

Assuming the correct solution to a problem is exactly half-way between two extreme options.

No True Scotsman Fallacy

Changing the criteria for something belonging to or representing a particular group in order to suit your own argument.