claims and logical fallacies

claim/assertion/proposition

an arguable main idea or position

argument

a process of reasoned inquiry and rational discourse seeking common ground, persuasion discourse

claim of fact

asserting if something is true or not

claim of value

argues if something is good or bad, right or wrong

claim of policy

proposing a change

thesis

one sentence statement that the claim is stated in at the beginning of your argument

closed thesis

statement of main idea that previews the major points the writer intends to make

open thesis

not listing all the points that the writer intends to cover

counterargument thesis

a summary of the counter argument precedes the opinion, usually uses although or but

appeal to tradition

something is claimed to be good or right simply because it is old or traditional

appeal to pity/ad misericordion

doing the right thing might make someone unhappy

ad hominem/argument to the man

argues about the character instead of the main idea of the claim

patriotic appeal

framing argument in emotional appeal to love of the country

snob appeal

the best people think a certain way or do certain things

appeal to improper authority

appear as an expert but the topic is outside your sphere of experience

appeal to biased authority

when truthfulness is compromised because of an ulterior motive

bandwagon approach

just because everyone is doing something, it has to be right

logical fallacies

flawed/dishonest statements that might sound reasonable or true