- Begging the Question involves making assumptions or skipping steps
to solve a problem. Conclusions are not supported by facts.
Example David started as manager of the sales department on Monday.
The sales report on Friday said that the sales department has lost many
clients. It must be David‘s fault. He should be fired.
- Name Calling involves drawing attention away from facts and details.
Instead, emphasis is placed on criticizing a person. Emotion, slant,
and bias often support name-calling.
Example That crazy foreigner is stupid. The fast talking guy has a freaky
accent. No one should give him a job.
- Jumping on the Bandwagon means assuming that the statements said
to be held by a group of people must be correct without evaluating the
facts or details.
Example All of Betty’s friends said that her rock band was the
best band they heard at the talent show. We should hire them to play
at the prom dance because they must be good.
- Appeal to Authority encourages readers to accept the opinions expressed
by “experts”. Testimonials about isolated experiences or
opinions are used in place of detailed and balanced presentations of
facts.
Example Sheila Roberts, world champion figure skater, uses Super White
Teeth Whitener. Look at her teeth shine. You can be like Sheila if you
buy Super White Teeth Whitener, the number 1 teeth whitener.
Study the tables on the following pages. They offer some tips on how
to avoid “faulty thinking”. |