Recommended Practice: Fallacies of Relevance Handout #1

Indicate any fallacy of relevance committed by each italicized and red passage: 

1.  You should take a Critical Thinking class.  I know Jess said you shouldn't, but he isn't even a college student.
2.  You should take a Critical Thinking class.  I know Jess is going to you shouldn't, but he isn't even a college student.
3.  You shouldn't take a Critical Thinking class.  I know Mateo said you should, but he's biased because his dad teaches the class.
4.  You shouldn't take a Critical Thinking class.  I know Sean said you should, but that's just because he wants to get paid and he doesn't get paid until there are at least 22 students in the class.
5.  You dropped your Critical Thinking class; so I think it's okay if I do.
6.  It's okay to drop my Critical Thinking class, since it's not like I'm dropping all of my classes.
7.  I don't see what's wrong with cheating on my Critical Thinking mid-term; for I've never cheated before. 
8.  It's okay to wait until the day before the mid-term to start studying.  After all, that's the way I've been studying for 11 years.
9.  Most students don't ask questions when they're confused.  Therefore, it's okay if I don't ask questions when I'm confused.
10. Student #1- If you want to get an A, I recommend you study a little every day and ask questions when you're confused. 
    Student #2-  I still think it's okay to study only once a week; for you obviously think this should be the only class I ever study for. 
    Student #3- She didn't say that. 
11. I don’t think it was wrong to drop my Critical Thinking class.  It’s not like I’m dropping out of school.
12. Daniel: You shouldn’t have dropped your Critical Thinking class.
    David: Ah, I don’t see what’s wrong with it.  You did the same thing when you were in college.
13. You should take a Critical Thinking class with me.  Most of our friends think so.
14. You shouldn’t have to take a Critical Thinking class.  I know Michael Aparicio is going to say otherwise, but he’s biased because he teaches it.
15. You should take a Critical Thinking class.  You’ve never taken one.
16. You should take a Critical Thinking class.  Everybody we know is.
17.  Fran: Michelle should take an Algebra class.
    Todd: No she shouldn’t.  The only reason you’re saying she should is you want her to take the class with you.
18.  You should take a Critical Thinking class.  It’ll teach you how to think differently.
19.  Yes, I had an affair.  What’s the problem?  I did it only after I found out you’d had one.
20.  I'm not having an affair.  I know our neighbor is going to say I am, but she's just a miserable old witch who likes to gossip.
21.  I know our neighbor said I’m having an affair; but it’s not true.  She’s saying that because she wants us to divorce and sell the house to her.
22.  Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the accused murdered his neighbor.  How do I know?  Just ask: everyone in his neighborhood says so.
23.  Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client did not threaten to hurt anyone.  Think about it.  Even the prosecutor’s only witness admitted that my client merely said he would silence the victim.  That’s not the same.
24.  Defense Attorney: My client, Mr. Smith, didn't see the victim on the day of his death.  So he couldn't have killed the victim. 
    Prosecuter: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, of course, Mr. Smith killed the victim; first, despite what the Defense Attorney just said, the accused had known the victim for many years. And there's more. 
25. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the District Attorney just tried to convince you that my client is a murderer.  But he's wrong.  Of course he is.  He's just another big city lawyer coming into our town and trying to make a name by throwing innocent people into jail. 
26.  Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it’s true that my client took items from that department store.  But, don’t forget, there were riots throughout the city that day.  In this context, my client did nothing wrong.
27.  Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it’s true that my client killed Mr. Jones.  But what he did was defensible.  What he did is no different than what thousands of people have done over thousands of years, and without being convicted of murder.
28.  Of course the accused should go to jail.  Only a crazy NRA nut would say otherwise.
29.  Of course the accused should go to jail.  Only someone married to a crazy NRA nut would say otherwise. 
30.  Of course the accused should go to jail.  Everyone who watched the trial says that. 
31. Of course Mother's Day should remain a holiday.  Everyone knows that; and if you don't, you've obviously got psychological issues.
32. I think we should celebrate our pets' birthdays this year.  We've never done that.
33.  I know Fester is going to say we shouldn't celebrate Valentines Day; but of course we should.  He's just saying that because he's jealous of us.
34. Oh, so I forgot to buy fireworks for 4th of July.  That's no reason to be mad at me.  Think about it.  It's not like I forgot our wedding anniversary or your birthday.
35. So I forgot your birthday.  It's not a big deal, since you forgot mine once.
36. Come on, we have to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family this year.  We're from New England.
37. Miguel: I just think Groundhog's Day is silly.  I couldn't take a day off work for that. 
    Oscar: No it's not.  You obviously think people who celebrate it are stupid.
    Temo: Did he say that? 
38. Colonel: Okay, just hear me out.  We shouldn't celebrate National Mustard Day this year.
    Marcy: Of course we should.  You don't even put mustard on your hot dogs.
    Colonel: What does that have to do with it? 
39. We have to celebrate Toasted Marshmallow Day this August; for we're dedicated campers.
40. I think we should make our gifts this Christmas; for we need to save our money.  
41. Oh, there's nothing wrong with waiting until the day before a test to study;  Some students don't even study at all.
42. I know Sam's brother; and he failed most of his classes.  So, don't listen to Sam when he says you don't have to study for the test.
43. You should study everyday for a week before the test.  I always do that.
44.  You should review past homework assignments when you study for our test.  You've never tried that.
45. You should retake the old homework assignments when you study for our test.  Everyone thinks so.
46. You should go to the teacher's office the day before the test.  Richard, Mary, and Denny are going to do it.
47. Okay, I admit it, I didn't study.  It's not a big deal.  It's not like a cheated. 
48. Okay, I admit it, I didn't study.  It's not a big deal.  Everyone I know has cheated once.
49. I don't think our Critical Thinking class should have any tests.  We still might be able to learn our skills without taking a test.
50. If you ask me, Michael Aparicio's Critical Thinking class isn't fair, because students have to take a mid-term exam every week.