Recommended Practice: Recognizing Fallacies Handout #1

Indicate any fallacy committed by each italicized and red passage:

1) I would never go outside without makeup; for I've been wearing makeup outside for 20 years.

2) If you start wearing makeup as a teenager, you'll become an adult who can't go outside without wearing makeup; so don't start wearing makeup as a teenager.

3) You should try makeup. You might like it.

4) You should try Revlon makeup. It's fresher.

5) Covergirl is America's makeup. Buy Covergirl.

6) There's nothing wrong with buying makeup at Target. It's not like I'm buying it at WalMart.

7) Trisha: Well, there's nothing wrong with buying makeup at Target. I'm either buying makeup at Target or WalMart; and I'm not buying it at WalMart.

Caroline: Or you don't have to buy makeup.

8) I know Carla is going to say you only should buy makeup that doesn't have animal products in it; but don't listen to her, 'cause she's an overly idealistic bleeding heart.

9) I know Nicki is going to say it's okay to buy makeup that uses animal products; but you shouldn't listen to her, 'cause her dad works for Revlon.

10) The only reason Bobby stopped wearing makeup is because she started dating Monica. She stopped the day after she started dating Monica.

11) Joel: I'm serious, Linda and I aren't dating.

George: Really?

Joel: Yeah; for we're just getting to know each other.

12) You should go on a date with Larry, since you haven't been on a date in over a year.

13) You might like Alex. You should go on a date with her.

14) I think it's time to date again; because, if I don't, I may end up never dating and die alone.

15) There's nothing wrong with dating my friend's ex-girlfriend; for it's not like I'm marrying her.

16) You dated a friend's ex-boyfriend. Therefore, it's okay for me to do the same.

17) My first two boyfriends cheated on me. I think it's safe to say most boyfriends do, too.

18) You should date Candice. It'll go better.

19) Ginger: You're in love with Brian?

Greg: I didn't say that.

Ginger: I thought you did.

Greg: No; for I just said I'm falling for him.

Ginger: If that doesn't mean you love him, what does it mean?

20) I'm either in love or I'm suffering from low blood sugar; and it's not low blood sugar. Hence, I'm in love.

21) I know Carlo said you don't need to study for the final; but don't listen to him; for he's failing the class.

22) Of course you should study for the final. Since, if you don't, you might regret it.

23) You should bring practice examples to the instructor's office hour. After all, you've never tried that.

24) You've taken final exams without studying. So I don't see what's wrong with me doing it, too.

25) Of course you're only studying because you're afraid you'll fail the class. You didn't study until after you looked at your grade.

26) I've always taken my final exams without studying. Therefore, it's okay to do it again.

27) I've never studied before my final exams. So I think I should this time.

28) I haven't heard any good reasons to study for our final exam. Hence, it seems okay not to study.

29) Gordon: I'm either going to cheat or guess on all of the final exam questions; and I'm not going to guess. So, I have no choice but to cheat.

Ted: Well, you can study.

30) I want to learn how to think critically before my Critical Thinking final exam. Therefore, I should study before that final.

31) I'm pretty sure Vivian is majoring in Chemistry, since she said she's majoring in a science.

32) I'm pretty sure Vivian is majoring in History, since Julie said she might be majoring in it.

33) Well, Vivian's transcript says she's majoring in Economics; so I think it's safe to say that's her major.

34) You should major in Geology. It's more interesting.

35) If you ask me, it's okay to major in Business Administration. It's not like I'm majoring in Marketing or something.

36) You should major in Humanities. You haven't tried that one yet.

37) People have been studying Philosophy for thousands of years. So you should, too.

38) Everyone we know is majoring in Psychology. Seems like a good reason for you to do it, too.

39) You went to college without knowing your major. Therefore, it's okay for me to do the same.

40) Vince is going to say you should major in Engineering; but don't listen to him. He's just saying that because he wants to take classes with you.

41) You really need to try the Cookie Diet; for you haven't yet.

42) I think you should try to McDougall Diet. Everyone is talking about it.

43) I think you have to try a Detox Diet, because you'll finally feel free.

44) Well, I think I should just keep my Junk Food Diet. I've been doing it for years.

45) There's nothing wrong with the South Beach Diet; for it's better than doing nothing.

46) My brother liked the Fruitarian Diet. Therefore, I think most people would.

47) I've never heard a single good reason to adopt a Vegetarian Diet. So eating meat seems okay to me.

48) I think Dan became a Lacto Vegetarian because he started working at a meat processing facility. Since he became a Lacto Vegetarian a month after he started working there.

49) Trixie is going to say you should become an Ovo Vegetarian; but she's wrong. She's just a bleeding heart.

50) If we don't adopt a Vegetarian Diet, we're going to ruin everything. It's that simple. That's why we should adopt a Vegetarian Diet.