Rhetorical Strategies and Fallacies Worksheet PHL/320 Version 1
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Rhetorical Strategies and Fallacies Worksheet
The following are some common rhetorical strategies:
- Innuendo: a leading suggestion
- Stereotype: generalized statements relating to a group of people
- Loaded questions: questions based on unjustified assumptions
- Hyperbole: an extreme exaggeration
Identify the rhetorical strategy in each of the following statements.
- I did not say the meat was tough. I said I did not see the horse that is usually outside (W. C. Fields).
- Have you stopped beating your wife?
- The Maserati is the best car in the world!
- All men love football; all women love the ballet.
The following are some common rhetorical fallacies:
- Slippery slope: If A happens, then B–Z will follow. Therefore, to prevent B–Z from happening, do not allow A to occur.
- Hasty generalization: rushing to form a conclusion based on assumptions; not based on clear evidence
- Post hoc ergo propter hoc: If A occurs after B, then B caused A.
- Either/or: looking at a situation from only two sides, or oversimplifying the situation
- Ad hominem: attacking the person rather than attacking the argument
- Red herring or smoke screen: introducing an unrelated topic as a diversionary tactic
Identify the rhetorical fallacy in each of the following statements.
- We can either stop using plastic, or destroy the Earth
- I ate tuna for lunch and now I do not feel well, so the tuna made me ill.
- If you enjoy a social drink, it could lead to you becoming an alcoholic, so you probably should never drink.
- Even though this is the first week of class, I can tell this is going to be a very easy course.
- We know that smoking can affect your health, but how else will tobacco farmers earn a living? _
- As the candidate for mayor, he has some good ideas, but we know that all politicians are dishonest.