Once you have learned to identify logical problems in analogical arguments, it is important to understand various forms of fallacies in order to better evaluate the validity or strength of an argument. A fallacy is "any error in reasoning. (Muson, 2012, p. 124)" In order to improve our ability to reason and recognize poor reasoning, it is essential to review common fallacies and learn how to avoid them.
Practice using and identifying an argument fallacy. Please follow these steps for this discussion:
• Choose a fallacy in your text, The Elements of Reasoning.
• Create an argument of two paragraphs, incorporating the fallacy you have chosen and at least one outside resource to support your argument (this will help to make the argument seem valid)
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE
you should act as if you really believe your fallacy. You should write 2 paragraphs that utilize your chosen fallacy (without giving it away) about one particular issue.
So, let's say I chose the gambler's fallacy. In my original post, I will craft an "argument" that makes the gambler's fallacy error. Here's an example of what I might post in my original post. I have used research that seems to support my 'argument' and makes my 'argument' seem reliable, and I wrote 2 full paragraphs. Notice how I also do not give my fallacy away; instead, I act as if I really believe my own 'argument'!
My mother had 4 sisters and no brothers. My father had 2 sisters and no brothers. I have 2 sisters and no brothers. My sisters all have baby girls. One of my sisters is pregnant with her 4th baby; she currently has 3 girls but does not know the gender of this baby. Because we've had so many girls in the family, this new baby MUST be a boy. We had very few boys in our family, so it's bound to happen soon!
Furthermore, research shows that someone is bound to have a boy soon. One study states, "the odds of having a boy seem to increase after having girls" (ingender.com, 2013) My sister has girls already, so she is thus more likely to have a boy now. The same research also states that in families with four children, there's a 73% chance that the children will not all be the same gender (ingender.com, 2013). So, it's very, very unlikely that my sister will have another girl.