Spotting Fallacies: Article Study
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Assignment:
Step 1: Find one example of a fallacy. Choose one of the articles below.
What's the Difference Between Terry and Terri? By Terence Jeffrey
The Organic Difference by Zazel Lovén
The Science of Satire by Mahzarin Banaji
Arrest Everybody by Jacob Sullum
Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense by Joe Klein
Step 2: Identify the specific type of fallacy you found in the article.
Label the fallacy as a slippery slope, questionable cause, equivocation, etc. It's possible that you may find more than one fallacy. Please explain why you labeled the fallacy/fallacies the way you did. This will require that you briefly summarize the actual argument that contains the fallacy.
Step 3: Briefly explain why you think the fallacies you discovered were committed.
Explain why this type of fallacy is included in the argument. Do you think it was intentional or unintentional?
Your paper should be approximately 1 typed page in length (3-5 paragraphs). Look at the sample paper before beginning.
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Solution Summary
The solution provides information, assistance and advise on the topic of spotting fallacies in an article. A popular article is studied as an exercise for this purpose. Resources are listed for further exploration of the topic.
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Dear Student,
Hi and thank you for using Brainmass. The solution below should get you started. I find this task of yours interesting as, being a subscriber of Time, I often come across articles by one of the writes in your list - Joe Klein. I have chosen his work to exemplify for you below. It also appears to me that this is a short discussion wherein you have to show to your professor that you are able to look at articles and detect fallacies. I think 1 fallacy detected is enough so that you can discuss it in depth in relation to the article. I suggest this simple outline:
1. About the article - 100 words
2. About the fallacy - define it, locate it - 100 words
3. Discussion - 100 words
300 words should cover what you need for a 1 page narrative. Just let me know via the feedback section if you need further clarification. You can also use the listed resources to further explore the topic. All the best with your studies.
Sincerely,
AE 105878/Xenia Jones
Fallacy Spotting - Joe Klein's Marijuana Piece
I have chosen to look into the article by Joe Klein (2009), one of Time Magazine's most prolific political journalists. Often, his work reflects his politics and positions as being a pundit, his opinion on politics and national issues matter just as much as his delivery. It cannot be denied that for journalists of Klein's position, his opinion and analysis will not be neutral, they will be subject to his beliefs and the purpose of the piece - to push to convince, via an opinion, to encourage discourse for and against his position. His critics call him out to be among the most 'left-biased ...
Education
- MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
- MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
- Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
- BA, University of the Philippines
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