Discussion

"Fallacies and Errors in Sound Reasoning" Please respond to the following:

There are several types of fallacies - equivocation, false authority, ad hominem, appeal to ignorance and bandwagon.

Please provide two (2) different examples of advertising that show any of the above topics. Which of the above fallacies is used in each advertisement? Why do you think the advertisers used that fallacy in the ad?

Did the advertisers use the fallacy effectively? If you were an advertiser, what would you have done differently to better use the fallacy?

DISCUSSION

Please respond to one (1) of the following:

1. Social Groups: You probably belong to many different social groups, made up of people with whom you regularly interact. Your groups might include friends, family, coworkers, or people in your community.

• Which of your social groups is the most important to you?

• Why is it important?

• How does this group influence you?

2. Social Institutions: Social institutions help a society meet its basic needs. Examples include the family, education, religion, government, and the economy.

• What is one social institution that has had a big impact on you as an individual?

• How has this social institution helped you meet a basic need or reach a goal?

• How has this social institution failed to help you meet a basic need or reach a goal? Or, how have you seen it fail to help other people?

Assignment : Conflicting Viewpoints Essay - Part II

Synthesizing and Writing

When looking for information about a particular issue, how often do you try to resist biases toward your own point of view? This assignment asks you to engage in this aspect of critical thinking.

The assignment is divided into two (2) parts.

For Part I of the assignment (due Week 2), you read a book excerpt about critical thinking processes, reviewed the Procon.org Website in order to gather information, and engaged in prewriting to examine your thoughts.

Remember that in the Week 2 Discussion, you examined the biases discussed in Chapter 2 of the webtext.

In Part II of the assignment (due Week 4), you will write a paper to synthesize your ideas.

Part II - Writing

Write at three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:

1. State your position on the topic you selected for Assignment 1.1.

2. Identify (3) three premises (reasons) from the Procon website that support your position and explain why you selected these specific reasons.

3. Explain your answers to the "believing" questions about the three (3) premises opposing your position from the Procon website.

4. Examine at least two (2) types of biases that you likely experienced as you evaluated the premises for and against your position.

5. Discuss the effects of your own enculturation or group identification that may have influenced your biases.

6. Discuss whether or not your thinking about the topic has changed after playing the "Believing Game," even if your position on the issue has stayed the same.

The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing:

• Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph.

• Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.

• Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA Style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Identify the informal fallacies, assumptions, and biases involved in manipulative appeals and abuses of language.

• Create written work utilizing the concepts of critical thinking.

• Use technology and information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and informal logic.