Identifying Logical Fallacies
This worksheet helps grade 11 students identify and understand common logical fallacies in arguments and texts.
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Identifying Logical Fallacies
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Read each question carefully and follow the instructions. This worksheet is designed to test your understanding of common logical fallacies. For each example, identify the fallacy present and explain why it is a fallacy.
Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that undermine the logic of an argument. They can be illegitimate moves or irrelevant points, and they are often identified because they lack evidence that supports their claim. Understanding logical fallacies is crucial for critical thinking and effective argumentation, allowing you to both construct stronger arguments and identify weaknesses in others' reasoning.
1. Which logical fallacy occurs when someone attacks the person making the argument rather than the argument itself?
Straw Man
Ad Hominem
Red Herring
Slippery Slope
2. The logical fallacy of occurs when a conclusion does not logically follow from the previous statements or evidence.
3. A fallacy is when an argument is presented as one of only two possible options, when in fact there are more.
4. Read the following statement and identify the logical fallacy. Then, explain why it is a fallacy.
“If we allow students to use their phones in class, soon they’ll be texting during lectures, then watching movies, and eventually, no one will pay attention to the teacher at all.”
Fallacy:
Explanation:
Match each logical fallacy with its definition.
5. Ad Populum
a. Assuming that if one event follows another, the first event caused the second.
6. Hasty Generalization
b. Appealing to the popularity of a claim as a reason for accepting it.
7. Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
c. Drawing a conclusion based on a small sample size, rather than looking at statistics that are much more in line with the typical or average situation.
8. A 'Red Herring' fallacy introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original issue.
True
False
9. Write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) about a current event or social issue. Intentionally include one logical fallacy in your argument. After your paragraph, identify the fallacy you used.
Fallacy Used: