FRESHMAN COMPOSITION, RHETORIC, GRAMMAR II

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INTRO. TO LITERARY RESEARCH & WRITING

INSTRUCTOR: James Maxfield

Identify the logical fallacies in the following examples.

Professor Smith’s theory about there being ice in subterranean caverns at the poles of Mars is undoubtedly true. Henry Kissinger, former U. S. Secretary of State, proclaimed his support of this theory in a recent edition of U. S. A. Today.

It would be advisable for you to adjust your work schedule voluntarily. Consider how much money you will lose if you are not considered for future overtime assignments.

You should read Dr. Phil’s new book on dieting. It’s selling like hotcakes, and everyone is talking about it.

It is considered as true that what a salesman sows this month he will reap in 60 days. If he invests $5,000 in a new marketing plan in September, he will reap ten-fold in sales by Thanksgiving.

A biography of former Governor George Wallace, written by Andrew Young, a prominent African-American 60s activist and later Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, could not possibly present an accurate account of Wallace’s life.

Scientists have been trying to prove for decades the claims that other forms of life exist in outer space, but no one has every succeeded. Therefore, it must be concluded that there is no life in outer space.

Tax abatement and other incentives for business development have increased significantly and there is much abuse in the sense that many companies would have expanded without the availability of incentives. The best thing would be to abolish tax abatement so that all companies operate on a level playing field.

The highest paid executives receive exorbitant salaries in relation to most people. It is asserted that this is reasonable because of their success at improving the sales and profits of the company. So the best way to improve the performance of managers is to increase their salary.

On several occasions I drank a micro-brewed beer and it tasted flat and bitter, but when I drink a national name brand beer, it tastes fine. I assume that all such locally brewed beers will taste flat and bitter and all big name brand beers will taste great.

Professor, I was unable to finish my essay by the due date because I was required to work an extra shift last weekend and my printer cartridge ran out of ink late last night. So I couldn’t get another one in time to print out my essay. And if I am penalized for lateness, I won’t be able to maintain a grade sufficient to keep my student loan for next term.

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Last modified: 04/30/06