Topics and Questions We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

1.    In the aftermath of a shooting at a local high school, Helen starts a movement to ban the fluoridation of water in the community. She uses statistics that demonstrate how more school shootings have occurred in the years since fluoride was added to the water. Assuming that this is the only evidence she provides in her argument, explain what fallacy Helen is committing and why her argument doesn’t work.
2.    Does the presence of a fallacy in the above argument automatically prove that the conclusion is false? Explain your answer.
3.    Deborah argues that it would help the environment if Ron recycled. Ron responds that the environmentalism movement has gotten politicized to the point that people often just support environmentalist policies based on party lines. Explain what the red herring is in Ron’s fallacy.
4.    In your opinion, are there ever any situations in which appealing to popularity (i.e., arguing that everyone else is doing it) is an appropriate justification for an action? Explain your answer.

5.    Occ accuses Cooter of falling prey to confirmation bias when Cooter argues that peeing in the fire helped him bag more deer because it “worked every time, except for the few times it didn't.” Explain why this is confirmation bias.

6.    While Cooter’s theories about fire and hunting are clearly absurd, what contemporary beliefs do you think this video might be implicitly criticizing?


7.    Father McDowell presents an anti-abortion argument in which he argues that life begins at conception and that scientific studies have demonstrated that fetuses can feel pain. Roger responds to this argument by saying, “You can’t listen to Father McDowell—he’s biased because he’s a Catholic priest, so he has to be against abortion!” Explain why Roger’s statement fails to adequately rebut Father McDowell’s argument.
8.    Julio is trying to get his friend Megan to upgrade her flip phone to a smartphone. He tells her that not having a smartphone in this day and age would be like driving a horse and buggy in the 1930s when the rest of the world had upgraded to automobiles. Do you think the parallels between driving a horse and buggy in the 1930s and using a flip phone in the 2010s are strong enough for the analogy to be persuasive, or do you think Julio is committing the fallacy of weak analogy? Explain your answer.
9.    Summarize the conclusion of Nadelmann’s primary argument, as well as at least two premises that he uses to support it.
10.    Colbert opens the interview by summarizing Nadelmann’s argument to the audience, saying, “Ethan, you say we should legalize drugs and that would solve all of our problems. Go on. Sell ‘em on the idea of giving weed to my kids.” Explain how this is a straw man fallacy by describing what Nadelmann’s argument really is and how it differs from Colbert’s interpretation.
11.    Consider the following argument:

Kids should develop reading habits from an early age. Kids who don’t read are more likely to fall behind in school. Kids who fall behind in school are more likely to drop out before they graduate. And kids who don’t graduate from high school will have a much harder time getting a well-paying job than those with a diploma.

Would you consider this to be a fallacious use of a slippery slope argument? Explain your answer.

12.    Give an example of a time when either you or someone you know has been persuaded to do or believe something because of emotional appeals rather than pure reason.
13.    Jon Stewart suggests that bringing disease into the immigration debate is just a scare tactic. Using one of the video clips Hodgman cites, give an example of a way that emotions are appealed to in the arguments presented.
14.    The straw man fallacy occurs when the arguer presents an extreme version of the opposing position in order to make it easier to attack or ridicule. Do you believe that Stewart and Hodgman are attacking a straw man version of one side of the immigration debate, or are they making a fair critique of common beliefs and hypocrisy? Explain your answer.


15.    Suppose your friend forwards you an article claiming that Beanie Babies contain brown recluse spider eggs. Provide at least two reasons why that claim is not credible based on the information in the passage above.
16.    Off the top of your head, how plausible does the above claim sound? Explain your answer.
17.    Knowing what you know now, would you accept this claim as a definite fact? Explain how credible you think the claim is and why.
18.    Explain why you selected your answer to the question above. Make sure you describe what steps you took to reach this conclusion.

19.    For what two reasons was this mistake especially serious? (5.4)
20.    What basic argument regarding sunscreen does this author make? (5.6)
21.    Use the website’s Home page and describe what the purpose of the website appears to be. (5.6) SUNSCREEN MAY NOT BE YOUR FRIEND
22.    What basic argument regarding sunscreen do these authors make? (5.6) SUNSCREEN
23.    Use the website’s About Us page and describe what the purpose of the website appears to be. (5.6) 
24.    Explain to what extent you think that this website is credible. Include information such as who the author is, whether or not the author cites sources, and your ruling on this site’s credentials.