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Required

 
 

Required Reading

Logic & Contemporary Rhetoric Chapter 3
Logical Fallacies and the Art of Debate http://www.csun.edu/~dgw61315/fallacies.html This is particularly useful because it explains why a particular fallacy might be used.

Lectures

Fallacies
Appeal to authority
Straw man
False Dilemma & Either/Or
Suppressed Evidence


   

Resources

 
 
   

Resources

 
 
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Week 9 Intro & Task Descriptions

 
 

Introduction

Content goes here, and here and here and here!

About this week...

We are beginning our discussions about fallacious reasoning. Weeks 9, 10, and 11 will be devoted to a variety of common fallacies. Please do not mistake these brief lessons and discussions for an in-depth examination of fallacious reasoning. There are people who spend their lives and careers in the study of logical fallacies. What we are doing is just getting a sense of the most common fallacies and why we are so susceptible to them.

Note: There is great temptation to view all arguments as fallacious in some way. Resist that temptation!

9a Fallacies 1

Appeal to authority

Straw man

Look up these fallacies in the resources below to see if you can understand how they are used, recognized, and refuted.

9a Fallacies 2

False Dilemma & Either/Or

Suppressed Evidence

Look up these fallacies in the resources below to see if you can understand how they are used, recognized, and refuted.

 
   

Week 9 Assessment Rubric

 

This is the assessment rubric I will use to evaluate the discussions this week.

GD (Graded Discussion)
Assessment Rubric
Possible
Earned
9a
9b
Timing
First post no later than Thursday
1
1
2
Frequency
At least 3 well-developed posts in each discussion.
3
3
6
Quality
* 5-7 pts per high-quality post
* 3-4 pts per medium-quality post
* 0-2 pts per low-quality post
21
21
42
Total Earned
50
Comments:

For grading quality I choose the 3 best posts made in a discussion. The more posts you make, the more chances you have of crafting 3 that are excellent.

Each post should be at least one well-crafted paragraph and add value to the discussion. This can be done in a variety of ways:
* provide evidence of understanding assigned materials;
* engage with the ideas of others in the class;
* integrate ideas from experts (yes, research);
* include well supported interpretations;
* demonstrate a clear understanding of the facts; etc.
* All posts should be clearly written and carefully edited to eliminate grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Quality criteria

*High quality (5-7 pts.) = Purposeful development; clear evidence of understanding reading assignments; extends the boundaries of the discussion but remains focused on topic; may demonstrate synthesis of ideas from multiple sources; there are few or no grammar, word use, punctuation or other errors.

*Medium quality (3-4 pts.) = Moderate development; shows evidence of reading assignments; may lack depth or show some lack of comprehension; there may be grammar, word use, punctuation or other errors, but they do not interfere with the meaning in the post.

*Low quality (0-2 pts.) =  Limited in scope, development, and correctness; may simply agree or disagree with another in the class; little if any evidence of having read the assignments; may be numerous grammar, word use, punctuation or other errors. Note: posts that simply agree or disagree will earn little, if any, credit.