Fallacies

• A false or mistaken idea; an often plausible argument using false or invalid
• inferences

Using a culture icon or someone with “authority” on the subject as “evidence” for your argument

“Everyone’s doing it” –fear of rejection if you don’t join in…

• “Four out of five dentists surveyed preferred Crest toothpaste over the other leading
• brands.”

• Advertisers who urge consumers to buy “the
• brand that's number one” are
• using bandwagon appeal.

Numbers may not exactly be true or skewed to appeal to the consumer.

“Many people…” -general claim!

Making a personal attack on the individual instead of arguing for themselves

See this a lot in political ad campaigns

Assuming someone or something is not worth buying/trusting because he/she/it is associated with a certain group of people

Assuming since Event B followed Event A, then A must have caused B. 

Statistics show that at beaches this past summer, ice cream sales have gone up. So has the number of people drowning in the ocean. Ice cream must be the reason.

• When the given argument depends on what
• it is trying to support, and as a result, the argument in question is being used to prove itself.

• Asking a question that assumes something that has not been proven yet - forces
• an answer based on false premises.

Do you know how fast you were going?”

• Answer yes: admit to speeding
• Answer no: admit not paying attention/speeding