Homework: Fallacies Essay
Write a 2-3 page paper identifying four different fallacies from political speeches on one of the topics listed below. Each fallacy must come from statements about the topic made by elected officials and cannot be older than one month (June 9, 2024). Analyze and explain the fallacies and their significance to the public.
You will need to have completed the following:
Reading: Introduction to Fallacies.pdf
Lecture: Basic Fallacies
Between these two resources there is a long list of fallacies for you to use during this paper.
Instructions:
1. Choose one of the following topics for your paper: Project 2025, the Boeing Plea Deal, the Supreme Court’s immunity decision in Trump vs United States, Baltimore’s baby bonus, or Biden remaining in the election post the 1st presidential debate.
2. Research and find four political speeches or statements related to your chosen topic. Each speech or statement must come from an elected official and be no older than one month. Political speech could be from YouTube, Tweets, Interviews, etc. The selected speech must be a direct quote! Not sure where to get research, try these websites for current political research:
politico
the hill
npr
3. Identify a different type of fallacy (from the assigned reading or lecture) in each of the four political speeches or statements.
4. For each fallacy, write a brief analysis that includes the following:
– Cite the political speech or statement and provide a link or reference to the source.
– Explain the connection between the speech or statement and the identified fallacy.
– Describe why the speech or statement is an example of the fallacy.
– Explain the significance of the error in reasoning to the public and why it is important for people to be aware of this fallacy.
5. Organize your paper with a clear introduction, separate sections for each fallacy analysis, and a conclusion that summarizes your findings and highlights the importance of recognizing fallacies in political discourse.
6. Proofread your paper for grammar, spelling, and formatting errors before submitting.
Evaluation Criteria:
Your assignment will be evaluated based on the following:
Relevance and recency of the chosen political speeches or statements.
Correct identification and analysis of four different fallacies.
Clear explanation of the connection between the speech or statement and the identified fallacy.
Insightful discussion of the significance of each fallacy to the public.
Organization, clarity, and coherence of the paper, including proper citation of sources.
