Recognizing logical fallacies and emotional appeals
Transcript of Recognizing logical fallacies and emotional appeals
Propaganda: Recognizing Logical Fallacies
and Emotional AppealsEnglish 10
1
What is persuasion?
• The process of guiding people toward the adoption of an idea, action, or attitude.
• Often it is illogical and manipulative.
• Got Milk?
2
AdvertisersAdvertisers
• Advertisers spend about $200 billion a Advertisers spend about $200 billion a year on advertisementsyear on advertisements
• The average cost for a Super Bowl ad is The average cost for a Super Bowl ad is $2.6 million per 30 second spot$2.6 million per 30 second spot
• The average American watches about The average American watches about 24,000 commercials a year.24,000 commercials a year.
3
Introduction to Logical Fallacies
• What is a logical fallacy?
• Logical = something that is reasonable
• Fallacy = something that is faulty
• Thus, a logical fallacy is an argument based on faulty logic
4
"Hey, why are we learning how to reason incorrectly?"
• It's called logical self-defense!
• Do you believe everything you read, hear, and see?
5
"Hey, why are we learning how to reason incorrectly?"
• You can't always believe what you hear, what you see, and what you read.
• You should have the knowledge to identify when people are trying to manipulate/ persuade you.
6
Circular Reasoning
• Occurs when you try to prove a statement by simply repeating it in different words
• Example 1: Our basketball team, the Cougars, should capture the regional title because the team deserves to be number one.
• Example 2: Mr. Smith’s drama club attracts a large number of students because many students come to the drama club. 7
Overgeneralization/Stereotyping
• Occurs when a statement is too broad to be valid and can easily be disproved.
• Overgeneralizations are often indicated by the following words: everyone, no one, always, never, best, and worst.
• Example 1: Everyone who lives in the Southern states likes warm weather.
• Example 2: Men will always vote for a male presidential candidate over a female one.
8
Either/or fallacy
• Occurs when there is a claim that there are only two choices when there are actually more
• Example 1: Either we raise new taxes, or the roads will become unusable.
• Example 2: Either we build a new school, or it will be destroyed in three years.
9
False Analogy
• Relying only on comparisons to prove a point, rather than arguing deductively and inductively.
• Example: Education is like cake; a small amount tastes sweet, but eat too much and your teeth will rot out. Likewise, more than two years of education is bad for a student.”
• The analogy is only acceptable to the degree that the reader/listener thinks education is like cake. 10
Cause-and-effect fallacy
• Occurs when the writer assumes that because one event follows another, the first event caused the second.
• Example 1: A new mayor was elected in November, and as a result, crime went down in January.
• Notice: Just because crime went down after the new mayor was elected, it doesn’t mean that he directly influenced the decrease in crime.
11
Product Comparison/Card stacking
• Features a comparison between product and competition, often portraying the competition as being inferior.
• Often uses card stacking, which is withholding, pertinent, information to persuade the viewer
12
Emotional Appeals
• The term refers to manipulating someone by targeting their emotions and feelings.
• For example, the ad can make viewers feel happy, sad, angry, fearful, etc.
• However, in the end, the advertiser wants to get across the point that BUYING SOMETHING WILL MAKE THE VIEWER FEEL BETTER.
• Emotional appeals also refer to the term, PATHOS
13
Want to feel happy?
14
Appeal to Fear
• This technique is very popular among political parties in the U.S. The idea is to present a dreaded circumstance and usually followed it up with the kind of behavior needed to avoid that horrible event.
15
Namecalling• Attacking a person or group
in order to discredit an idea with which the person or group is associated. It serves to distract the reader from the real issue.
• Example: Barack Obama staffer, Samantha Power, called Hillary Clinton a "monster."
• Example: Harry Truman called Republicans a bunch of "snolly-gusters" in 1952.
• Example: Pres. McKinley's opponent said he had the "backbone of a chocolate eclair."
16
Bandwagon
• The name comes from the phrase "Jump on the bandwagon," a bandwagon being a wagon big enough to hold a band of musicians.
• In past political campaigns, a candidate would ride on a wagon around town and people would literally jump on the wagon to show support.
17
Bandwagon cont.
• Capitalizes on the fun of being part of a crowd and the desire to be socially accepted.
• In other words, if it's popular, it must be correct!
• Example 1: Don’t be the last to get the new Rockin’ Robots video game!
• Example 2: Join everyone else who is buying an IBM computer!
18
Snob appeal
• Arouses the desire to achieve status or wealth to feel superior
19
Appeal to Pity
• Showing an image or telling a story which makes the reader/viewer feel that they should "act now" and do/buy something to make them feel happier
20
Transfer
• Shows an additional image with the product or person that is intended to create positive or negative emotions for the viewer
21
Plain Folks (a type of testimonial)
• Used images of people typical of the "target" of the ad, communicating the message that "we are alike" and "I/we" use this product, so you should too.
22
Celebrity and expert endorsement(both are types of testimonials
• An appeal to an improper authority, such as a famous person.
• This fallacy attempts to capitalize upon feelings of respect or familiarity with a famous individual.
• For expert endorsement, this refers to the consumer relying on scientists, doctors, etc. to give them advice
• Ex: 9 out of 10 dentists choose…
23
Bait-and-switch
• Form of fraud, most commonly used in retail stores
• Customers are "baited" by an advertised lower price or new product, and when the customer discovers the advertised good is not available, they are "switched" to a more costly product.
24
Loaded Language
• When used properly, emotional language can add depth to writing that’s meant to persuade; however, the misuse of loaded language can cloud factual information, disguise poor reasoning, or unfairly manipulate people’s emotions in order to shape their opinions.
25
Loaded Language
• Consists of strongly positive or negative connotations, intended to influence an audience’s attitude.
• Connotation: Emotions and attitudes suggested by a word.
Positive Negative
Plan Scheme
Prosperous Loaded
Leisurely Lazy
Honest Blunt
Assertive Aggressive
26
Loaded Language
• In advertising, words with positive connotations are called
• GLITTERING GENERALITIES (OR PURR WORDS)
• Examples: golden, mother, home, delightful, scrumptious, and success
• Words with negative connotations are called • SNARL WORDS• Examples: ugly, unsightly, wrinkles, dirt• Words that are qualifiers, unclear, and purposely
used to mislead are called • WEASEL WORDS• Examples: almost, virtually, and close to
27
What emotional appeal is being used here?
• Loaded
Language
28
What logical fallacy is being used here?
• Plain Folks/Testimonial
29
What emotional appeal is being used here?
• Transfer
30
What logical fallacy is being used here?
Loaded Language / Glittering Generalities
31
What emotional appeal is being used here?
• Testimonial
32
Which emotional appeal is being used here?
• Note: There is nothing telling exactly how much of the money you send will be going to the children.
• Appeal to pity
33
What emotional appeal is being used here?
Bandwagon
34
What type of logical fallacy is being used here?
• Stereotyping/Overgeneralization
35
What emotional appeal is being used here?
• Bandwagon
36
What emotional appeal is being used here?
• Plain Folks
37
What emotional appeal is being used here?
• Appeal to Fear
38
Which type of propaganda is being used here?
• Bait-and-switch
39
Which type of emotional appeal is being used here?
• Snob appeal
40