Marked Assignment: Identifying Logical Fallacies in Written Text.
Logic/Politics Diary Entry Fallacies
You are to read the fictional teen diary entry below (the sarcasm and humour within the entry are intentional - hey, teens have it rough in the modern world!). There are ten (10) logical fallacies contained within the written text of the entry. You are to create a two-columned chart. In the first column list (by cutting and pasting) each of the logical fallacies you identify from within the diary entry. In the second column identify the categorical type the listed fallacy belongs to (e.g. appeal to ridicule, appeal to spite, etc.).
You will be awarded one mark for each correctly documented fallacy in column A and one additional mark for correctly identifying its corresponding category (the type of fallacy that it is) in column B, for a total of 20 possible marks.
Please call your work, "Logic/Politics Diary Entry Fallacies" and drop it into the appropriate Dropbox.
My Diary Entry for December 22, 2015
Anyway while we were standing in line for my book mom had the nerve to suggest I was becoming mature enough to begin paying for some of the things I need. I was like thinking, "Hello Mrs. Blondie! Do I look like a wage earner? Mom needs to better understand that honest people are often poor. Like, Oh my Gosh, the only reason I even needed this charming little reading article was because, despite evidence to the contrary, I still find it hard to believe that increased social interaction between parents and their children can't be comparatively replaced by expensive alternative solutions. But instead I gave mom my most lovely, little child-like smile and said, "I was just thinking about how bored we'll be, cooped up like human cargo with thousands of other passengers. Who wouldn't provide some form of small offering of entertainment to help their adoring child pass the time? Please mom - Under similar circumstances I would do that for a child. Parents have always been providers. I truly believe that's a role you should assume as a parent." That last part was kind of like re-educating mom that if you believe in fictional bunnies while growing up you are more likely to possess a greater volume of chocolate on Easter morning.
For marking, I'll only assign 10 marks each in Knowledge and Thinking - this is meant to be a very quick assignment reviewing your ability to pick apart a set of arguments, simple stuff really, I'm sure you'll do well. All the rest of your assignments have an extensive rubric to follow, not to worry.
