TCOM 4887 THEORIES AND CRITICISM OF TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES/LOGICAL FALLICIES

Name Definition Example Bandwagon Implies something is right because Everyone loves the great taste of Mrs. everyone is doing it Miller's broccoli Jello. An important or famous person Arnold Palmer endorses Pennzoil, endorses a product Transfer Good feelings, looks, or ideas X Dog Food will show your that you transferred to the person for whom the are a loving, compassionate person, since it product is intended uses Grade A Beef Repetition The product name or keyword or Brand X sunglasses are the very best on the phrase is repeated several times market. Brand X uses only costly materials and Brand X is your best value in Sunglasses. Emotional Words Words such as luxury, beautiful, The Luxurious new Footmobile is economical and paradise, and economical are used to shows your exquisite taste in transportation and evoke positive feelings in the audience your keen sense of style. Negative words are used to create an Ordinary pain relievers don’t show your unfavorable opinion of the competition family you care like using Brand X quality in the viewer’s mind pain relievers Faulty Cause and Effect Use of a product is creating a positive Subway sandwiches caused Bobby to loose result 40 pounds Compare and Contrast The audience is lead to believe that Value Cola is preferred by cola gourmets one product is better than another over other leading colas although no real proof is offered

LOGICAL Alleged Certainty Presents something as certain that is It is obvious that Brand X is the better value open to debate in lawn chairs. Hasty Generalization Generalization from inadequate OSU is the best medical school in the State evidence since it is the largest in the state.. Circular , Asserts the same point in different Deceitful because it is dishonest terms Non-sequitur Where the conclusion does not follow John likes dogs so he will do well in from the premise medicine False Cause Because two events are related in time, After drinking milk for 20 years, Sue became the first caused the second. addicted to drugs. Therefore milk causes drug addiction. Self-Contradiction Two premises can’t be simultaneously Only when nuclear weapons have destroyed all of true us will we be convinced of the need to control them Sidetracking the issue by raising a Why should we worry about earthquake second unrelated issue victims when there are potholes here in the ? Attacking the person instead of dealing We might take his side in the argument if she with the merits of the argument were not so arrogant False Authority Citing the opinion of an “expert” who has Richard Petty for a particular brand of gasoline. no expertise about the subject at hand (He is an expert in driving not the additives in gasoline)

Propaganda Techniques, Logical Fallacies HTM Page 1 Name Definition Example Either/or False Offers only 2 alternatives when more Either complete a college degree or be exist homeless Complex or loaded Posses question to which any answer Are you still beating your wife? question results in unproven assumptions Asserts that the first step leads Banning assault weapons is the first step to inevitably to a second step banning handguns Two Wrongs Diverts argument by pointing to Women should be allowed in combat another unrelated wrong because men shouldn’t be the only ones to face danger and death Appeal to ignorance Assumes something is true simply Flying saucers must exist because no because it has not been proven false scientific study has proven that they cannot exist. Attempt to arouse pity and divert He did embezzle a lot of money from his attention company, but his wife just died and his child needs surgery.

Web Resources (Be sure to look at these for additional information)

Center Media and Democracy; “Sourcewatch, Propaganda Techniques” Available online at: (http://www.sourcewatch.org/wiki.phtml?title=Propaganda_technique)

Delwiche Aaron; “Propaganda Critic”; Available online at (http://www.propagandacritic.com/)

Media Awareness Network, “Student Handout” Available online at: (http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/handouts/online_hate/logical_fallacies_handout.cfm)

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