Fifteen cards for cutting out or projecting. Use your browser’s print dialog and choose “Save as PDF” if you prefer a file. Backgrounds are kept light to save ink.
A straw man changes someone's real claim into an easier, more extreme, or sillier claim and attacks the changed version instead.
Ask: Did the response address the real claim?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/straw-man/
A false dilemma presents two choices as if they are the only possibilities when other reasonable options exist.
Ask: Is the audience being boxed in or pushed instead of properly informed?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/false-dilemma/
A slippery-slope argument claims that one step will trigger a chain ending in an extreme result without enough support for the links.
Ask: Does the conclusion actually follow from the reasons?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/slippery-slope/
The anecdotal fallacy treats one story or personal experience as enough proof for a broad claim, especially when stronger evidence is available.
Ask: Is the evidence relevant, representative, and strong enough?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/anecdotal-fallacy/
This fallacy treats a claim as true mainly because an admired or powerful source says it, without checking relevant expertise and evidence.
Ask: Is the evidence relevant, representative, and strong enough?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/appeal-to-authority/
An appeal to emotion becomes fallacious when feelings are used in place of the reasons or evidence needed to support the conclusion.
Ask: Is the audience being boxed in or pushed instead of properly informed?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/appeal-to-emotion/
Circular reasoning uses the conclusion itself, restated or assumed, as the reason for believing the conclusion.
Ask: Does the conclusion actually follow from the reasons?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/circular-reasoning/
The bandwagon fallacy treats popularity as proof that a claim is true, a choice is best, or an action is right.
Ask: Is the evidence relevant, representative, and strong enough?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/bandwagon/
False-cause reasoning assumes that one event caused another without enough evidence, often because the events happened together or one happened first.
Ask: Does the conclusion actually follow from the reasons?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/false-cause/
A red herring introduces an irrelevant issue that pulls attention away from the question or claim that needs an answer.
Ask: Did the response address the real claim?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/red-herring/
Ad hominem attacks a person's character or traits instead of answering the person's argument.
Ask: Did the response address the real claim?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/ad-hominem/
Whataboutism answers criticism by pointing to another person's wrongdoing instead of addressing the original issue.
Ask: Did the response address the real claim?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/whataboutism/
Appeal to tradition treats a practice as right, best, or necessary mainly because it is old or has always been done.
Ask: Is the evidence relevant, representative, and strong enough?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/appeal-to-tradition/
Guilt by association dismisses a person or claim because of a disliked connection rather than relevant evidence about the person or claim.
Ask: Did the response address the real claim?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/guilt-by-association/
A hasty generalization draws a broad conclusion from a sample that is too small, unrepresentative, or poorly selected.
Ask: Is the evidence relevant, representative, and strong enough?
https://argumentdetective.rinehartexcel.com/fallacies/hasty-generalization/