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AP English Language · Unit 2: Claims & Evidence

2.3 Logical Fallacies

Faulty reasoning

A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning that weakens an argument. Recognizing fallacies helps you evaluate arguments and avoid them in your own writing.

Common fallacies

Ad hominem attacks the person, not the argument; a straw man distorts an opponent's view to refute it easily; a hasty generalization draws a broad conclusion from too little evidence.

More fallacies

A false dilemma presents only two options when more exist; slippery slope claims one step inevitably leads to extreme results; appeal to authority misuses a source outside its expertise.

Key terms

Logical fallacy
An error in reasoning that weakens an argument.
Ad hominem
Attacking the person instead of their argument.
Straw man
Distorting an opponent's view to refute it easily.
Hasty generalization
A broad conclusion from too little evidence.
False dilemma
Presenting only two options when more exist.

Try an AP-style question

Passage

"You can't trust Kim's argument about taxes—she failed economics in college."

What fallacy is this?

  1. Straw man
  2. Ad hominem
  3. Slippery slope
  4. False dilemma
Show the answer

B. Attacks the person.

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