“Sure, now he’s saying he just wants you to keep your hair long, but if you do that, soon he’ll be telling you he doesn’t like some of your jewelry and next he’ll be telling you what clothes you are allowed to wear.”

1. What is a specific term used in this unit for the above type of argument? 

2. What term was used in lecture for a common problem in research illustrated by the above cartoon? Explain why it is a problem.

Francis: “Why do you think there is an epidemic of obesity?”

Lia: “Well, people eat more now.”

George: “It’s because processed food makes up a larger proportion of our diets.”

Francis: “One of you must be wrong.”

3. What fallacy is Francis committing? Explain why Francis’ statement may be an example of that fallacy.

When it’s time for Fido’s dinner, I rattle a bell. A moment later, I secretly press a button in my pocket that causes dog chow to pop up in his feeding bowl. Fido wrongly concludes that the bell ringing causes the machine to shake, freeing the food.

4. What fallacy discussed in this unit is Fido committing and state why his conclusion is an example of that fallacy.\

5. Open‐book 2‐day exams result in more student learning. If students can review notes, readings, and lectures during an exam, they learn more than if they can’t.

5A. Write out the above argument in more standard form, labelling the premises and conclusion(s).

5B. Do you agree or disagree with the argument? Briefly explain why.

Recently, a 5‐year‐old said, “Chocolate is the most delicious dessert because it’s so yum”.

6. What fallacy might the 5‐year‐old legitimately be accused of and why?

A study examines the effect of adding hydroxychloroquinine into dog food on the chance of a dog becoming infected by malaria. The experimenters give half of a sample of dogs the hydroxychloroquinine‐infused dog food and the half of the dogs food without hydroxychloroquinine. The researchers soak the dog food in the hydroxychloroquinine themselves and then give it to the appropriate dogs.

7. What poor research practice does the last sentence of the above illustrate?