Analytical thinking probes arguments and states whether fallacies have been committed. Download sample worksheets from Learning Guide 29 at www.languagelab.sg/books or ALL 10 worksheets by sharing this topic on our FB Page!

1. Languagelab 29.4
Master Analytical Thinking

2. What's a Straw Man Argument?
Simplifying, exaggerating or
misrepresenting the opposite of the
argument to make your own argument
stronger.

3. Straw Man Fallacies
The government has been increasing the
number of foreign students. This naturally
decreases the quota for locals.
COE prices have been increasing. The
govenment does not care for big or young
families who need a car more than other
groups.

4. Straw Man Arguments?
National examinations are viewed as the
penultimate test of a student's mastery of
a subject.
Failing it discredits all good work that has
been done up to that point.

5. What is Loaded Question
Fallacy?
Asking a question that has an assumption
built into it so it cannot be answered
without appearing guilty.

6. Loaded Question Fallacies
Singapore is still the most expensive city
to stay in the world, isn't it?
With youth suicides on the rise,
Singapore youths are feeling the heat,
isn't it?

7. Loaded Questions?
The recent change in PSLE scoring system
has not changed much, has it?

8. What is Slippery Slope Fallacy?
Saying that it A happens, then Z will
happen, so A should not happen.

9. Slippery Slope Fallacies
If you do not study hard, you will become
a road sweeper.
If you smoke one cigarette, you will
smoke another and soon, you will die of
lung cancer.

10. Slippery Slope Argument?
If you fail your 'O' Levels, your future is
finished.

11. What is Appeal to Authority
Fallacy?
Using the position or opinion of an
authoritative figure
in place of an argument.

12. Appeal to Authority Fallacies
If Einstein believes in alchemy, so should
you.
If the doctor says so, you should listen.

13. Appeal to Authority Fallacy?
We need to be alert to our surroundings
since our Law and Home Affairs Minister
has said that it is not a matter of whether a
terror strike will happen in Singapore, but
when.

14. Saying that the burden of proof lies not
with the person making the claim, but
with someone else to disprove.
What is Burden of Proof Fallacy?

15. I think that are so many undulations on
Mars that one of that must hide a Martian.
There are so many loose objects circling in
space so a teapot must definitely be there.
Burden of Proof Fallacies

16. Since Alex has always been up to mischief,
there is no doubt that Alex is the culprit to
the spate of missing handphones in
school.
Burden of Proof Fallacy?

17. Using personal experience or an isolated
argument instead of a valid argument,
especially to dismiss statistics.
What is Anecdotal Fallacy?

18. More doctors smoke Camels than any
other cigarettes!
Jamie said that his grandfather smoked 30
cigarettes a day and lived until 97 years
old so do not believe everything that a
doctor tells you.
Anecdotal Fallacies

19. The experience of Secondary One campers
show that we need to be more sensitive to
the feelings of the juniors when running
camp activities.
Anecdotal Fallacy?

20. Generalisation
Saying what happens to a small
population will surely happen to the
entire population.

21. The police stopped me for driving five miles
over the speed limit. Around here, they will
stop you if you are not careful.
Women are poor drivers.
Willy was rude to me. Boys are so mean!
Generalisation Fallacies

22. Fat people are lazy.
Beautiful people have higher chances of
success in life.
Generalisation Fallacies?

23. What is Cum Hoc Fallacy?
Saying that an event is a result of another
event just because they happened
together or one after another.

24. Cum hoc Fallacy
John had a heart attack while he was
saying a prayer. Therefore, the prayer
caused the heart attack.
Children with long hair are better spellers
than children with short hair. Therefore,
having long hair makes a child a better
speller.

25. Cum hoc Fallacies?
I saw a great movie before my test, that is
why I did so well.
Paul Smith is a good lawyer and a very
clever man. Therefore, he will make a
very good politician.

26. Learning Activity
Analyse and state the fallacies of these
statements
1. Have you stopped your glue-sniffing yet?
2. I saw a fortune teller before my test, that's
why I did so well.
3. If you fail this test, you will fail the finals.
4. You cannot see God, therefore He is not real.
5. My father smoked lots of cigarettes and lived
to 97 years old, therefore, it's okay to smoke.

27. Learning Activity Answers
1. Have you stopped your glue-sniffing yet?
(Loaded Question)
2. I saw a fortune teller before my test, that's
why I did so well. (Cum Hoc)
3. If you fail this test, you will fail the finals.
(Slippery Slope)
4. You cannot see God, therefore He is not real.
(Burden of Proof)
5. My father smoked... (Anecdotal)

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