Critical Thinking Flashcards

When a writer uses EMOTIONAL language to persuade instead of evidence, this technique is called:

Answer: Pathos

Pathos is the rhetorical appeal to the audience's emotions rather than logic or credibility.

A student rewrites an opponent's argument in an exaggerated or distorted way before attacking it. This is a:

Answer: Straw man fallacy

The straw man fallacy misrepresents an opponent's position to make it easier to attack.

Which is an example of EVALUATING the credibility of a source?

Answer: Verifying the author's qualifications and checking citations

Author qualifications and cited references are key indicators of a source's trustworthiness and expertise.

Which best describes an ASSUMPTION in an argument?

Answer: A belief taken for granted that the argument depends on but does not prove

Assumptions are unstated beliefs the argument rests on; identifying them is key to evaluating whether the argument is fully supported.

A student is solving a problem and finds an unexpected result. The BEST critical thinking response is to:

Answer: Investigate why the unexpected result occurred

Investigating unexpected results is essential to understanding whether there is an error or a new insight.

Which sentence contains an OPINION, not a fact?

Answer: Indiana's state parks are the most beautiful in the Midwest.

Calling Indiana's parks 'the most beautiful' is a subjective judgment that cannot be objectively verified.

In an argument map, what is the PURPOSE of identifying supporting evidence separately from the main claim?

Answer: To see clearly whether each claim is backed by specific evidence

Separating claims from evidence reveals whether each point is adequately supported or relies only on assertion.