Evaluating Written Arguments Flashcards

An op-ed argues: 'If we allow assisted dying for the terminally ill, soon doctors will euthanise anyone who is inconvenient.' This is an example of:

Answer: A slippery slope fallacy

The argument assumes an inevitable chain of escalating consequences without evidence that each step will follow the previous.

A researcher concludes that a new drug is effective because patients reported feeling better after taking it. What is the most important weakness of this evidence?

Answer: The improvement could be due to the placebo effect rather than the drug

Without a control group, it is impossible to determine whether improvement resulted from the drug or from the expectation of improvement.

Which question is MOST useful for evaluating the credibility of a source cited in an argument?

Answer: Does the author have relevant expertise and disclose potential conflicts of interest?

Expertise ensures the author can assess the evidence accurately, while disclosed conflicts of interest reveal potential bias.

Passage: 'All politicians are corrupt. Senator White is a politician. Therefore, Senator White is corrupt.' The conclusion is logically valid. However, the argument may still be unsound because:

Answer: The first premise is a sweeping generalisation that may be false

An argument is sound only if it is both valid and has true premises; the generalisation 'all politicians are corrupt' is almost certainly false.

A newspaper editorial claims: 'Real Americans support this policy, so those who oppose it are un-American.' Which rhetorical technique is being used?

Answer: In-group/out-group framing (no true Scotsman)

The argument defines 'real Americans' as those who agree, dismissing dissenters as not belonging to the group — a variant of the No True Scotsman fallacy.

Which of the following best identifies the assumption in this argument? 'We should follow the dietary advice of this celebrity trainer because they have an excellent physique.'

Answer: A good physique is proof of nutritional knowledge

The argument assumes that looking fit means the trainer understands nutrition, conflating physical appearance with expertise.

A public health campaign argues: 'Nine out of ten dentists recommend this toothpaste brand.' Which of the following is the most appropriate critique of this claim?

Answer: The claim does not specify how the dentists were selected or what question they were asked

Without knowing the sampling method and exact question, the statistic may be misleading or unrepresentative.