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English lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 60 minutes

Advanced fallacies: tu quoque, equivocation, false analogy, sunk cost…

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RI.11-12.8CCSS RI.11-12.6England: AP LanguageEngland: A-level Critical ThinkingEngland: GCSE English Language Paper 2

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Advanced fallacies: tu quoque, equivocation, false analogy, sunk cost….

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: More faulty reasoning: straw man, circular reasoning, red herring…

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (More faulty reasoning: straw man, circular reasoning, red herring…). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which fallacy matches this description? Using the conclusion as its own evidence. (red herring / appeal to pity / circular reasoning / straw man) → circular reasoningPrompt: Think about what each faulty move does: twist, repeat, borrow fame, distract, confuse order with cause, or play on feelings.
  2. Which fallacy is used here? You can't give me a low mark; I've had such a terrible week. (appeal to pity / red herring / circular reasoning / post hoc (false cause)) → appeal to pityPrompt: What is wrong with the reasoning, exactly?
  3. Type the fallacy (in English) that matches this description. Bringing in an irrelevant point to distract from the real issue. → red herringPrompt: Think about what each faulty move does: twist, repeat, borrow fame, distract, confuse order with cause, or play on feelings.

Hook · 6 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: Advanced fallacies: tu quoque, equivocation, false analogy, sunk cost…. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which fallacy matches this description? A question that contains an unproven assumption, so any direct answer seems to accept it.
  • Step 1: Identifying fallacies precisely lets you evaluate arguments and avoid weak reasoning in your own writing.
  • Step 2: loaded question: A question that contains an unproven assumption, so any direct answer seems to accept it.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: loaded question
  • Answer: loaded question
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which fallacy matches this description? Arguing that because two things are alike in one way, they must be alike in another important way. (loaded question / appeal to nature / false analogy / tu quoque) → false analogyPrompt: Focus on what the reasoning does wrong: deflect, shift meaning, compare unfairly, rely on habit or nature, shift the target, assume, or throw good after bad.
  2. Which fallacy is used here? The sign said 'fine for parking here', so I thought parking there was fine. (sunk cost fallacy / equivocation / false analogy / loaded question) → equivocationPrompt: What exactly is wrong with the reasoning?

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which fallacy matches this description? Dismissing criticism by pointing out that the critic does the same thing. (appeal to nature / false analogy / loaded question / tu quoque) → tu quoquePrompt: Focus on what the reasoning does wrong: deflect, shift meaning, compare unfairly, rely on habit or nature, shift the target, assume, or throw good after bad.
  2. Type the fallacy (in English) that matches this description. Assuming that something is good because it is natural, or bad because it is not. → appeal to naturePrompt: Focus on what the reasoning does wrong: deflect, shift meaning, compare unfairly, rely on habit or nature, shift the target, assume, or throw good after bad.

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: More faulty reasoning: straw man, circular reasoning, red herring….
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-12.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Advanced fallacies: tu quoque, equivocation, false analogy, sunk cost…

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Type the fallacy (in English) that matches this description. Dismissing criticism by pointing out that the critic does the same thing.

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Which fallacy is used here? Our school has never allowed shorts, so there must be a good reason.

    • A. appeal to tradition
    • B. sunk cost fallacy
    • C. appeal to nature
    • D. loaded question
  3. Question 3

    Which fallacy matches this description? Arguing that because two things are alike in one way, they must be alike in another important way.

    • A. sunk cost fallacy
    • B. tu quoque
    • C. moving the goalposts
    • D. false analogy
  4. Question 4

    Type the fallacy (in English) that matches this description. Switching between two meanings of the same word within an argument.

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Which fallacy is used here? I've already watched three hours of this terrible series, so I might as well finish all eight seasons.

    • A. appeal to nature
    • B. loaded question
    • C. tu quoque
    • D. sunk cost fallacy
  6. Question 6

    Which fallacy matches this description? Assuming that something is good because it is natural, or bad because it is not.

    • A. appeal to tradition
    • B. tu quoque
    • C. appeal to nature
    • D. false analogy
  7. Question 7

    Which fallacy is used here? The sign said 'fine for parking here', so I thought parking there was fine.

    • A. tu quoque
    • B. appeal to tradition
    • C. appeal to nature
    • D. equivocation
  8. Question 8

    Which fallacy matches this description? Changing the standard of proof whenever the original one is met.

    • A. moving the goalposts
    • B. false analogy
    • C. appeal to tradition
    • D. appeal to nature

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Answer key: Advanced fallacies: tu quoque, equivocation, false analogy, sunk cost…

  1. 1. tu quoque

  2. 2. A. appeal to tradition

  3. 3. D. false analogy

  4. 4. equivocation

  5. 5. D. sunk cost fallacy

  6. 6. C. appeal to nature

  7. 7. D. equivocation

  8. 8. A. moving the goalposts