6 Module 5
Objectives
The Module Five assignments will guide you toward the following objectives:
- Continue developing an understanding of academic argument
- Recognize and understand the importance of fallacies in writing
- Use argument- and essay-drafting skills to create a strong rough draft of Essay #2
- Engage in online peer-review to generate revision ideas
Overview
By this time, you should have a good understanding of the fundamental components of argument writing and a topic in mind for Essay #2. The focus of this module, then, is on drafting Essay #2 rough drafts and peer-reviewing those drafts with classmates. Along with this, you will study fallacies and the significance of fallacies in arguments. By the end of this module, you should have an even stronger understanding of academic argument and be in great shape to revise Essay #2 rough drafts so you can submit a spectacular brief argument essay to close out this second unit of Writing 101!
Readings
The Module Five readings provide an overview of logical fallacies. You may also find it helpful to review the Module Four readings that provide guidance on argument writing.
WikiBooks
Writing Commons
Logical Fallacies and Essay #2 Peer-Review: A Few Notes
As noted above, you will spend the first part of Module Five writing your rough draft and the second part engaging in peer-review with classmates. Along with this, you will learn about and discuss logical fallacies with the idea that you will apply what you learn to your rough drafts and to your understanding of logical fallacies in general. Below, you will find a few notes on logical fallacies and peer-review. You will also find a few notes on counterarguments, as addressing counterarguments will be important in your Essay #2.
Logical Fallacies
Those of you who have studied law and debate may already have an understanding of logical fallacies; likely, though, the concept is a new one and may feel like a difficult concept to grasp at first. Really, though, the concept is just what it sounds like – falsehoods related to “logos.”
When a written argument, a speech, an advertisement, or some other form of persuasive writing contains these falsities, or lies, and we recognize these holes in logic, it becomes less persuasive to us. You can think of it as losing “logic” points. The concern, though, is that we don’t always recognize these holes, as logical fallacies can be sneaky and extremely tough to identify. We are persuaded by them all the time in political rhetoric, advertisements, personal arguments and conversations, and many other forms, and we often do not recognize it! Understanding logical fallacies will benefit you two key ways:
- As a reader: By being able to identify logical fallacies around you, you will be a more critical and informed consumer of information.
- As a communicator: By being able to prevent logical fallacies from sneaking into your writing (and conversations, actions, etc.), you will be a more responsible, credible,