Week 5 Discussion Template: Find An Example Of A Fallacy Use

Week 5 Discussion Templatefind An Example Of A Fallacy Used In Popular

Find an example of a fallacy used in popular advertising or any persuasive text. Upload the image/words or provide a link. Provide a link here. Identify the fallacy and why you think that this particular type of advertisement represents the fallacy that you have chosen. Answer the prompt here.

As you can see, this template is a bit different from the APA formatting required for essays (no title page, header, or separate reference page, and I do not require indentations of the first line of paragraphs or use hanging indent in the references because indentation is challenging to manage in Canvas posts. I also allow the Q&A format because it makes it easier for you to ensure you answered all questions thoroughly. This template is designed explicitly for Week 1. Answer each question fully each week. Be sure to cite your sources.

The correct in-text citations for the resources I have provided below are (Moore & Parker, 2020) or (Moore & Parker, 2020, p. #) if you are quoting for the textbook. For class videos, the correct in-text citations are (Burrell, n.d.) if you are not quoting. You must include a timestamp in the citation when quoting the video (Burrell, n.d., 1:21) if the quote starts one minute and 21 seconds into the video. Not all course videos provide a timeline, and you must time it yourself if a timeline is not provided. I suggest always paraphrasing rather than quoting.

If you use more than one video from the class, you must distinguish between them in your paper. Put the sources in alphabetical order (as I have here) and use n.d.-a, n.d.-b, etc., in citations. If you only use one video, only use n.d. (not n.d.-a, n.d.-b, etc.). Scroll down to the reference page. References Moore, B.N., & Parker, R. (2020). Critical thinking (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. Burrell, T. (n.d.-a). Introduction to Fallacies. [Video]. Canvas@WCU. Burrell, T. (n.d.-b). Week 5: Fallacies – Presentation. [Video]. Canvas@WCU. You need at least two references for each discussion. While I encourage using credible outside references (journal articles from the library or government websites, news articles from solid news outlets, etc.), the above references will meet your requirements.

I have provided the proper formatting for the textbook and video references. If you use more than one video from the class, you must distinguish between them in your paper. Put the sources in alphabetical order (as I have here) and use n.d.-a, n.d.-b, etc., in citations. If you only use one video, only use n.d. (not n.d.-a, n.d.-b, etc.). APA 7 is different from APA 6.

Here is a website covering some key differences: . Regarding references, these are the most common mistakes I see: · You made errors in capitalization of titles in your references. In APA, standard capitalization rules are followed everywhere but in titles of articles in references. In those, only capitalize the first word of the title, the first word after a colon in the title, and proper nouns. You also made errors in italicization.

Italicize the article's title (unless it is followed by journal information -- then italicize the journal title and volume). · City/state of publisher not listed in references in APA 7. · Replace "Retrieved...from" with the website title in APA 7. The website title follows the article title. Do not have both the website title and "Retrieved...from." · When you reference an article from a website and have no author, the reference follows this order: Article title in italics. (date). Website Title. Website URL.

Use the article title (not the website title) in your citations. Be sure to delete all this and other informational material from the template before you turn it in. Feel free to contact me with any questions you have.

Paper For Above instruction

The pervasive use of fallacious reasoning in advertising and persuasive texts exemplifies how logical missteps can be exploited to influence public opinions and consumer behavior. One common fallacy frequently encountered in pop culture advertising is the "Appeal to Authority." This fallacy occurs when a product or idea is deemed credible solely based on the endorsement of an authority figure, regardless of their expertise or relevance to the product. An illustrative example is a celebrity endorsement for a health supplement where the celebrity’s fame is used as evidence of the product’s efficacy.

For instance, a television commercial features a well-known actor claiming that a particular vitamin supplement significantly improved their health. The fallacy here is the appeal to authority: consumers are led to believe the supplement is effective based on the actor's endorsement, despite the actor lacking medical expertise. This fallacy functions because it leverages the celebrity's popularity to confer unwarranted credibility to the product. The public often associates the fame and trustworthiness of celebrities with their endorsements, which can misleadingly influence purchasing decisions (Moore & Parker, 2020).

Similarly, the advertisement simplistically implies that because a famous athlete endorses a certain sports beverage, drinking this beverage will enhance athletic performance. The fallacy lies in the assumption that the endorsement equates to scientific or factual validation of the product's effectiveness. In reality, the athlete’s role is primarily promotional, not scientific, and their endorsement does not constitute empirical proof of the beverage's benefits. This persuasive tactic exploits the athlete’s authority as an expert athlete to influence consumer perceptions, which is a textbook example of the appeal to authority fallacy (Burrell, n.d.-a).

The appeal to authority fallacy is particularly insidious because it plays on cognitive biases wherein consumers tend to believe credible figures, especially celebrities and athletes, are knowledgeable about everything they endorse. The fallacy is often embedded in advertising to bypass critical thinking, persuading consumers to accept claims without proper evidence. This kind of fallacious reasoning can hamper rational decision-making and lead to unnecessary expenditures on products that may lack scientific backing (Moore & Parker, 2020).

Understanding and identifying this fallacy in persuasive texts is crucial for critical consumers who seek to make informed choices. Recognizing that endorsements do not inherently validate the efficacy or safety of a product allows consumers to evaluate claims based on scientific evidence rather than appeals to authority. Critical awareness of such fallacies empowers consumers to resist manipulative advertising tactics and prioritize rational decision-making based on facts and verified information (Burrell, n.d.-b).

In conclusion, the appeal to authority fallacy is a prevalent persuasive device in advertising that can deceive consumers into accepting claims without scrutiny. Whether it's a celebrity endorsement for a health product or a sports beverage promising enhanced performance, understanding this fallacy enables consumers to approach advertising with skepticism and critical thinking, ultimately fostering more informed and rational consumer behavior.

References

• Burrell, T. (n.d.-a). Introduction to Fallacies. [Video]. Canvas@WCU.
• Burrell, T. (n.d.-b). Week 5: Fallacies – Presentation. [Video]. Canvas@WCU.
• Moore, B.N., & Parker, R. (2020). Critical thinking (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.