Identify and name common logical fallacies -- ad hominem, straw man, false dilemma, slippery slope, bandwagon, and hasty generalization -- in constructed argument examples.
A fallacy is a flaw in reasoning that can make a weak argument feel convincing anyway. Fallacies often work by distracting from the actual claim, rather than by directly disproving it -- which is exactly why learning to name them matters: once you can name the trick, it stops working on you nearly as well.
Six fallacies come up constantly. Ad hominem attacks the person making an argument instead of the argument itself. Straw man misrepresents an opponent's position as weaker than it really is, then knocks down that weaker version. False dilemma presents only two options when more actually exist. Slippery slope claims one small step will inevitably lead to an extreme, unproven outcome. Bandwagon argues a claim must be true or right because many people believe it. Hasty generalization draws a broad conclusion from too small or unrepresentative a sample.
Mastery looks like: They can correctly name a fallacy in a new, unfamiliar example and explain specifically why the reasoning fails, not just that something "feels off."
Common stumbles: Correctly sensing something is wrong with an argument but being unable to name which specific fallacy is at work; confusing disagreement with a conclusion for identifying an actual flaw in the reasoning.
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