CM4203 Communications Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is a key characteristic of a Straw Man fallacy?

  • Distorting an opponent's actual position (correct)
  • Providing a balanced view of both arguments
  • Using emotional appeals to persuade
  • Triggering a logical conclusion

    • Which of the following best defines a Red Herring?

  • A logical conclusion based on evidence
  • A straightforward argument presented clearly
  • A misleading or distracting piece of information (correct)
  • An emotional appeal in an argument

    • In the context of fallacies, what does Slanting refer to?

  • Promoting unfounded accusations against an opponent
  • Choosing selective evidence to support one's argument (correct)
  • Presenting two opposing options without compromise
  • Manipulating emotions to gain support

    • What does the False Dilemma fallacy imply?

    <p>It assumes there are only two options available.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which appeal is primarily concerned with the credibility of the speaker?

    <p>Ethos</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main flaw in the reasoning displayed in the rooster example?

    <p>Confusing correlation with causation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best illustrates the concept of a fallacy of relevance?

    <p>Attacking the character of the opponent instead of their argument</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can an argument remain persuasive even if it contains logical fallacies?

    <p>By aligning with audience biases and emotions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of the slippery slope fallacy?

    <p>It suggests that one action will lead to a chain of related events.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of begging the question, which of the following is true?

    <p>It includes premises that restate the initial conclusion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does hasty generalization refer to in logical reasoning?

    <p>Making broad generalizations from a limited sample.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does sample size play in statistical fallacies?

    <p>Smaller sample sizes can result in biased conclusions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the concept of loaded questions?

    <p>They assume a particular answer that may not be true.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What fallacy is demonstrated when one claims that democracy is the best form of government solely because it is governed by the people?

    <p>Begging the question.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary issue with gathering statistics that are based on a biased sample?

    <p>It often leads to inaccurate conclusions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a logical argument, what does the term 'doomsayers' imply?

    <p>Critics who forecast negative consequences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be assessed to determine if the conclusion emerges naturally from the premises?

    <p>The adequacy of the evidence provided</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following aspects is NOT mentioned as part of argument analysis?

    <p>Use of statistics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best encapsulates the sentiment regarding the US economy as presented?

    <p>The economy is showing signs of recovery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In presentations, which of the following elements contributes to the effectiveness of the speaker?

    <p>The speaker's non-verbal communication</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic is least likely to enhance the persuasive power of an argument?

    <p>Presence of logical fallacies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which option suggests a potential problem in presentation quality?

    <p>The presentation lacks a clear structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is implied to be important for virtual presentations post-pandemic?

    <p>Trust among team members</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a fundamental step in mapping an argument?

    <p>Asking about evidence supporting the premises</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of reasoning involves anticipating outcomes and assessing logical consequences?

    <p>Deductive reasoning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best represents the need to be sceptical about tradition?

    <p>Questioning deeply held assumptions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes an ad-hominem fallacy in an argument?

    <p>Attacking the character of the opponent instead of their argument</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In critical thinking, evaluating the validity of an argument means assessing what?

    <p>The underlying premises and their relationship</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which situation best exemplifies an ambiguous context in problem-solving?

    <p>Facing uncertainties without sufficient information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes a common issue when evaluating quantitative data?

    <p>Data collection methods may introduce biases and agendas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of critiquing the relationships between power and knowledge in critical thinking?

    <p>Examining who controls the information and narratives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes a fallacy involving ambiguity?

    <p>Employing a term with more than one meaning without clarification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    CM4203 Communications

    • Course code: CM4203
    • Instructor: Dr. Caoilfhionn Ní Bheacháin
    • Year: 2024

    Critical Thinking: Essential for Business Professionals

    • Problem analysis: Essential skill for professionals
    • Evaluating alternatives: Requires considering different options
    • Precise contexts: Using deductive reasoning to anticipate consequences, logical outcomes and assess regulations
    • Ambiguous contexts: Problem solving in uncertain, risky or ambiguous environments
    • Inductive/inferential reasoning: Making decisions based on the likelihood of success, given available information

    Being Sceptical

    • Questioning assumptions: Taking less for granted and questioning deeper and more fundamental assumptions

    • Objective facts: Quantitative data are not simply given but derived from complex processes involving people, operations, and choices

    • What do we measure? This requires critical assessment of the data

    • Who do we account for? Understanding responsibility for the processes

    • What agendas are within these processes? Recognition of underlying interests and intentions

    Critical Thinking

    • Statements and arguments: Critical evaluation of the validity and potential flaws within
    • Societal values & structures: A critical perspective is required
    • Power and knowledge: Critiquing the relationship between power and knowledge is a skill.

    Evaluating Arguments

    • Truth: Assessment of the truthfulness of premises
    • Validity: Checking the logical structure of the argument
    • Structure: Crucial element in understanding the argument.

    When Arguments Go Wrong...

    • Fallacy: An unsound argument
    • Rationality: Errors in argument structure
    • Ambiguity: Problems stemming from imprecise language or definitions
    • Relevance: When premises are not relevant to the conclusion

    Fallacies

    • Common fallacies: A limited selection for illustration
    • Textbook consultation: Recommended for further examples and expanded explanations

    Common Logical Fallacies

    • Ad Hominem: Attacking the person rather than the argument itself
    • Straw Man: Misrepresenting or oversimplifying an opponent's argument
    • Slippery Slope: Assuming a series of negative consequences will inevitably follow a single event

    Fallacies of Relevance

    • Ad Hominem: Attacking the person rather than the argument. (Example: dismissing a claim due to personal shortcomings)
    • Poisoning the well: Discrediting the credibility of a source before they can present their argument.

    Straw Man Fallacy

    • Misrepresentation of position: Instead of engaging with the actual argument, the opponent's stance is simplified or distorted.
    • Example: Example of the Misrepresenting the actual position of a speaker

    Slanting

    • Selection of evidence: Selecting or emphasizing evidence which supports a specific claim, suppressing or ignoring evidence which conflicts with the presented stance
    • Sin of omission: Involves intentionally omitting relevant evidence.

    Red Herring

    • Misdirection: Presenting irrelevant information to distract from the main issue
    • Example: Distracting from an important issue with a related but nonessential contention.

    Persuasion

    • ETHOS: Establishing credibility of the speaker or source.
    • LOGOS: Appealing to reason by providing logical evidence. Avoiding fallacies and faulty thinking is important
    • PATHOS: Appealing to emotions

    Logical/Rational Fallacy

    • Flawed argument: A false statement that weakens an argument by distorting an issue. It may utilize misrepresentative evidence or poor language to draw a false conclusion.

    Fallacies of Rationality

    • False Dilemma: Presenting limited options when multiple alternatives exist. (e.g., "Either you're with us or against us.")
    • Doubtful Cause: Assuming that because one thing follows another, it's the cause.

    Rationality: Slippery Slope

    • Chain of events: A chain of events. Describing negative consequences as inevitable results of a starting point or action.
    • Social or political discussions: These are often used in such contexts

    Begging the Question

    • Unproven assertion: An argument that assumes what it's trying to prove. The conclusion is essentially a restatement of a premise.
    • Example: "Democracy is the best form of government because it's rule by the people."

    Hasty Generalization

    • Small sample size: Drawing a conclusion from an insufficient or unrepresentative sample size
    • Inductive reasoning: A type of logical fallacy linked to inductive arguments

    Statistical Fallacies

    • Faulty sampling: Problems due to biased samples, including biased respondents or interviewers
    • Sample size: Concerns about the size of the sample
    • Gathering statistics: Issues with gathering the data
    • Leading questions: Questions that are worded to influence responses or lead to specific answers.
    • Loaded questions: Questions that imply something is true without proof, or contain assumptions about the answer

    Review

    • Common mistakes: Common argumentation issues
    • Argument evaluation: Crucial skill in academic and professional contexts
    • Mapping arguments: Useful technique for analysing the structure, validity, and evidence within arguments

    Argument Analysis: Example

    • Optimistic recovery readings: Summary of an argument regarding the US economic recovery from depression
    • Indicators: Key indicators supporting the argument
    • Rhetorical impact: Understanding the impact of the rhetoric

    Argument Analysis

    • Introduction: Crucial part of analysis.
    • Argument structure: Identifying key ideas, premises, and the conclusion.
    • Organization and effect: Assessing the effectiveness of organization and rhetorical devices
    • Audience analysis: Crucial element in successful persuasion

    Getting Started with Presentations

    • Organisations: Frequent use of various presentation types
    • Virtual presentations: Important and growing trend

    Learning from Experience

    • Effective presentations: Identifying factors contributing to presentation success
    • Unsuccessful presentations: Identifying factors contributing to presentation failure

    Persuasion

    • Speaker credibility: Importance of credibility to effective persuasion
    • Appeal to reason: Avoid fallacies and faulty thinking.
    • Emotional appeal: Using emotional cues to enhance persuasive messaging

    Not all Presentations are Equal

    • Context Matters: The context of a presentation is crucial for interpretation
    • Virtual setup: Today, virtual settings are important aspects of a presentation

    Summary

    • Common fallacies: A critical analysis of common errors in argumentation
    • Key skills: Mapping and evaluation of arguments are crucial
    • Practical application: How these principles apply in professional and academic settings

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    Related Documents

    Critical Thinking CM4203 - Nov 2024 PDF

    Description

    Test your critical thinking skills essential for business professionals in the CM4203 Communications course. This quiz covers problem analysis, evaluating alternatives, and inductive reasoning in uncertain contexts. Prepare to question assumptions and analyze quantitative data effectively.

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