17: Persuasive Speaking

Avoiding Fallacies

One sure way to undermine your speech’s organization and reasoning is by failing—much like the Cheshire Cat—to provide your listeners with a logical connection between the claims you’re making and the facts. Fallacies are false claims—those that aren’t true or are based on inadequate or inaccurate evidence. If you make false claims, not only will your listeners question your credibility but you will violate the ethical principle that says you’re responsible for providing your audience with solid reasons to consider your position. Common fallacies you should avoid include the following:

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Ad hominem arguments. You attack a person rather than an idea: “Stephens is a college dropout. It’s no wonder he’s made such an insane proposal.”
Hasty generalizations. You make a bold claim based on limited evidence: “Four-wheeling is a safe sport. I ride a few times a year, and I’ve never had an accident.”
Bandwagon appeals. You claim that if others are doing what you’re recommending, then it’s a good course of action: “Many other colleges no longer place a high priority on SAT or ACT scores for admission, so our college should do the same.”
Straw person claims. You oversimplify or misrepresent the other side of a controversial topic to make your own case stronger: “Anyone who supports this proposed legislation has no respect for the U.S. Constitution.”

To present a fallacy-free speech, thoroughly research and carefully compose your presentation. In addition, rehearse your presentation in front of others, and then ask them for feedback on the validity of your claims. If you think your claims may contain fallacies, conduct additional research to find evidence that strengthens your reasoning. Your listeners will ultimately decide whether to accept what you have to say, but if you provide them with well-developed reasons, they can make an informed choice.