march 10

JOURNAL TOPIC: (Today's tunes: "Because" by The Beatles; "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven)

Why isn't "Because I said so" a convincing argument?  What is it missing?  If it's such a flawed and incomplete idea, why do so many people rely on it?

AGENDA:
1. Journal topic
2. Review: Did you find a syllogism?
3. Logical fallacies in argumentative rhetoric (a.k.a., "things people get away with when their audiences don't know any better")

HW:
1. Identify your favorite five fallacies from this list and post them to your course blog.  Explain why you chose them: Did you recognize them from conversations/speeches you've seen?  Have you used them yourself?
 
*NOTE: I'll be teaching period 3 and other RHS English teachers will be in class learning along with us.  I won't be teaching period 7.  If you're in period 3, find someone in period 7 to help (consult the Member Blogs list if you're not sure who is in class).  If you're in period 7, don't wait for someone in period 3 to find you-- hunt them down and make them talk.  You're going to need to know what they know for your quiz tomorrow.