any kind of fallacious argument that criticizes an idea by pointing something out about the person who holds the idea, rather than directly addressing the actual merit of the ideal

Example: "Of course that writer supports gun control; she's a Democrat!"

whatever has not been proven false must be true (or, similarly, whatever has not been proven true must be false)

Examples:

• "No one can prove that the Loch Ness monster does not exist; therefore the Loch Ness monster exists."
• "No one can prove that the Loch Ness monster exists; therefore the Loch Ness monster does not exist

someone assumes that parts (or all) of what a person claims to be proving are proven facts

Example: "The Loch Ness monster spoke to me in my dreams, so it must exist."

providing insufficient or selective evidence

Example: "Ping-pong is an extremely dangerous sport; last year, my friend got hit in the eye with a ping-pong ball and almost lost his vision in that eye."

a statement that does not relate logically to what comes before it

Example: "If you really wanted to earn a 5 on the AP English Language and Composition exam, you wouldn't spend so much time reading Isabel Allende's novels."

a consideration of only the two extremes when there are one or more intermediate possibilities

Example: "AP Calculus BC class is impossible; either you get it or you don't."

suggests dire consequences from relatively minor causes

Examples: "If we stop requiring men to wear coats and ties in the dining room, pretty soon they'll start coming in dressed in beachwear."

refers to the (sometimes unintentional ) setting up of a cause-and-effect relationship when none exists

Example: "Violent crime among adolescents has risen in the past decade, and that is the result of increased sales of violent video games."

an oversimplification of an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack

Examples: "Students who want to eliminate the school uniform are exhibitionists who want to show off bare midriffs."

this commonly used tactic attempts to appeal to the hearts of readers (or, of course, listeners) so that they forget to use their minds

Examples: "The assignment that I gave you last night was much too long, but just think how pleased your parents and I will be when you score a 5 on the AP exam. Think about the pride you'll feel when tears of joy stream down our faces!"

attempts to shift attention away from an important issue by introducing an issue that has no logical connection to the discussion at hand

Example: "My opponent talks about the poor quality of military intelligence, but this is a time for decisiveness, not for weakness. We must stick together and present a common front as the other nations look on. If we do not, we could jeopardize our position as a global leader."

used to frighten readers or listeners into agreeing with the speaker

Example: "My opponent talks about the need to explore stem cell research, but this would bring about an end to ethical uses of technology, and, before long, scientists will be creating superraces--the Nazi dream of an Aryan Nation will ensue."

does not allow for discussion because the speaker presumes that his or her beliefs are beyond question; "I am correct because I am correct."

Example: We are members of the Wombat Party and, as such, know that we are right when we assert that Wombats are the best!

telling part of the truth, while deliberately hiding the entire truth

Example: There is a Pink Panther movie in which Inspector Clouseau enters a quaint European hotel and, upon spying a cute little dog, asks the owner, "Does your dog bite?" The manager responds, "No," and Clouseau attempts to pet the dog, which growls and bites him. "You told me that your dog does not bite!" exclaims Clouseau. "That's not my dog," responds the owner.

an illogical misleading comparison between two things

Example: Why should we invade that country? Let me explain it to you like this. What if you looked out the window and saw a 20-dollar bill in the street? Wouldn't you go outside and take it?

usually in poetry (not grammar, but sometimes in prose), the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction either to begin a poem or to make a dramatic break in thought somewhere within the poem

argumentation

aside

ballad

the picturing in words of something or someone through detailed observation of color, motion, sound, taste, smell, and touch; one of the four modes of discourse

a rhyme that comes at the end of lines of poetry; for example:

Her voice, soft and lovely when she sings,

Came to me last night in a dream.

In my head her voice still rings,

How pleasant last night must seem.

epigram

euphony

free verse