Difference Between a Rhetorical Tool and Logical Fallacy - Assignment Example

Difference Between a Rhetorical Tool and Logical Fallacy Issue: Abortion (Oppose) Rhetorical Appeal: Appeal to Pathos: Thousands of helpless, innocent babies are slaughtered everyday. Logical fallacy: Circular reasoning: Abortion is a wicked act because it causes many persons to become involved in immorality. Issue: Abortion (Support) Rhetorical Appeal: Appeal to Logos: In several States where abortion has been legalized, population growth has been kept under control, so there is no reason that would not be the same here if it is legalized.

Logical Fallacy: Ad Populum: If you believe in democracy in the USA then you would support an individual’s right to freedom of choice in having an abortion. Rhetorical tools are basic strategies or appeals “used in arguments to support claims and respond to opposing arguments” (Weida & Stolley, 2010). These tools employ emotional appeal, logical reasoning, and speaker’s credibility. However, as the writer uses these rhetoric tools, he or she may fall prey to another kind of appeal called logical fallacies.

“Fallacies are common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument” (Weida & Stolley). The writer should use rhetoric tools wisely so as to avoid baseless or irrelevant arguments. The difference with these two types of appeals is that rhetorical tools are more direct in their effort to elicit a response from the audience. Logical fallacies, on the other hand, are more indirect and calculated. Rhetorical tools are used more often in political debates, as the focus in usually on getting an emotional response from the audience and ascertaining the credibility of the speaker.

Source: Weida, S. & Stolley, K. (2010). Using Rhetorical Strategies for Persuasion. Retrieved June 22, 2011 from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/