Communications and Media

Part B

The ability to construct a logical and effective argument is essential in terms of the development of rational thinking. According to Woods, logical persuasion belongs to human rational survival kit (Woods, 2004, p. 7) and such skills as making positive generalizations from numerous instances, making inductions, distinguishing between the most important and secondary determine the development of rational thinking. In this sense, fallacies, defined as misconceptions which result from faulty reasoning, can be viewed as a threat to rationality. The present paper argues that fallacies do not contribute to an argument, but rather make it ineffective. The use of such misconceptions will not allow the argument to reach its ultimate goal, or persuasion, because fallacies make the argument less relevant by shifting focus from the main point of discussion to the minor, might be unethical or abusive and highlight weak points in the discussion. In addition, fallacious arguments have little value in the scientific discourse due to the lack of objectivity.

Getting to the point or keeping the flow or reasoning close to the main topic is one of the primary principles of a successful argument (Stratton, 1999, p. 190). However, many types of fallacies cause the argument to focus on minor or unimportant points, which have little connection to the discussion. For instance the best known Red Herring argument consists in presenting an irrelevant topic for the purpose of diverting attention from the main point (Paul and Elder, 2006, p.26). For instance, when the speaker talks about the problem of funding of smoking prevention, they might focus on other programs which are poorly financed in order to remove stress from the original topic. Furthermore, evidence is often manipulated in order to make certain issue seem more significant than it is in the context of the original topic. For instance, conclusions are drawn based on the information about a biased sample (or themselves), or by claiming that the information might be true for others but the speaker personally never faced the corresponding phenomenon.

Part C

Stratton, J. (1999). Critical thinking for college students. Rowman  Littlefield.
The book contains an overview of the main principles of critical thinking based upon the view that critical thinking is rethinking, reviewing and evaluating. The source is valid, as the guide is comprehensive and logically organized. The book was written about a decade ago, so the theoretical information is still relevant and up-to-date. The source is also neutral in terms of biases, discriminatory or abusive topics and language.

Richard, P and Elder, L. (2006). Thinkers Guide to Fallacies The Art of Mental trickery. Foundation Critical Thinking.  
The book contains a comprehensive  overview of the major logical fallacies as well as case studies and discussion of how to construct a lucid and logical argument. The material is reliable, because it is based on both theoretical perspectives and empirical findings (e.g. data from case studies). Dr.Linda Elder is a fellow in the Foundation of Critical Thinking and an authoritative figure in the scientific circles researching rhetoric. The work is also accurate, because all facts are checked and contain references to primary sources.

Woods, J. (2004). The death of argument fallacies in agent-based reasoning. Springer.
The work is dedicated to the fallacies approach to argument evaluation and to combining formal and informal perspectives on identifying fallacies. The book of John Woods is reliable, because it can be viewed as an academic source which synthesizes the achievements of earlier theorists in the field. The book was published in 2004, so it uses recent examples from political rhetoric as well as recent research findings. The information cannot be biased, because when discussing facts and theories the author refers to primary sources, i.e. gives the reader an opportunity to check the work for accuracy.

Tyler, S., Ryan, C. and Kossen, C. (2005). Communication A Foundation Course. Pearson Education Australia.
The book addresses the main elements of communication including the construction and perception of arguments. The source is valid and reliable, since it is recommended as a textbook for university and college students. All authors have conducted studies in the areas of media, communications and rhetoric. The material cannot be biased in any way, as it is intended for students and contains the theories, concepts and approaches which allow understanding the basics of communications.

Tindale, C. (2007). Fallacies and argument appraisal. Cambridge University Press.
The book explains the nature, concepts and causes of fallacious reasoning and addresses the major principles of argument evaluation. Professor Tindale has doctoral degree and his scientific interest is concentrated in the areas of philosophy and rhetoric. The source is logically structured and contains the section required of a valid source (e.g. introduction, theoretical framework, discussion, conclusion). The book is written in strict accordance with the principle of objectivity, as several viewpoints are presented, so it is cannot be biased.