Lesson Aim
Students watch a video about logical fallacies and learn how persuasive language can appeal to emotions, simplify complex issues and make weak arguments sound convincing.
Before watching
- What makes an argument persuasive?
- Can an argument sound convincing but still be illogical?
- Why do politicians sometimes simplify complex problems?
Spot the Fallacy
Watch in two parts and complete the tasks.
Prep for Part 1: Vocabulary Matching
Match each phrase to its meaning before watching Part 1.
1. oratory skills
2. logical fallacy
3. appeal to emotions
4. authoritative argument
Watch Part 1
Watch from 0:07 to about 1:49. Focus on persuasion, logical fallacies, authoritative arguments, slippery slopes and appeals to tradition.
Open Part 1 on YouTubeComprehension 1
Click each question to reveal the answer.
Vocabulary from Part 1
Debate appeals to both the rational and sides.
Complex issues are reduced to simplified .
A logical fallacy is a argument.
A claim may sound convincing in the .
Options
faultymomentsalaryemotionalstoriesPrep for Part 2: Vocabulary Matching
Match each phrase to its meaning before watching Part 2.
1. personal attack
2. false dilemma
3. strawman argument
4. informed voter
Watch Part 2
Watch from about 1:49 to the end. Focus on personal attacks, false dilemmas, strawman arguments and how citizens can evaluate political statements.
Open Part 2 on YouTubeComprehension 2
Click each question to reveal the answer.
Vocabulary from Part 2
A personal attack ignores the opponent’s .
A false dilemma presents only two .
A strawman argument is deliberately .
Citizens need tools to evaluate political .
Options
alteredsolutionsstatementsecosystemsargumentsFallacy Matching: Vocabulary from Part 2
Match each example to the correct logical fallacy.
“You either agree with my policy, or you do not care about the problem.”
“My opponent says we should spend less, so he wants to leave us defenceless.”
“Do not listen to her climate plan; look at the car she drives.”
Options
strawman argument personal attack false dilemmaVocabulary Review
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| logical fallacy | a faulty argument | The claim sounds persuasive, but it is a logical fallacy. |
| slippery slope | claiming a small change will cause disaster | The skate-park argument is a slippery slope. |
| appeal to tradition | arguing something is right because it has always been that way | “Back in my day...” can be an appeal to tradition. |
| false dilemma | presenting only two options when more exist | The childcare example creates a false dilemma. |
| strawman argument | changing an opponent’s argument to attack it more easily | The military-spending example is a strawman argument. |
Phrasal Verbs and Expressions from the Video
Drag the correct expression into each sentence.
A claim may sound convincing, but it may not logic.
Debaters often need to people’s emotions.
Disagreements can how facts are interpreted.
The speaker tries to the opponent’s position.
Voters need to what politicians are saying.
Options
pay attention tostand up toappeal tomake it easier to attackarise regardingbreak downUse the Same Phrasal Verbs to Form Questions
Use the same phrasal verbs and expressions from the previous exercise to complete the questions.
1. How can you test whether a claim can logic?
2. When is it acceptable for a speaker to emotions?
3. Why do disagreements often how facts are presented?
4. How can a strawman argument an opponent?
5. What should voters during a debate?
Options
pay attention toappeal torun outmake it easier to attackarise regardingstand up toCollocations from the Video
Drag the correct word to complete each collocation.
arguments
skills
side
fallacy
attack
voter
Options
personalpersuasiverationallogicaloratorynuclearinformedB2/C1 Grammar: Defining Fallacies and Evaluating Claims
This video uses definitions and examples, so the grammar focus is on defining relative clauses, contrast and cautious evaluation.
Grammar Section 1: Defining Relative Clauses
1. Complete: “A personal attack is a fallacy ___ the opponent is attacked instead of the argument.”
2. Which sentence is correct?
Grammar Section 2: Contrast and Concession
1. Complete: “A claim may sound convincing; ___, it may not be logical.”
2. Which sentence is balanced?
Grammar Section 3: Cautious Evaluation
1. Which sentence evaluates a claim cautiously?
2. Complete: “The speaker appears ___ the opponent’s position.”
Grammar Section 4: Identify the Logical Fallacy
Read each argument and drag the correct fallacy into the gap.
1. “My uncle is a lawyer and he says teenagers should never vote, so it must be true.”
Fallacy:
2. “If we allow students to use phones at lunch, soon they will use them in every lesson and nobody will learn anything.”
Fallacy:
3. “We have always chosen class representatives this way, so there is no reason to change it.”
Fallacy:
4. “You say we should reduce homework slightly, but clearly you want students to stop studying completely.”
Fallacy:
5. “Either you support this new school rule, or you do not care about student safety.”
Fallacy:
6. “Why should we listen to her idea about recycling? Her desk is always messy.”
Fallacy:
Options
false dilemma authoritative argument personal attack appeal to tradition strawman argument slippery slopeThought-Provoking Questions
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups. Give reasons, examples and possible consequences.
1. Which logical fallacy do you see most often in politics or social media?
2. Can emotional appeals be ethical, or are they always manipulative?
3. Why are simple stories so powerful in debates about complex issues?
4. Should schools teach students how to identify faulty arguments?
5. Is it worse to use a personal attack or a strawman argument?
6. How can voters check whether a politician is presenting facts fairly?
7. Can a speaker use a fallacy accidentally, or is it usually deliberate?
Role Play
| Identifying fallacies | Challenging politely | Reframing the debate |
|---|---|---|
| That sounds like a false dilemma because... This may be a strawman argument. The issue is more complex than... | I understand your point, but... Could you clarify the evidence for that? That conclusion does not necessarily follow. | A more balanced way to frame this is... There may be other options, such as... Let’s separate the facts from the interpretation. |
Context
Student A
You are Candidate 1. Use one strong argument and one weak argument. Try to sound persuasive.
Student B
You are Candidate 2. Identify the weak argument politely and reframe the issue more logically.
Role play task: Debate for five minutes. By the end, identify at least two fallacies and rewrite one weak argument as a stronger one.
Thank You
You have completed the ESL CONNECT video lesson.