The Critical Thinking Book

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Chapter 6: Pitfalls of Language

After Chapter 6: Section 2:
6.1 Videos Verbosity and Jargon

  • Hurley Write lecture on avoiding verbosity
  • Communications teacher Simon on what is and isn’t jargon
    1:24
  • Hurley Write lecture on avoiding clichés and jargon
  • BBC short lecture on understanding jargon
    5:59
  • A classic skit on the “retro encabulator” device being described
    2:00
  • Tech Jargon—Unmasked and Mocked
    2:03
After Chapter 6: Section 3:
6.2 Videos Vagueness

  • Prof. Handke on types of vagueness in natural language
    11:10
  • Profs. Rich and Cline on vagueness and the Sorites paradox
    5:19
After Chapter 6: Section 4:
6.3 Videos Loaded Language

  • ChangeMyMind lecture on loaded language and name-calling
    8:52
6.4 Tutorial Identifying Question-begging Language 10 points
6.5 Quiz Identifying Question-begging Language Points = 20 x Percent Score
6.6 Tutorial Identifying Fallacies of Faulty Assumption (Loaded Question and Question-begging Language) 10 points
6.7 Quiz Identifying Fallacies of Faulty Assumption (Loaded Question and Question-begging Language) Points = 20 x Percent Score
After Chapter 6: Section 5:
6.8 Videos Understatement and Exaggeration

  • Let’sTalk lecture on understatement vs. exaggeration
    10:53
6.9 Videos Fallacies of Ambiguity

  1. Ambiguity
    • Fast Philosophy lecture on vagueness and ambiguity
      2:41
    • TeachPhilosophy on the difference between vagueness and philosophy
      3:06
    • Prof. Handke on the nature and types of ambiguity
      21:27
    • Prof. Koehl on fallacies of ambiguity
      15:02
  2. Equivocation
    • Carneades.org lecture on the fallacy of equivocation
      1:30
    • The great comedians Abbot and Costello had a classic Vaudeville routine, called “Who’s on First”, an extended take-off on Lewis Carroll’s use of “Nobody” as a name, which they performed for years on radio, and later TV
      6:10
    • Jimmy Fallon, Billy Crystal, and Jerry Seinfeld did a remake of the Abbot/Costello routine not long back
      2:58
    • Wikipedia has a nice discussion of the use of ambiguity in other, earlier comedy routines
  3. Accent
    • Misleading Advertising? Beales Department Store
      4:54
    • The Fine Print: Inside a Go Public investigation of misleading ads
      5:04
    • Hyundai Sued For Misleading Consumers With MPG Claims
      3:35
    • Always Read The Fine Print
      2:05
    • Fibe internet service advertising misleads customers
      4:48
    • Understanding the Fine Print in Automotive Advertising
      2:04
    • Fruit Juice Rip Offs and what official really cares?
      3:11
  4. Composition
    • Carneades.org lecture on the composition fallacy
      1:36
    • Prof. Sadler on the fallacy of composition
      16:56
  5. Division
    • Carneades.org on the division fallacy
      1:42
    • Prof. Sadler on the fallacy of division
      12:05
6.10 Tutorial Identifying Ambiguous Sentences 10 points
6.11 Quiz Identifying Ambiguous Sentences Points = 20 x Percent Score
6.12 Tutorial Identifying Fallacies of Ambiguity 16 points
6.13 Quiz Identifying Fallacies of Ambiguity Points = 32 x Percent Score
After Chapter 6: Section 9:
6.14 Quiz Cumulative Quiz: Identifying Fallacies of Faulty Assumption and Ambiguity Points = 60 x Percent Score
6.15 Tutorial Chapter 6 Concept Review 20 points