Question

In 3–5 sentences, provide a statement that uses fallacious reasoning to make an argument. Then, explain how the fallacious reasoning weakens the argument and how it could be improved

Answer 1

Statement: "If we allow students to redo tests, soon they'll expect to retake every assignment, which will lead to a complete breakdown of academic standards. Clearly, we can't let that happen because education will fall apart entirely."

The reasoning is fallacious due to a slippery slope fallacy, which suggests that one action will unavoidably lead to extreme consequences without providing evidence for such inevitability. This weakens the argument because it invokes fear rather than logic, making it less convincing to those who seek rational justification for educational policies. To improve the argument, it could focus on presenting evidence of how redoing tests can positively impact learning outcomes, while addressing concerns about maintaining academic standards through structured guidelines rather than extreme consequences.