Fallacies in Verbal and Written Reasoning: False Dilemma and Bandwagon Fallacy

Content Standard
The learner understands the principles and uses of a position paper.
Performance Standard
The learner presents a convincing position paper based on properly cited factual evidence
that produces an insightful statement of principles and reasons for establishing a student
organization, coming up with a group exhibit of creative works, etc.

I. Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the students must have:

A. identified the common fallacies in verbal and written reasoning;

B. give an example of the common fallacies ; and
C. discussed the importance of valid reasoning.

II. Subject Matter: Fallacies in Verbal and Written Reasoning

MELCS: Defends a stand on an issue by presenting reasonable arguments supported by

properly cited factual evidence. (CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-IIa-d-4 )

Online Reference/s: Fallacies Critical Thinking. Retrieved from

https://homepages.hass.rpi.edu/heuveb/Teaching/CriticalThinking/Web/Presentations/Fall
acies.pdf

A. Instructional Materials: PowerPoint Presentation, AhaSlide, QR Code. Google

Form

III. Method: 4As

Teacher’s Activity Students’ Activity

Preliminary Activities

Good Morning, class!

Before we start, let us first have our opening Let us all remember…Lasallian
prayer. prayer…Amen…

Before, you take your seat, kindly pick up (Students do as told)

some pieces of paper on the floor and arrange
your chairs properly.

How is your day so far? We are good, Miss.

Are there any absentees? None, Miss.

Are there any assignments that need to be Yes, Miss.

passed?

Kindly pass your assignments to the center (Students do as told)

aisle then forward.

Alright!

So just like your other teachers, we also have

our classroom rules and it has an acronym of
LRBB.

L- Listen to the instruction

R- Raise your hand if you want to answer

B- Be quiet and stay focus on the lesson

B- Be attentive and participate in the activity

I want you to observe these classroom rules Yes, Miss.

throughout the class. Are the classroom rules
clear, class?

What is the acronym of our classroom rules LRBB.

again, class?

1. Review

Before we proceed to our discussion, can

anyone recall our last discussion? Our previous discussion is about Fallacy of
Verbal and Written Reasoning.

Anyone from the class who can recall what A fallacy is an argument that appears to be
Fallacy is? valid but in reality, it is not.

Correct!

What are the common fallacies that we had The common fallacies that we had discussed
are the Ad Hominem, Stereotyping and Red
discussed previously? Herring.

Perfect!

It just simply means that you listened to our

previous discussion.

Give yourself 5 big claps with Perfect at the (Students do as told)

end.

1. Motivation

Before we proceed with our new lesson this

morning, I have here a statement, kindly read. “All men are cheaters.”

Do you agree with this class? No, miss.

Why not? I disagree, because based on my experience

not all men are cheaters.
Some of you disagreed and some agreed.

You might have encountered a man or your

boyfriend perhaps who is a cheater but that
does not mean that all men are cheaters.

3. Statement of the Subject Matter and

Objectives

So this morning, we will discuss the

“Fallacies in Verbal and Written Reasoning:
Dichotomy Fallacy and Bandwagon Fallacy.”

Kindly read again our new topic.

Everyone must listen attentively because at Fallacies in verbal and Written Reasoning:
the end of the lesson, you are expected to Dichotomy Fallacy and Bandwagon
attain the following learning outcomes.

For the first objectives, all boys please read.
Second, all girls please read.
Third and fourth objectives, altogether, begin.
a. Identify the common fallacies in verbal and
written reasoning.
b. Create a sample scenario of each fallacy.
c. Discuss the importance of valid reasoning.
Are the objectives clear, class? Yes, miss.

A. Activity

Before we dig deeper with our discussion, let

us have a short activity.

Activity 1: Decoding Fallacy

Mechanics:

1. Divide the students into 4 groups.

2. Present students with various
statements which contain fallacious
arguments or statements.
3. Discuss and analyze the given
scenarios.
4. Write your analysis on the bond paper
provided.
5. Do the activity in 5 minutes.
6. Share/present your answers before the
class for 1 minute.
7. Answer the following guide questions.

Guide Questions:

1. What have you noticed in the

statement?
2. What do you think is the argument
present in the sentence?
3. What specific fallacy do you think is
present in this statement?

Remember that you only have 5 minutes to

discuss with your group and since we don’t
have time limit your presentation in 1 to 2
minutes.
Yes, miss.
Are the mechanics clear, class? (Students do as told)
Go to your group at the count of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6,
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Settle down.

Your timer starts now.

(Times up)

Go back to your proper seats everyone. Yes, miss.

Group 1 are you ready?

(Students do as told)
Representatives of Group 1, please proceed in
front. Kindly paste your analysis on the board. Assigned statement
Philippines: Lo­­ve it or leave it.
Kindly read first the statement given to you
then your analysis.

Thank you Group 1. Kindly give 3 big claps

for Group 1. Assigned statement

Now, let us hear from Group 2. The boat is sinking. Along with you are your
parents. But you only have to save one of
them. Who will you save, is it your mother or
Thank you Group 2, give Group 2 a 3 big your father?
claps.
Assigned statement
Let us go to the third group. Everyone is going to get the new smartphone
when it comes out this weekend. Why aren’t
you getting one?

Thank you Group 3, kindly give 3 big claps

for Group 3. Assigned statement
Eating kimchi and drinking soju are part of
And last but not the least, Group 4. the trend these days. You should buy them.

Thank you, everyone! Kindly give yourself a

La Sallian clap A. Begin!

B. Analysis

Now class, let’s go back to the Group 1’s

analysis.

Let me present first the assigned statement for

group 1.

Statement 1: Philippines: Lo­­ve it or leave it.

Statement 2: The boat is sinking. Along with

you are your parents. But you only have to
save one of them. Who will you save, is it
your mother or your father?

(Teacher will read the answers of Group 1 and

2)

Based on Group 1 and Group 2’s answers, the

statement is an example of False Dilemma
and Either-or Fallacy.

Class, do you agree with their answers? Yes, miss.

Why do you say so? Because the statements have only 2 options
to reason out.

Yes, miss.
Do you agree with your classmate’s answer?

That is right! These statements are an

example of Either-or Fallacy.
This fallacy is a statement where there are
Now, who has an idea on what is Either-or only 2 options.
Fallacy?

Correct!

Either-or fallacy or also known as False

dilemma or Dichotomy Fallacy, is an
argument when it assumes that one of two
cases must be true, where in fact there are
other options as well.

From the prefix di- in the dichotomy, it means

two.

Why do you think this fallacy is faulty?

 This is faulty because it only limits the
choices into two choices as the only options
ever existed in the world.
Exactly! This fallacy is faulty because when
you reason out from an either or position and
you haven't considered all relevant
possibilities.

Questions? None miss.

Then, let’s proceed to Group 3 and Group 4’s

analysis.

Based on Group 3 and Group 4’s answers, the Bandwagon Fallacy.

statement is an example of?

Do you agree that these statements are an Yes miss.

example of Bandwagon Fallacy?

Why do you say that these statements are a This fallacy describes believing something is
Bandwagon Fallacy? true or acceptable only because it is popular.

Precisely! Going back to the statement

“Eating kimchi and drinking soju are part of
the trend these days. You should buy them.”

Why does the speaker try to convince the The speaker tried to convince the other person
other person to buy Kimchi and Soju? to buy Kimchi and Soju because it is trending
these days.
Exactly! So this statement is an example of
Bandwagon Fallacy or also known as Appeal
to the Mass.

Kindly read the definition. ● The bandwagon fallacy is also

sometimes called the appeal to
common belief or appeal to the masses
● it’s all about getting people to do or
think something because “everyone
else is doing it” or “everything else
thinks this.”
This kind of argument is faulty because the
goodness or badness of a certain action is not
determined by how many people are doing it.

Any questions? None miss.

 Yes miss.
Class, can you identify the difference between
the common fallacies?

C. Abstraction
The last two common fallacies in Verbal and
This time, based on our discussion earlier, Written Reasoning are Either-or Fallacy and
what then are the last two common fallacies in Bandwagon Fallacy.
Verbal and Written Reasoning?
Bandwagon miss.
What fallacy describes believing something is
true or acceptable only because it is popular?

Correct!

What about the fallacy that only limits the False Dilemma miss.
choices into two choices as the only options
ever exist?

Perfect! You got everything right, class! Give (Students do as told)

yourselves a Lasallian Clap A.

D. Application

Now that we are done discussing the last two

common fallacies in Verbal and Written
Reasoning, we will have an activity to test
whether you fully understood our discussion
this morning.

Activity 2: Act it out!

Instructions: Read the statement carefully,

then choose the letter of the correct answer
that corresponds to it. Answer it in 5 minutes.

Mechanics:

1. Divide the class into 4 groups.

2. Create a 2 minutes role-play about the
types of fallacies assigned to each
group.
3. Present the role-play before the class.
4. Do this in 5 minutes.
Remember that you only have 5 minutes to
discuss with your group and 2 minutes for the
presentations.

Kindly observe the rubrics.

Content Score

Content 10

Creativity 10

Delivery 5

Total 25 points
(Students do as told)
Go to your group now at the count of 10, 9, 8,
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Kindly write your group members on a ¼

sheet of paper.

Your timer starts now!

Time is up!
(Students do as told)
Pass your ¼ at the count of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

The last group who submits 1/4 will be the

first presenter.

(The teacher will call groups randomly)

Great job, everyone, on your presentations.

Give yourselves 5 big claps with Magnificent
at the end. Begin!

Values Integration

As we've explored various fallacies that can

affect both verbal and written reasoning, it
becomes evident that recognizing these
 fallacies is essential for ensuring valid and
reliable arguments.

Now, let's shift our focus towards discussing

the importance of valid reasoning in our It helps us make sound decisions, solve
everyday lives. problems effectively, and engage in
meaningful discussions.
In your own opinion, why is valid reasoning
important in our daily lives? Yes miss.

(Students answer vary)

Do you agree with your classmate’s opinion?

Can you give a situation where valid

reasoning is crucial?

So valid reasoning is important because it

helps us make a rational decision ultimately
leading to better results.

IV. Evaluation

Directions: Analyze each statement and identify the type of fallacy present in each statement.
Select your response from the provided options. Write BF if the statement is Bandwagon and
write FD if the statement is False Dilemma.

______1. “Everyone is getting an iPhone 15, so it must be the best one on the market."
______2. "Either you agree with my opinion, or you're completely ignorant."
______3. "You're either a success in your career, or you're a failure."
______4. "All my friends love KPop, so I should too."
______5. "Most people in our barangay support this candidate, so they must be the right choice
for office."
______6. "Millions of viewers watch this TV show, so it must be the most entertaining show
ever."
______7. "You can have either a happy family life or a successful professional life, but not
both."
______8. "Join the club; everyone else is already a member, so it must be great."
______9. Be my friend or be my enemy.
______10. If you're not going to heaven, you must be going to you-know-where.