Apart from living in the era of information technology, people make mistakes in their reasoning (fallacies) on purpose or by accident (Hughes & Lavery, 2015). I believe that one of the most common fallacies is when someone relies on the statements made by the authorities like celebrities and politicians. Along with that, people often use fallacies as tools to manipulate others and appealing to pity and circular reasoning are only some examples (Walden University, 2017). For instance, one can easily force someone to do something like register a marriage, as canceling this event may have a negative effect on the health of the mother of a potential bride. I can also say that another fallacy pertains to the exaggeration of possible consequences (e.g., cancer) of an action such as getting a tattoo. These matters are only examples of some fallacies, but I believe that these types are the most common ones while others include generalization and making conclusions with no sufficient evidence.
Nonetheless, there are several ways that I can use to avoid fallacies in writing. In the first place, it is essential to make a strong argument that will have a claim, support, and warrant (Walden University, 2017). In this case, to support a particular statement, it is vital to find evidence from reliable and relevant sources such as governmental and educational websites and peer-reviewed scholarly journals (Walden University, 2017). Not including this part in the argument will lead to generalizations and fallacies. It is apparent that publications and articles have to be referenced, and readers will be able to discover the primary sources of information. Overall, I believe that only following this framework and constantly improving critical thinking skills can help avoid fallacies in writing.
References
Hughes, W., & Lavery, J. (2015). Critical thinking: An introduction to the basic skills. Ontario, Canada: Broadview Press.
Walden University. (2017). Writing a paper: Avoiding logical fallacies. Web.