Essay with Fallacies
Formal education has been a topic of a lasting debate, but there are still two major viewpoints concerning the field. Some think that formal learning is the basis for the development of human society, while many believe that this type of training is archaic and does not address the modern world’s needs. The latter perspective is more sound as the American society has already witnessed such adverse effects of inefficient education as an unprecedented crime rate, poor public health, and economic constraints.
Many people agree that the modern educational system heavily relies on standards that do not help young generations develop but simply make learners identical in all possible ways. However, all learners have different styles, backgrounds, and interests. All these peculiarities should be taken into account when educating young learners. This goal is impossible to achieve in terms of formal education, as this system lacks flexibility. The archaic system focuses on standards rather than the real progress of children. As a result, students’ performance and capabilities are improperly assessed, which results in the low rate of enrollment into higher educational establishments. Thus, schools divert students from colleges and universities.
In conclusion, it is possible to note that the level of trust to the existing educational system is very low as people do not trust the formal education anymore. The modern world’s challenges leave people no time to hesitate, as it is crucial to ensure the efficacy of one of the primary systems. Educators should develop students focusing on their peculiarities rather than their ability to fit in the standardized system.
Analysis of Fallacies
The paper in question contains four logical fallacies that undermine the effectiveness of the argument. The first one is the Correlation Implies Causation fallacy, as the author draws people’s attention to the correlation that does not exist. The writer mentions such unrelated issues as a high crime rate, economic constraints, poor public health, and formal education. The issues mentioned taking place simultaneously with no or indirect link with the existing educational system’s effectiveness. Due to the lack of the link between the issues, the argument does not seem sound.
Another fallacy is associated with the appeal to popular opinion. The author notes that “many people” find formal education inefficient. However, popular opinion does not guarantee the soundness of the argument. In many cases, the opposite is the case.
The third logical fallacy to be considered is the slippery slope fallacy. The author claims that formal education relies on very rigid assessment standards, which results in the improper evaluation of students’ capabilities, which leads to the low enrollment rates in higher educational establishments. Nevertheless, the first trend does not lead to the other trends mentioned above. More so, the conclusion made is rather absurd as adherence to standards cannot make people less eager to pursue certain academic goals. At least, there is no evidence supporting this claim.
Finally, the circular argument is used in the concluding paragraph. The author notes that people do not trust the modern educational system because they do not trust it. This argument is weak as there is no evidence or even proper argument. The author simply restates a certain viewpoint.
It is necessary to note that the fallacies mentioned above may have negative implications in the workplace. First, the authors’ argument is likely to be ignored as it lacks evidence and logical soundness. Many ideas may be presented in an ineffective manner, which will lead to their complete ignorance even though they can be valuable or even vital. Furthermore, a common peculiarity of the fallacies made is the authors’ inability or unwillingness to provide sound evidence to support the claims made. Employees’ inability or reluctance to use data to support their opinions may affect the process of decision-making. Individuals will be unable to make proper decisions as they will have no adequate basis. This may lead to detrimental effects. Another implication to take into account is the overall atmosphere in the working place. If the fallacies used in the paper become common, employees will focus on their opinions with no attempts to reach compromises.
One of the reasons for using the tactic when writing the paper is the author’s unwillingness to implement certain research to support the claim. Another reason may be the author’s too self-assured. The one who wrote the paper simply thinks that the arguments provided are self-evident, and the author’s authority is enough to support them. There are also chances that the author lacks writing and critical thinking skills, which is the least serious issue as the person can be taught while changing features of character is a more difficult task to implement.
As far as avoiding the mistakes mentioned above, the author had to use more informative arguments to support the claims made. It was also essential to refer to reputable sources to enhance the credibility of the arguments. These two strategies could help the author strengthen the argument and make people more informed and eager to argue on board.
It is necessary to consider particular ways to enhance the effectiveness of each of the claims. The first fallacy can be eliminated if the author mentions a particular outcome of the ineffective educational system. There may be certain links between education, crime rate, public health, and so on, as these spheres of life are interrelated. Nonetheless, a direct correlation has not been identified yet. The author has to find more direct links. For example, it is possible to state that the level of skills and knowledge of American students in certain disciplines is lower than other nations’ scores.
The second fallacy mentioned could be avoided if the author provides a reference to a reputable source or an expert’s opinion on the matter. “Many people” sounds quite vague, and the reader may think that people often make mistakes as many people thought that the planet was flat several centuries ago. It could be beneficial to mention the results of a study concerning the effectiveness of formal education.
The slippery slope fallacy can be addressed if the author pays more attention to the logical coherence. It is possible to use mind maps and fishbone diagrams to sort the causes and effects of some issues. It is also possible to double-check each claim for its validity and logical coherence. Asking someone to read the paper could be beneficial as the reader could draw the writer’s attention to the flaws.
Finally, it is essential to make sure that there are no circular arguments in the paper. This can be done through attentive proofreading. The writer should read the paper several times to trace the fallacy. It is also important to remember that every claim has to be supported by sound evidence. When making a claim, it is essential to provide the rationale.
On balance, it is possible to note that logical fallacies can occur when the writer lacks critical thinking or writing skills or is unwilling to support the argument appropriately. These fallacies can have adverse implications in the working place as the decision-making process can be compromised. However, it is possible to avoid making such mistakes through the use of quite easy strategies.