Lesson 3: He Tātai Whakaaro (Logical Reasoning)

Recognising Logical Fallacies

45 minutes | Year 8 Critical Thinking

šŸŽŖ Starter: "Spot the Flaw" Game 10 min

NZ Political Speech Examples:

Statement A:

"My opponent clearly doesn't understand economics - just look at their haircut!"

Fallacy: Ad Hominem (attacking the person, not the argument)

Statement B:

"If we allow more refugees, soon we'll be completely overrun and lose our culture entirely!"

Fallacy: Slippery Slope (extreme consequence prediction)

šŸ§  Main Activity: Fallacy Detective 25 min

Common Logical Fallacies:

1. Ad Hominem: Attacking the person instead of their argument

2. Straw Man: Misrepresenting someone's position to defeat it easily

3. False Cause: Assuming X causes Y just because they happen together

4. Appeal to Authority: "Famous person says it, so it must be true"

Student Task: Analyze 5 NZ advertisements/political statements, identify fallacies, create Canva infographic

šŸŒ€ Cultural Connection: Whakapapa Logic 10 min

Compare Western linear logic with Māori whakapapa (holistic connections):

Western: A causes B causes C (linear reasoning)

Māori: All things connected, multiple relationships considered simultaneously

Discussion: When might each approach be more useful?

Assessment: Students identify fallacies in provided media examples, explain why they're flawed