Essay Example Describing the Bandwagon Fallacy

Every time I listen to people's reasoning, I find myself asking myself very many questions. I have learned to question every suggestion, whether sinister or apparently genuine until I get the motive behind the speaker. This tendency is due to an experience I had as a sophomore in this institution.

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When I was two weeks into college, my friend requested me to join the basketball team. All the while I had been playing football and that was my talent, or so I felt. On this particular day, he wanted me to change my mind. He gave the reason that "Everyone wants to join our basketball team because it has the history of winning reputable medals". He added that most of the students from the basketball team are known to garner high grades, that basketball playing sharpens one's brains and enlightens them academically. I almost believed but come to think of it, I had already established myself on the football team. Besides, all the years, I had been playing football and I wasn't going to shit because of his entreaties.

There were, however, several two erroneous statements, rather, bandwagon fallacies in my friend's arguments. Frist, who said or showed that most of the students want to join the basketball, team? This is a statement without backing or statistical evidence. In fact, the basketball team in our school is less famous compared to the soccer team. The soccer team has the majority of fans and players with its sports attracting the biggest crowds. This was an appeal for me to believe that all and sundry covet the club and that what he was offering was a golden opportunity for me. Secondly, there is the pretentious statement that most of the students from the basketball team are known to garner high grades. There is no direct correlation between basketball and academic performance that surpasses the general exercise known to awaken mental faculties for better cognitive abilities, memory, and health that supports mental development. The exercise needs only a physically active person, whether, in rugby, soccer, basketball or sprinting. What one needs to enjoy such a vitality id to keep exercising the body and the mind. Appealing to the non-existent public or common knowledge is drawing the bandwagon fallacy (Axelrod, Charles & Alison, n.p). These fallacies show that my friend had no material reasons to appeal for my playing basketball beyond the aspect of keeping him company. He should have gone straight to the point.

From then to date, I usually take note of bandwagon fallacies in personal appeals. This is rampant especially when I perceive that the speaker is making an appeal. Chances are that unverifiable oversimplifications will be presented. Unfortunately, to me, it waters down the speaker's arguments. It makes them of less impact and less serious, seeing a false appeal. I always try to avoid the same logical fallacy by staying true and honest in my arguments.

Work Cited

Axelrod, Rise B., Charles R. Cooper, and Alison M. Warriner. Reading critically, writing well: A reader and guide. Macmillan, 2007.