*Look for faulty logic as you read the passage.

Letter to the Editor

What’s the point of wearing school uniforms? I’m tired of hearing adults say that uniforms would make kids behave better at school. What I wear doesn’t make any difference in how I behave. I’m me, and I’ll act like I think I should no matter what I wear. Whether I’m in jeans and a T-shirt or a fancy dress, I’m still the same girl.

Wearing a school uniform would take away from my freedom of expression. I should be able to dress in ways that show who I am. Some days I’m in a blue mood; other days, I’m in a red mood. I’m never in a gray plaid mood. So why should I have to wear gray plaid skirts and white blouses every day? I would much rather wear cute, fun clothes than boring, drab ones.

I’ve heard some people say that they want school uniforms because stylish clothes cost a lot of money. Okay, I understand that. My family isn’t rich. I can’t get everything I want. But I can get some things. I have a deal with my parents that if I want designer jeans, they’ll buy me just one pair instead of two pairs of no-name jeans. I also know that I have to save my spending money in order to buy more expensive gym shoes. That’s fair. My mom says it teaches me responsibility to have to make choices like that.

By the way, when do adults ever have to wear uniforms? Just in some jobs (where they get paid, by the way) like the military, food service, or hospitals.

My friends and I all agree that school uniforms are a really bad idea. Please don’t take away our freedom to choose what we wear. Do us a favor: Forget all about uniforms at WashingtonMiddle School.

Theresa Eldridge, 7th Grade

WashingtonMiddle School

  1. What is the main point the author is making?
  2. She is tired of hearing adults say that uniforms would make kids behave better in school.
  3. There is no point to wearing school uniforms.
  4. Stylish clothes cost a lot of money.
  5. Adults don’t have to wear uniforms.
  1. With which of these statements would the author most likely agree?
  2. Gray plaid skirts are very fashionable.
  3. Food service workers should not have to wear uniforms.
  4. Students behave better when they wear uniforms to school.
  5. Students should be allowed to attend school with pink hair.
  1. Underline one example of faulty logic in the passage.
  1. What is wrong with the author’s reasoning?

______

Answer Key

  1. B

While the author does make the other points, they are only made to support her main point of opposing school uniforms.

  1. D
  1. Example: I would much rather wear cute, fun clothes than boring, drab ones. This is using a “choice of two extremes.”

4. Backing her opinion with facts would make her case much stronger.

Discussion Question: What could she do to make her letter more effective?

Faulty Logic

Imagine that one day your friend said something like this: “Since two multiplied by two equals four, then three multiplied by three must equal six.” You would immediately know that this statement was false. It would be obvious that your friend used faulty logic, or reasoning that is flawed.

Authors sometimes use faulty logic that is less obvious than the example above. Even so, if you look closely, you will be able to tell whether the facts “add up” to a sound conclusion. Here are a few common errors in reasoning that you might see:

Oversimplifying—makes a complicated issue seem simpler than it really is. Most issues have many sides to consider.

It all boils down to this: The key to safe schools is strict discipline.

Broad Generalization—makes a general statement and applies it across the board, without allowing for any exceptions.

Kids today watch too much television.

Circular Reasoning—tries to prove a point by simply rewording it.

Vera is a bad choice for class president because she is all wrong for the job.

A Choice of Two Extremes—gives only two extreme possibilities without any options in between.

We must either vote for the new leash law or watch our city go to the dogs.

Unsupported Inference—makes an inference without evidence to support it.

Despite losing every game this season, I just know that our tennis team will do well in the tournament.