College Composition / Unit 30 CMP 0732 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Straw Man
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The idea
A straw man distorts or exaggerates an opponent's argument and then attacks the distorted version instead of the original point.
In practice
Answering a proposal to reduce car traffic with "Our opponent wants to ban all cars!" attacks a position no one took.
Where people slip
To check for a straw man, compare the position being attacked with what the opponent actually said.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
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