Critical Thinking

Front 1

xenophobia & stereotyping

Back 1

Classifying people, places, or things solely on common traits while ignoring individual differences that make these comparisons invalid.

Front 2

equivocation


vague / ambiguous language

Back 2

A logical fallacy in which the same word is used with two or more different meanings.

Front 3

semantics

Back 3

Scholars who study the effects of language on mental health and behavior.

Front 4

allusion

Back 4

reference made to someone in history or a hero in the movies

Front 5

illusion

Back 5

When you think you see something that is not there.

Front 6

metaphor

Back 6

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Front 7

simile

Back 7

A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, (e.g., as brave as a lion).

Front 8

symbolism

Back 8

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Front 9

hyperbole

Back 9

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Front 10

cliche

Back 10

platitude: a trite or obvious remark.

over used phrase.

Front 11

Euphemism


Reification

Back 11

The use of a less direct but softer or more acceptable term to describe an event, person, or object.

A process by which words become more powerful and real than objective reality.(pate and cat food)

Front 12

Spin


aka p.c. language

Back 12

Used to put the words and behavior of people in a positive light so that a positive reaction may result or a negative reaction may be minimized.

Front 13

Politically Correct P.C. Language


aka p.c. language

Back 13

Politicians on right[conservatives] and left[liberals or progressives seeking political change] force changes in the language by redefining political terms to remove words certain groups found offensive.
i.e. "fired" vs. "downsized"

Front 14

euphemism



aka reification

Back 14

Use of less direct but softer, more acceptable term to describe an event, person, or object.
"died vs. passed away" "fat vs. full bodied"

Front 15

jargon


aka gobbledygook

Back 15

Specialized language used to exclude or impress people who don't understand the terminology.

Front 16

gobbledygook


aka jargon

Back 16

Vague or inflated language used to confuse or overwhelm those who hear it.

Front 17

vague



ambiguous language

Back 17

A problem that arises with the use of nonspecific or abstract words. A word of phrase is vague when its meaning is unclear.

Front 18

ambiguous language



aka vague

Back 18

Having two or more possible meanings. Ambiguity in language occurs when the meaning of words is unclear or uncertain. Such ambiguity can lead to confusion and misunderstanding.

Front 19

doublespeak


aka weasel words

Back 19

Language used to lie or mislead while pretending to tell the truth. Doublespeak includes the use of euphemism, jargon, gobbledygook, and weasel words.

Front 20

weasel words


aka doublespeak

Back 20

A word used to evade or retreat from a direct or forthright statement or position.

Front 21

ethnocentrism


aka sociocentrism

Back 21

The tendency to view one's own race or culture as central, based on the deep-seated belief that one's own group is superior to all others.

Front 22

rationalization

Back 22

A defense mechanism that underlies many others; it involves justifying or making sense of things that don't make sense and explaining things away that should be brought under examination.

Front 23

pluralistic ignorance

Back 23

Tendency for people to see what everyone else is doing before responding in the publics best interest.

Front 24

irony & satire as writer's purpose

Back 24

The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of a play, novel, film, or other work that uses satire.

Front 25

correlation

Back 25

A relationship or connection between two objects or events. Noting a correlation is sometimes the first step in exploring causation, but it does not equal causation.

Front 26

causation

Back 26

A connection between two events in which it is established that one event caused the other.

Front 27

pejorative language

Back 27

.

Front 28

post hoc ergo propter hoc [cause/effect]

fallacies;false cause

Back 28

A fallacy that occurs when there is no real proof that one event caused another event; there is only evidence that one event came after another event.

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nonsequitur

Back 29

.

Front 30

begging the question

Back 30

A fallacy that occurs when a speaker or writer assumes what needs to be proven.

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red herring

Back 31

A fallacy in which reasons offered to support conclusions lead the listener away from the issue under consideration.

Front 32

nonsequitur

Back 32

Noun.A conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.

Synonyms.paralogism

Front 33

ad hominem

Back 33

A Latin term meaning "to the man" or attacking the person. Ad hominem occurs when a person is attacked on a personal quality that is irrelevant to the issue under discussion.