Who would you rather knock over - the Strong Man or the Straw Man?

Explanation:

Straw man is easy to remember because of the picture it makes you think of. Remember, a straw man is easier to knock over than a real man. Likewise, a phony argument that in some ways resembles an actual argument is easier to knock down than the real argument. Whenever someone claims to be presenting their opposition's argument, be very careful. They may be presenting it in such a way that it appears to be very silly.

Definition: The author attacks an argument which is different from, and usually weaker than, the opposition's best argument.

Warning: The straw man is the most tempting and the most common fallacy of students writing argumentative essays. Here are some tips on avoiding this fallacy:

1. ALWAYS make sure you present the very best case for the opposition.

2. Get information about your opposition directly from those sources. For instance, suppose you are writing a paper and you support Intelligent Design. In order to properly present the other side (evolution), make sure you have sources that are actual evolutionists, not just I.D. people commenting on evolution.

3. Have someone who holds the other side read your paper. They will probably notice is you're committing this error.

Examples:

(i) People who opposed the Charlottetown Accord probably just wanted Quebec to separate. But we want Quebec to stay in Canada.

(ii) We should have conscription. People don't want to enter the military because they find it an inconvenience. But they should realize that there are more important things than convenience.

Proof:

Show that the opposition's argument has been misrepresented by showing that the opposition has a stronger argument. Describe the stronger argument.