The Hasty

Generaliza
tion
Fallacy
By Elena Lents and
Nadia Kaveh

few
instances
are
presented
to reach an
accurate
conclusion

Overgeneralization in the
Community

Annotations

Analysis
The advertisement illustrated portrays a number of fallacies,
one of which being overgeneralization. The billboard claims
that Abortion never saves a womans life,, assuming that
abortion has never been helpful to a woman. This incorrect
accusation is insensitive to the women who have health
issues that result in not being physically or emotionally
capable of carrying and raising a child. The board also
includes the phrase It just kills a baby, implying that there
is no other purpose to the procedure. The image of a smiling
baby is portrayed to gain the emotional appeal of the
audience, creating a pathos inspired advertisement. The red
coloring on the billboard compares to the color of blood,

ti o n
ques
rical
rhet
o

He uses words like we and our to make the audience

feel like they are a part of a team

repetition

constant repetition of jobs to

emphasize the issue
False overgeneralization

Trumps use of
beating implies that
it is a competition

generalizing that all Mexican

immigrants are associated
with crime, drugs, and rape

He is implying that the

majority of Mexicans are
criminals, and only
some are good people.

Analysis
In Donald Trumps campaign announcement, the use of
overgeneralization is conducted through the expansion of the speech.
When speaking of immigrants from Mexico, Trump states that Theyre
bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. This is a false
accusation since he was corrected by the fact that only 17.2% of 22,878
drug deals in the United States were carried by illegal immigrants. He
generalizes the Hispanic race as criminals as a whole, disrespecting the
ethnicity and authority of the Hispanic community. Trump continues to
generalize the employment of Chinese and Mexican citizens claiming
that they all have jobs, an incorrect claim considering both China and
Mexico have an almost equal unemployment rate of four percent. Over
generalizations such as this have become common in Trumps political
rhetoric. Over and over again he has used stereotypes like this to
convey simple answers to complex problems. Trump has found his own

ONLY
$19.
99

Fur the love of dog, buy our

fur extensions!

Long
hair is
pretty,
so all
dogs
need
long hair

All dogs
love to
have
long hair

People get to use hair extensions,

so dogs should be able to use fur
extensions

This advertisement is selling hair extensions for either hairless

dogs, or dogs who just want to change up their look. It is perfect
for any dog that has always dreamed of having long, luscious
fur, but could never obtain it. The ad is focused towards dog
owners who want more for their loving canines. The
advertisement presents itself very similarly to many other
advertisements, and fits perfectly into the persuasion
industry. In the before picture, the dog is portrayed as sad
with a slight frown; the after picture shows the opposite.
Commercials often do this to cause the consumer to
subconsciously associate the product with happiness. Along with
that, bright and vibrant colors are used in the advertisement
to bring the viewer a feeling of warmth. The neat, constant look
of the typography and straight lines bring a sense of order and

Works Cited
"Donald Trump's Transcript:'Our Country Needs a Truly Great Leader'" The Wall Street
Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 16 June 2015. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.
Wilde, Sal. "Pro-Life Storylines II: Are You A Good Witch Or A Bad Witch?" Like Locked
Rooms and Like Books. N.p., 20 Dec. 2012. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.