Appeal to Authority Worksheet

We should trust experts, but not based solely on the fact that they're authority figures. We need to first check their credentials, check to see if their opinions are shared by other experts, and whether they could be biased. 
This worksheet and accompanying Youtube video explain the appeal to authority fallacy to students, then give them a chance to to explore real life examples.
The worksheet includes:
  • Space for students to take notes with prompts based on Harvard's Project Zero thinking routine 'Take Note'.
  • Simple recall questions to reinforce the concept of appealing to authority.
  • Hypothetical and real life examples of appealing to authority that challenge students to consider the importance of checking qualifications, considering biases, and finding the consensus on an issue.
  • Questions that direct students to use reliable sources via Google Scholar and PubMed.
  • An answer key for questions that are not specific to individual students.

​Click below to download the worksheet from Google Drive.
© Luke Scholtes February 2023