Ad Hominem

Ad feminam: Donald Trump in 2015, after being asked about Megyn Kelly’s questions for him in a
presidential debate: “”You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her
wherever.”
Ad Baculum
Jordan: Dad, why do I have to spend my summer at Jesus camp?
Dad: Because if you don’t, you will spend your entire summer in your room with nothing but your Bible!
Explanation: Instead of a reason, dad gave Jordan a description of a punishment that would happen.
Exception: If the force, coercion, or threat of force is not being used as a reason but as a fact or consequence,
then it would not be fallacious, especially when a legitimate reason is given with the “threat”, direct or implied.
Ad Misericordiam
Oh, Officer, there's no reason to give me a traffic ticket for going too fast because I was just on my way to the
hospital to bring blood bags to my dying child. They are needed in a few minutes.
Ad Populum
It is well recognized by most persons that the present technological revolution has affected the ethical basis of
the nation's institution of education. Since this belief is so widely held, there can be little doubt of its accuracy.

The Effects of Participation in Athletics on Academic Performance among High School Sophomores and Juniors
A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School of Education Liberty University In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1115&context=doctoral&fbclid=IwAR2ACmmlI0swyraw
oYuJgYtpK519gQjGynULxWGphGfWsvrYmftcSyVAs-M
This literature review has examined the issue of whether or not participation in sports can lead to improved academic
outcomes for high school students (Din, 2005; 61 Ryska, 2003; Ryska & Vestal, 2004; Zwart, 2007). On the anecdotal
level, many studies and reports indicated that highly counterintuitive nature of this proposition. Not only is school culture
on both the high school and college level embroiled in a debate over the primacy of athletics over academics, but a
number of studies have documented how poorly student-athletes have done academically. Moreover, the pressures created
by the professionalization of sports at the collegiate and high school levels has not only demoralized the traditional values
of sports culture, and all of the values-oriented benefits sports are said to give a person, but has lead to numerous abuses
which further undermine the viability of the “student-athlete” construct.
THE EFFECT OF BEING A STUDENT-ATHLETE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE - Thomas
Kohs

The purpose of this experiment was to examine academic performance differences among student-athletes and other
students at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The construct of confidence was examined to provide a mechanism
for any academic performance differences that were to occur. The data was obtained by having 92 UIC students, 46 of
whom were student-athletes and 46 of who were other students, complete a survey. The survey consisted of questions
pertaining to gender, type of student, GPA, and confidence questions scored on a Likert scale. The survey produced
significant results, F (3, 92) = 2.887; p =.040, in terms of confidence differences. There was specifically significant
confidence differences between student-athletes and the other students, F (1, 92) = 5.180; p = .025 as well as between
male student-athletes (M= 33.69, SD= 4.47) and the other male students (M= 30.13, SD= 4.98); t (30) = -2.13, p =.041.
However, there were no significant results regarding differences in academic performance among student-athletes and
other students at UIC. Therefore, one could conclude that confidence does not significantly influence academic
performance among the UIC students surveyed.
The Link Between Sports and Academic Performance
Does being involved in college sports really help you get good grades?
https://www.fnu.edu/the-link-between-sports-and-academic-performance/
In general, it has been scientifically demonstrated time and again that physical exercise is tightly correlated with mental
acuity. A 2010 Washington Post article mentioned the work of John J. Ratey, a Harvard University psychiatrist who
synthesized volumes of research for his 2008 book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. In
his book, Ratey describes taking MRI scans of the brains of sedentary people who have suddenly improved their fitness
levels; the scans show increased volume in the hippocampus and frontal and temporal lobes, the regions of the brain
associated with cognitive functioning. The hippocampus, in particular, is associated with memory and learning.
Moreover, a BBC article cited a longitudinal study conducted among 5,000 children and adolescents. The study found
links strong links between exercise and exam success in English, math, and science. The increase in academic
performance was estimated to start after 17 minutes of exercise performed by boys; in the case of girls, the increase was
detected after 12 minutes. The study was carried out by the universities of Strathclyde and Dundee, and found physical
activity particularly beneficial to girls’ performance at science; the authors said this could be a chance finding, but it may
also reflect gender differences in the impact of physical activity on the brain. Overall, children who exercise regularly are
proven to be more academically inclined between the ages of 11 to 16. Dr. Josie Booth of Dundee University explained:
“Physical activity is more than just important for your physical health. There are other benefits and that is something that
should be especially important to parents, policy-makers, and people involved in education.”
How Do Athletics Affect Academic Performance of Student-Athletes?
https://sites.psu.edu/blakescivicissuesblog/2017/03/16/how-do-athletics-affect-academic-performance-of-student-
athletes/comment-page-1/
I see it go both ways. For me, now that I’ve considered both sides of the argument, the structure that comes with being
apart of college varsity sports team is very beneficial, because I waste very little time getting things done. Also, exercise
seems to help my brain activity and helps me focus. On the other hand, especially on the football team, I see guys fall into
the “I’m just here to stay eligible” trap, instead of attacking academics and trying to get the best grades possible. Yes,
maybe for some guys college just isn’t the right fit, and that is a huge challenge within intercollegiate sports. Many guys
come to school on full scholarship as entertainers on the field or court, while usually having very weak educational
backgrounds. Regardless, I think every college athlete is different with how they respond to handing the academic side,
but the effects of athletics on academic performance certainly aren’t negative for everyone.