How does Art of Argument compare to Fallacy Detective/Thinking Toolbox?

[CynthiaOK]

We've used Fallacy Detective and Thinking Toolbox, but I've been curious about Art of Argument for my younger 2 boys. How do these compare? Are they completely different?

[Kathie in VA]

I am using Fallacy Detective now and I'm considering Teaching Toolbox next. I've also considered Art of Argument. From what I can tell it differs most in its presentation... it is a workbook approach. I think they cover the same material. Since I'm doing the FA and ?TT aloud with my kids I may consider AA afterwards for them to do on their own... just to really cement the info. Then again we may not have time for that as I also want to move them on to formal logic.

[Kathy in MD]

(we're behind for the year :o ) I also have the Thinking Toolbox, but not the Fallacy Detective.

TT is an easy, curl up on the sofa and read together type of book. It's funny all the way through by setting up absurd scenarios.

AA is more serious. It does have some entertaining dialogues, but the bulk of it is serious, get down to work learning. Tests and quizes are also available. I enjoy the writing and discussion in the text as it explores logic. The assignments include both logic vocabulary and reasoning. One long running assignment is to "collect" fallacies found in the news and advertising. The text also includes many fake ads to learn from.

I chose not to buy Fallacy Detectives because of posts and reviews I've read. So take what I'm saying here with a grain of salt. AA doesn't push it's authors' political views down your throat as much as FD. They do on occasion include political hot buttons, but often they include alternative viewpoints. In one lesson in TT, the authors tell you to make an opposing viewpoint chart to better defend your views from others. It seemed to me that the TT authors never thought that maybe their original view might need to be modified or even totally changed based on a better examination. I don't like that sort of thinking.

So in summerary, I think you'd find AA a more indepth, but not too indepth, program.