front 1 Argumentation | back 1 The purpose of argumentation is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader. Persuasive writing is a type of argumentation having an additional aim of urging some form of action. |
front 2 Artistic Appeal | back 2 Support for an argument that a writer creates based on principles of reason and shared knowledge rather than on facts and evidence. |
front 3 Attitude | back 3 The writer's personal views or feelings about the subject at hand. |
front 4 Concession | back 4 When writers concede, they accept all or a portion of a competing position or claim as correct, agree that the competing position or claim is correct under a different set of circumstances, or acknowledge the limitations of their own argument. |
front 5 Connotation | back 5 The moods/associations/implications of a word or phrase, as opposed to its exact meaning |
front 6 Counterargument | back 6 The argument(s) against the author's position. |
front 7 Deductive | back 7 a form of logical argumentation that uses claims or premises, where the author assumes that you will accept the claims as true and that you will then deduce the correct conclusion from the accepted premises at the outset |
front 8 Denotation | back 8 The literal meaning of a word; the dictionary definition |
front 9 Description | back 9 The purpose of description is to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event or action so that the reader can picture that being described. Sometimes an author engages all five senses in description; good descriptive writing can be sensuous and picturesque. Descriptive writing may be straightforward and objective or highly emotional and subjective. |
front 10 Ethos | back 10 Setting up a source as credible and trustworthy. |
front 11 Evidence | back 11
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front 12 Exigence | back 12 A part of the rhetorical situation that motivates a writer to create a text. It can be an event, situation, or problem that inspires, stimulates, or provokes a writer to respond through language and rhetoric. The term comes from the Latin word for "demand". |
front 13 Explicit Thesis | back 13 An explicit thesis directly states the writer's main idea/position and provides a clear direction for the essay. |
front 14 Exposition | back 14 The purpose of exposition (or expository writing) is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion. The AP language exam essay questions are frequently expository topics. |
front 15 Hard Evidence | back 15 Support for an argument using facts, statistics, testimony, or other evidence the writer finds. |
front 16 Implicit Thesis | back 16 An implicit thesis is a thesis statement that is suggested or hinted at through language, supporting details, and other elements rather than being explicitly stated. Implicit thesis statements are conveyed indirectly and can be found in multiple locations throughout a work |
front 17 Inartistic Appeal | back 17 Support for an argument using facts, statistics, eyewitness testimony, or other evidence the writer finds rather than creates. |
front 18 Inductive Reasoning | back 18 Making a generalization based on specific evidence at hand. |
front 19 Intended Readers | back 19 The actual, real-life people whom a writer consciously wants to address in a piece of writing. |
front 20 Line of Reasoning | back 20 The formal structure of an argument. In other words, the way that claims and reasons are arranged to lead to the conclusion |
front 21 Logos | back 21 Appealing to someone’s sense of concrete facts and logic. |
front 22 Modifiers | back 22 Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that can be used to qualify an argument and convey perspective. They can add detail to a sentence, making it clearer, more specific, or more engaging. Modifiers can also help writers be confident when their evidence or claim is open to doubt |
front 23 Narration | back 23 The purpose of narration is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events. This writing mode frequently uses the tools of descriptive writing. |
front 24 Occasion | back 24 The reason or moment for writing or speaking. |
front 25 Pathos | back 25 Aristotle’s appeal to someone’s emotions. |
front 26 Phrase | back 26 a grouping of words that define or clarity; a group of words that is not a sentence because there is no verb |
front 27 Purpose | back 27 The author’s persuasive intention. |
front 28 Qualification/Qualifier | back 28 A limitation placed on a position/argument so as to avoid an absolute claim. Academic argument is typically about probability and possibility, not certainty, so it's more credible. Typically words or phrases that limit the scope of a claim: usually; in a few cases; under these circumstances, etc. |
front 29 Rebuttal | back 29 When writers rebut, they offer a contrasting perspective on an argument and its evidence or provide alternative evidence to propose that all or a portion of a competing position or claim is invalid. |
front 30 Refutation | back 30 When writers refute, they demonstrate, using evidence, that all or a portion of a competing position or claim is invalid |
front 31 Rhetoric | back 31 From the Greek for “orator,” this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively. |
front 32 Rhetorical Analysis | back 32 Involves examining how the author structures their argument and uses rhetoric to achieve their purpose. You'll need to practice identifying the various rhetorical strategies in the texts you read. |
front 33 Rhetorical Appeals/Aristotelian Appeals | back 33 They include ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic). These appeals help authors persuade their audience. |
front 34 Rhetorical Devices | back 34 Some examples include simile, metaphor, personification, parallelism, alliteration, and hyperbole. Becoming familiar with these devices will help you identify them in texts and strengthen your own writing. |
front 35 Rhetorical Modes | back 35 This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing. The four most common rhetorical modes (often referred to as “modes of discourse”) are as follows: Exposition, Argumentation, Description, & Narration |
front 36 Rhetorical Modes | back 36 This occurs when the author of an essay significantly alters his or her diction, syntax, or both |
front 37 Rhetorical Situation | back 37 The rhetorical situation can be described in five parts: purpose, audience, topic, writer, and context. These parts work together to better describe the circumstances and contexts of a piece of writing, which if understood properly, can help you make smart writing choices in your work. |
front 38 Rhetorical Triangle | back 38
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front 39 Scope of the Argument | back 39 The breadth and complexity of the central concern of your paper, including all of the points that you must establish for your readers to understand your central concern, as well as all of the significant issues that you must address in order to present a fair, well-considered argument. |
front 40 Speaker | back 40
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front 41 Style | back 41 The author's own personal approach to rhetoric in the piece; similar to voice. |
front 42 Syntax and Sentence Structure | back 42 Includes sentence length, punctuation, parallelism, and variety. Analyzing syntax can help you uncover an author's style and determine how their writing contributes to their argument. |
front 43 Synthesis | back 43 Combining sources or ideas in a coherent way for the purpose of a larger point. |
front 44 Tone | back 44 The manner in which a writer expresses his/her attitude toward the subject and audience; mainly expressed through diction, syntax, and point of view |
front 45 Voice | back 45 An author's unique sound. Similar to style. |