AP Lang semester exam argument

Logical Fallacy

An error in reasoning that undermines the logic of an argument, often leading to invalid conclusions.

Faulty Analogy

A logical fallacy that occurs when an analogy is drawn between two ideas or things that are not sufficiently similar in relevant aspects, leading to misleading conclusions.

Appeal to False Authority

A logical fallacy that occurs when an argument is made based on the opinion of someone who is not a legitimate authority on the subject, thus weakening the argument's credibility.

Circular Reasoning

A logical fallacy where the conclusion is included in the premise, creating a circular argument that lacks valid evidence.

Hasty Generalization

A logical fallacy that occurs when a conclusion is drawn from an insufficient or unrepresentative sample, leading to an inaccurate or overly broad claim.

Straw Man Fallacy

A logical fallacy that occurs when an opponent's argument is misrepresented or oversimplified to make it easier to attack, rather than addressing the actual argument.

Claim of Fact

A statement that asserts something is true or false based on empirical evidence or observable phenomena, often subject to verification.

Claim of value

A statement that evaluates something as good or bad, better or worse, based on subjective criteria or personal beliefs.

Claim of policy

A statement that advocates for specific actions or changes based on the belief that a certain course of action should be taken to address an issue.

Closed thesis

A statement that directly outlines the main argument and the specific points that will be addressed in an essay, limiting the scope of the discussion.

Open thesis

A statement that outlines the main argument of an essay without listing all the points that will be discussed, allowing for more flexibility in the argument.

Counterargument Thesis

A statement that acknowledges opposing viewpoints while asserting a main argument, often integrating counterarguments into the overall position.

Induction

A logical process of reasoning that involves drawing general conclusions from specific examples or observations.

Deduction

A logical process that involves reasoning from general principles to reach specific conclusions, often used in structured arguments.