AP Seminar Vocabulary (simplified)

Argument

Claim, evidence, & reasoning

Bias

Personal opinion influencing judgement

Claim

Statement asserting a perspective

Commentary

Analysis connecting evidence to claim

Conclusion

Understanding from analyzing evidence

Context

Background: intent, audience, purpose, bias, environment

Conventions

Writing rules: grammar usage, mechanics

Counterargument

Opposing perspective with evidence

Credibility

Believability & trustworthiness

Deductive Reasoning

General principle → specific case

Ethos

Appeal to credibility

Evidence

Proof (data, quotes, text)

Fallacy

False/mistaken reasoning

Implication

Possible future effect/result

Inductive Reasoning

Specific cases → general principle

Inquiry

Process of seeking truth/information

Issue

Important problem for discussion

Lens

Filter for viewing a topic/issue

Limitation

Boundary where argument is no longer valid

Line of Reasoning

Claims & evidence → conclusion

Logos

Appeal to logic

Pathos

Appeal to emotion

Perspective

Point of view in argument

Plagiarism

Using others’ ideas without credit

Point of View

Position/standpoint on a topic

Primary Source

Original source

Qualitative Data

Text, descriptions, narrative

Quantitative Data

Numbers, amounts, quantities

Rebuttal

Contradicting opposition with stronger evidence

Reliability

Accuracy/consistency

Resolution

Understanding leading to solutions

Secondary Source

Commentary/interpretation of primary source

Solution

Evidence-based action to solve a problem

Thesis

Claim supported by evidence

Validity

Extent to which an argument is logical