ap lang

Ad Hominem

Attacking the person instead of addressing the argument.

Ad Populum (Bandwagon Appeal)

Arguing that something is true because many people believe it.

Appeal to False Authority

Citing an unqualified person as an authority on a subject.

Argument

A set of statements or reasons supporting a claim.

Assumption

An unstated belief or idea that supports an argument.

Backing

Additional support or evidence for an argument.

Deduction

Reasoning from a general principle to a specific case.

Circular Reasoning

Restating the argument instead of proving it.

Warrant

The logical connection between a claim and its evidence.

Claim

The main assertion or position in an argument.

Claim of Fact

A claim that asserts something is true or false.

Claim of Policy

A claim that argues for a change in policy or action.

Claim of Value

A claim that argues something is good, bad, right, or wrong.

Classical Oration

A structured argument format including introduction, narration, confirmation, refutation, and conclusion.

Closed Thesis

A thesis that lists specific points the essay will cover.

Rebuttal

A response that counters an argument.

False Dilemma

Presenting only two options when more exist.

Syllogism

A logical structure with a major premise, minor premise, and conclusion.

Faulty Analogy

A weak comparison between two things.

Hasty Generalization

Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient evidence.

Induction

Reasoning from specific cases to a general conclusion.

Logical Fallacy

An error in reasoning that weakens an argument.

Open Thesis

A thesis that doesn’t list all points explicitly.

Qualifier

A word that limits a claim.

Straw Man

Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.

Reservation

Recognizing limitations in an argument.

Quantitative Evidence

Data-based evidence using numbers.

Alliteration

Repetition of the same initial consonant sound.

Personification

Giving human traits to non-human things.

Allusion

A reference to a famous person, event, or work.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect, not for an answer.

Anaphora

Repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses.

Antimetabole

Repeating words in reverse order.

Antithesis

Contrasting ideas in parallel structure.

Archaic Diction

Old-fashioned language.

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions.

Cumulative Sentence

A sentence that begins with the main idea and adds details.

Hortative Sentence

A sentence that encourages action.

Imperative Sentence

A command or request.

Inversion

Reversing the normal word order.

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting ideas close together.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two things.

Oxymoron

A phrase with contradictory words.

Parallelism

Similar structure in a series of words or phrases.

Periodic Sentence

A sentence where the main clause comes at the end.

Synecdoche

A part representing the whole.

Zeugma

One word used in two different ways.

Audience

The intended readers or listeners.

Pathos

Emotional appeal.

Rhetorical Triangle

The relationship between ethos, pathos, and logos.

Concession

Acknowledging an opposing point.

Persona

The speaker’s character.

SOAPS

Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject.

Connotation

The implied meaning of a word.

Polemic

A strong argument against something.

Context

The situation surrounding a text.

Propaganda

Biased or misleading information.

Text

Any written or spoken work.