AP Lang & Comp Yoder Daily Terms 1-20

For Yoder Quiz, AP Language and Composition.

Thesis

A sentence that succinctly states a writer's/speaker's main point.

Stance

A speaker's/writer's attitude toward the topic and the audience.

Claim

A statement that asserts a belief or truth.

Grounds

The evidence used to support a claim such as facts, data, statistics, testimony, and examples.

Warrant

A statement that establishes the logical connection between a claim and its supporting reason.

Backing

The evidence provided to support a warrant.

Qualifiers

Words or phrases that limit the scope of a claim.

Authority

The quality conveyed by the writer/speaker who is knowledgeable about his/her subject and confident in that knowledge.

Conditions of Rebuttal

The potential objections to an argument.

Rebuttal

An answer that challenges or refutes a specific claim or charge, sometimes offered by writers/speakers who anticipate an objection.

Rhetoric

The art of persuasion in written and speaking modes.

Genre

The category used to persuade: biography, autobiography, speech, narrative, editorial, blog, etc.

Generalization

A claim based on an isolated example, or a claim asserted as certain rather than probable.

Sweeping Generalization

Occurs when a claim is said to apply to all instances instead of one.

Inference

The conclusion one can draw from presented facts, details, and/or evidence.

Induction

The process that moves from a given series of specifics to a generalization.

Deduction

The process of moving from a general rule using (a) specific example(s).

Objectivity

The impersonal presentation of events and characters; a writer's attempt to remove himself or herself from any subjective, personal involvement.

Subjectivity

A personal presentation of events, influenced by an author's feelings and emotions.

Fallacy

An argument or reasoning in which the conclusion does not follow from the premises; a false argument.

Style

An author's characteristic manner of expression - diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all contribute.

syntax, imagery, structure, and content all contribute.