CARS Mastery: 1800 Essential Words Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary list for CARS passage analysis, including argument verbs, transition words, tone descriptors, and abstract academic markers derived from lecture notes.

concede

to admit something is true, often reluctantly

assert

to state something confidently

imply

to suggest indirectly

explicit

clearly stated

implicit

not directly stated but suggested

undermine

to weaken something

reinforce

to strengthen or support

contradict

to say the opposite

coherent

logical and well organized

ambiguous

unclear or having multiple meanings

notion

an idea or belief

conventional

traditional, commonly accepted

controversial

causing disagreement

perspective

a way of thinking about something

interpret

to explain the meaning of something

skeptical

doubtful; questioning

critical

expressing disapproval or analysis

supportive

showing approval

neutral

not taking sides

biased

unfairly favoring one side

dismiss

to reject as unimportant

advocate

to support strongly

condemn

to strongly criticize

praise

to express approval

question

to doubt or challenge

concept

an abstract idea

framework

structure for ideas

paradigm

a model or pattern of thinking

theory

system of ideas explaining something

principle

basic rule or idea

notably

especially; importantly

primarily

mainly

largely

mostly

arguably

it can be argued

significantly

importantly

infer

to conclude from evidence

deduce

to reach a conclusion logically

suggest

to indicate indirectly

indicate

to show

demonstrate

to show clearly

contrast

difference between things

distinguish

to show differences

similar

alike

differ

to be different

whereby

by which

initially

at first

subsequently

later

ultimately

finally

meanwhile

at the same time

overall

generally

contingent

dependent on something else

inherent

existing naturally within

intrinsic

essential; internal

extrinsic

external

arbitrary

based on random choice

dialectic

opposing ideas interacting

dualism

two-part system

qualify

to limit or modify

specify

to state clearly

generalize

to apply broadly

overgeneralize

to generalize too much

refine

to improve precision

tentative

not certain

definitive

final and certain

ambivalent

having mixed feelings

resolute

firm and determined

dismissive

showing rejection

correlate

to be related

causation

cause-effect relationship

interplay

interaction

interdependence

mutual dependence

mediated

influenced indirectly

absolute

total; without exception

relative

depending on context

universal

true for all

particular

specific

exception

something that does not follow rule

hegemony

dominance of one group

legitimacy

acceptance as valid

authority

power or control

agency

ability to act

structure

system or framework

subtle

not obvious

nuanced

detailed and complex

critique

detailed analysis

synthesis

combining ideas

fragment

broken piece

cohesion

unity

presume

to assume

assertion

strong statement

counterargument

opposing argument

refute

to prove wrong

sustain

to support over time

epistemology

study of knowledge

ontology

study of existence

aesthetic

related to art/beauty

normative

about what should be

empirical

based on observation

theoretical

based on theory

abstract

not concrete