Argumentative Terms

Persuasion

an appeal in order to compel some action

Argumentation

forming reasons, drawing conclusions, and applying them to a case in debate

Claim/Assertion/Proposition/Position/Thesis

something asserted or maintained, the main point or position of your argument

Sub claims

A subordinate point to a larger claim or position in your argument

Support/Evidence

Support or evidence used to help strengthen your argument

Refutation

to discredit an argument, particularly a counterargument

Concession

Conceding, acknowledging or admitting an opponent's point

Fact

An actual occurrence

Statistic

A collection of quantitative data

Example/Experience/Anecdote

An individual instance taken to be representative of a general pattern, and usually a short narrative of a relevant episode

Opinion

A judgment, view, or appraisal formed in the mind

Ex: I love red meat

Analogy/Comparison

A comparison to a directly parallel case

Authority/Expertise

Support from an authority on the subject; expert advice or opinion.

Shared Beliefs/Values

When a writer argues that if something is widely believed or valued, then readers should accept it

Causal Relationship

A writer asserts that one thing results from another

Pathos

Appeal based on emotion

Logos

Appeal based on logic or reason

Ethos

Appeal based on character of the speaker

Sentimental

Evoking sorrow or pity

Classical

syllogism: major proposition, minor proposition, followed by conclusion

ex: All AP students are smart. I’m an AP student. I’m smart

Rogerian Arrangement

To solve a problem by compromise

ex: Korean BBQ is awesome: I also love In N Out

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning in the form of if A, then B.
Ex: All teachers are nice. Bob is a teacher therefore I assume Bob is nice

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning which starts specific, then goes general. If B, then A.

Ex: Bob is a teacher. All teachers are nice therefore I assume Bob is nice

Ad hominem

Attacks the personality of the individual

Ad populum

A proposition is held to be true because it is widely held to be true by some sector of the population

Ad vericundium

Belief that something said by a great person is true, even if times have changed or prove to be wrong

Nonsequitur

When one statement isn't logically connected to another

Ex: I bet she’s expecting, she vomited twice this morning

False Analogy

When two cases are not sufficiently parallel

Ex: Students are like nails. As nails must be hit on the head to work, so must students

Post Hoc

Circular reasoning - attempts to prove something by showing that because a 2nd event followed a first event, the 2nd event is a result of the 1st.

Ex: We totally would have won if I hadn’t been injured for the game!

Hasty/Sweeping/Over Generalization

Uses too few examples needed to reach a valid conclusion

ex: She drives a red convertible. She must be rich!

Stereotyping

An oversimplified conception that one is regarded as embodying a set type.

Begging the Question

Assumes something to be true that needs proof

ex: I like her becasue she is likeable

False Authority

when the person in question is not a legitimate authority on the subject.

Slippery Slope

One asserts that some event must inevitably follow from another without any argument for the inevitability of the event in question

ex: We have to stop the tuition increase! the next thing you know they’ll be charging $140k a semester!

Equivocation

Use of expressions susceptible of a double meaning with a purpose to mislead

Ex: Fine for parking here

Oversimplification

When a writer obscures or denies the complexity of the issues (in an argument)

ex: Computer programming is easy you just press letters on the keyboard

Double Standard

Set of principles permitting greater opportunity or liberty to one than to another.

Either/Or Reasoning

Does not allow for any shades of meaning, compromise or intermediate cases.

ex: sexism

Purple Patch

Overly ornate writing

Red Herring

A distractor

Smoke Screen

an opponent creates a weakened, incomplete, and often distorted version of an argument, then destroys it.

call to action

words that urge the reader or listener to take action