AP Lang Unit 3

What is context made up of?

Time, place, and occasion.

How does context relate to the writer’s exigence?

Context may be the pieces of this.

Where will context appear in a piece?

In the introduction

Exigence

Need/demand that prompts a writer to create a text. 

Introduction (Purpose?)

If the writer needs to inform their audience of important context for their argument, they provide background here. 

Conclusion (Purposes?)

Brings their argument to a close while showing how the context connects to an ongoing conversation.

Primary Source

Original document or artifact created during the time period being studied. Offers firsthand insight about an event, person, or subject allowing direct engagement with rhetor’s original communication.

Secondary Source

A document or recording that relates or discusses information originally presented elsewhere. Secondary sources interpret, analyze, or summarize primary sources.

Evidence

Supports claims and arguments. Purpose is to provide factual, logical, or anecdotal support to validate writer. Establishes credibility, makes argument more convincing, illustrates complex ideas, and anchors rhetorical analysis.

Synthesis

Drawing upon the ideas of others. Requires writer to carefully consider, explain, and integrate other sources into their own arguments. Writers strategically select most relevant and specific information to combine with their argument.

Line of Reasoning

Justifies claims, unifies ideas, unifies arguments by connecting evidence and reasons. Created by logically supporting the claim through the idea. 

Unifying Idea

Central, overarching concept, claim, or argument that ties together all different parts of a text. Line of reasoning aims to develop and support through evidence and explanations.

Reliability

When the information they produce can be supported, confirmed, or replicated by others. 

Credibility

Have relevant background, knowledge, authority, and comprehensiveness to provide insight on the subject.

Expository Argument (What can it do?)

Presents a clear and logical explanation on a particular topic or issue. Provides evidence, reasoning and analysis to persuade or educate the reader.

Line of Reasoning in a process analysis 

Show how something happens in a clear order (step → effect), explain the purpose of each step and how it connects to the overall outcome, each step should support a central message (your thesis).

Coherence

Clarity and connectedness of ideas. Should be arranged in a logical order, contain clear transitions that show relationship between steps, and should relate to the step/overall purpose.

Purpose

Writer’s reason for explaining the process — what they want the reader to understand about the steps and the deeper message or insight behind the explanation.

Function 

The role a specific step, detail, or section plays in supporting the process and the writer’s overall purpose. 

Examples of functions

To introduce the process, to break down a step, to explain significance, to connect steps, to show consequences, to support the deeper purpose