AP Seminar - Big Idea 2: Understand and Analyze

Everything you need to know to ace Big Idea 2!

Argument

A coherent set of reasons, statements, or facts intended to support or establish a point of view.

Claim

An assertion, typically supported by evidence, made in argumentation.

Counterclaim

An argument made to refute or oppose another argument.

Premise

A statement upon which an argument is based or from which a conclusion is drawn.

Conclusion

The end or finish of an argument or process; the statement that logically follows the premises.

Evidence

Information used to support a claim in the context of an argument.

Reasoning

The action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way to form a conclusion or judgment.

Validity

The extent to which an argument or claim is logical.

Soundness

The quality of an argument when it is both valid and its premises are true.

Inductive Reasoning

Making a generalization based on specific evidence at hand.

Deductive Reasoning

The process of reasoning from one or more general statements (premises) to reach a logically certain conclusion.

Causal Argument

An argument that seeks to explain the effect as a result of a cause.

Analogical Argument

An argument that compares two similar situations, implying that the outcome of one is likely to be similar to the outcome of the other.

Fallacy

A mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument.

Ad Hominem

A fallacy that attacks the person rather than addressing the argument or the issue.

Straw Man

A fallacy in which an opponent's argument is overstated or misrepresented in order to be more easily attacked or refuted.

Appeal to Authority

A fallacy in which an argument is based on unsound appeal to authority.

Appeal to Emotion

A fallacy that manipulates emotions in order to win an argument, especially in the absence of factual evidence.

Circular Reasoning

A fallacy in which the conclusion is included in the premise of the argument.

Hasty Generalization

A fallacy in which a conclusion is not logically justified by sufficient or unbiased evidence.

Red Herring

A fallacy that introduces an irrelevant issue to divert attention from the subject under discussion.

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

A fallacy that assumes that if 'A' occurred after 'B' then 'B' must have caused 'A'.

Slippery Slope

A fallacy that suggests that a small first step leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant effect.

False Dilemma

A fallacy in which only two choices are presented yet more exist, or a spectrum of possible choices exists between two extremes.

Overgeneralization

A fallacy that makes a conclusion based on too little evidence.

Rhetorical Devices

Techniques used to enhance arguments, persuade audiences, or add literary quality.

Pathos

An appeal to emotion in argumentation.

Ethos

An appeal to ethics, character, or credibility in argumentation.

Logos

An appeal to logic or reason in argumentation.

Thesis Statement

A statement that summarizes the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, etc., and is supported by reasons and evidence.

Context

The circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding a text.

Stakeholders

The people or groups who have an interest, concern, or stake in the issue being discussed.

Bias

A prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

Subjectivity

The quality of being based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.

Objectivity

The quality of being objective, unbiased, and not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.

Qualifier

A word or phrase, especially an adjective, used to attribute a quality to another word, especially a noun.

Rebuttal

A refutation or contradiction.

Synthesize

To combine a number of different parts or ideas to come up with a new idea or theory.

Interpretation

The action of explaining the meaning of something.

Persuasion

The action or fact of persuading someone or of being persuaded to do or believe something.