AP Seminar Vocab

Alignment

Cohesion between the focus of an inquiry

Argument

A claim or thesis that conveys a perspective developed through a line of reasoning and supported by evidence.

Assumption

A belief regarded as true and often unstated.

Author

One who creates a work (e.g.

Bias

A personal opinion

Claim

A statement made about an issue that asserts a perspective.

Commentary

Discussion and analysis of evidence in relation to the claim which may identify patterns

Complex issue

Issue involving many facets or perspectives that must be understood in order to address it.

Concession

Acknowledgment and acceptance of an opposing or different view.

Conclusion

Understanding resulting from analysis of evidence.

Context

The intent

Conventions

The stylistic features of writing (e.g.

Counterargument

An opposing perspective

Credibility

The degree to which a source is believable and trustworthy.

Cross-Curricular

Goes beyond the traditional boundary of a single content area or discipline.

Deductive Reasoning

A type of reasoning that constructs general propositions that are supported with evidence or cases.

Evidence

Information (e.g.

Fallacy

Evidence or reasoning that is false or in error.

Generative Artificial Intelligence

Tools that use predictive technology to produce new text

Implication

A possible future effect or result

Inductive Reasoning

A type of reasoning that presents cases or evidence that lead to a logical conclusion

Inquiry

A process for seeking truth

Interdisciplinary

Involving two or more areas of knowledge

Issue

Important problem for debate or discussion

Lens

Filter through which an issue or topic is considered or examined

Limitations

A boundary or point at which an argument or generalization is no longer valid

Line of Reasoning

Arrangement of claims and evidence that leads to a conclusion

Literature

The foundational and current texts of a field or discipline of study

Perspective

A point of view conveyed through an argument

Plagiarism

Failure to acknowledge

Point of View

A position or standpoint on a topic or issue

Primary Source

An original source of information about a topic (e.g.

Qualifications

A condition or exception

Qualitative

Having to do with text

Quantitative

Having to do with numbers

Rebuttal

Contradicting an opposing perspective by providing alternate

Refutation

Disproving an opposing perspective by providing counterclaims or counterevidence

Reliability

The extent to which something can be trusted to be accurate

Resolution

The act of solving a problem or dispute

Scaffolding

The provision of temporary structured support for students to aid skill development

Secondary Source

A commentary about one or more primary sources that provides additional insight

Sequencing

The organization of curriculum content into an order which progresses from simple to more complex

Solution

A means of answering a question or addressing a problem or issue

Text

Something composed (e.g.

Thesis

A claim or position on an issue or topic put forward and supported by evidence

Tone

The way in which an author expresses an attitude about his or her topic or subject through rhetorical choices

Validity

The extent to which an argument or claim is logical

Vocal Variety

Changing vocal characteristics (e.g.