AP Seminar 7-12

Rule 7

Don’t just say something is true; prove it with lots of evidence and examples!

Ex: Solar polar is widely used.

Hydroelectric power has long been widely used.

Windmills were once widely used and are becoming widely used again.

Therefore, renewable energu is widely used.

Rule 8

Consider examples from various groups and sources to create your claim instead of just listening to one.

Ex: If you want to know what students think about some subject at your university, don't just ask your friends or generalize from what you hear in class. Ask everyone around you.

Rule 9

Your research and examples need to be tested more than once. Background rates tell you how common something is which helps judge whether a specific instance is very rare or a normal occurrence.

Rule 10

Don’t accept stats right away. You need to question where they came from and how they were gathered.

Rule 11

Consider examples that go against your argument. Why does this counter example exist? Was my original idea incorrect?

Rule 12

Analogies work best when the two things you’re comparing are very similar. If they are very different from each other, the analogy won’t make sense.

Ex: Nordwell saying that he discovered Italy just like Christopher Columbus “discovering” the Americas.