AP Language Chapter 3 Vocab

ad hominem

Latin for "to the man," this fallacy refers to the specific diversionary tactic of switching the argument from the issue at hand to the character of the other speaker.

ad populum (bandwagon appeal)

this fallacy occurs when evidence boils down to "everybody's doing it, so it must be a good thing to do."

appeal to false authority

this fallacy occurs when someone who has no expertise to speak on an issue is cited as an authority.

argument

a process of reasoned inquiry; a persuasive discourse resulting in a coherent and considered movement from a claim to a conclusion.

assumption

shared by the speaker and the audience and expressed by the warrant in the Toulmin model

backing

in the Toulmin model, it consists of further assurances or data without which the assumption lacks authority

begging the question

a fallacy in which a claim is based on evidence or support that is in doubt.

circular reasoning

a fallacy in which the writer repeats the claim as a way to provide evidence.

claim

also called an assertion or proposition, it states the argument's main idea or position. It differs from a topic or subject in that it has to be arguable.

claim of fact

claim that asserts that something is true or not true.

claim of policy

claim that proposes a change.

claim of value

claim that argues that something is good or bad, right or wrong.

classical oration

five-part argument structure used by classical rhetoricians. The five parts are introduction, narration, confirmation, refutation, and conclusion.

introduction

introduces the reader to the subject under discussion.

narration

provides factual information and background material on the subject at hand or establishes why the subject is a problem that needs addressing.

confirmation

usually the major part of the text, it includes the proof needed to make the writer's case.

refutation

addresses the counterargument and acts as a bridge between the writer's proof and conclusion.

conclusion

brings the essay to a satisfying close.

closed thesis

a statement of the main idea of the argument that also previews the major points a writer intends to make.

deduction

a logical process whereby one reaches a conclusion by starting with a general principle or universal truth (major premise) and applying it to a specific case (minor premise).

either/or fallacy (false dilemma)

a fallacy in which the speaker presents two extreme options as the only possible choices.

faulty analogy

a fallacy occurs when an analogy compares two things that are not comparable.

first-hand evidence

evidence based on something the writer knows, whether it's from personal experience, observations, or general knowledge of events.

hasty generalization

a fallacy in which a faulty conclusion is reached because of inadequate evidence.

induction

"to lead into"; a logical process whereby the writer reasons from particulars to universals, using specific cases in order to draw a conclusion, which is also called a generalization.

logical fallacy

potential vulnerabilities or weaknesses in an argument. They often arise from a failure to make a logical connection between the claim and the evidence used to support it.

open thesis

a thesis that does not list all the points the writer intends to cover in an essay.

post hoc ergo propter hoc

"after which therefore because of which," meaning it is incorrect to always claim that something is a cause just because it happened earlier. Correlation does not imply causation.

qualifier

in the Toumlin model, it uses words like usually, probably, maybe, in most cases, and most likely to temper the claim, making it less absolute.

quantitative evidence

includes things that can be measured, cited, counted, or otherwise represented in numbers.

rebuttal

in the Toumlin model, it gives voice to possible objections.

reservation

in the Toumlin model, it explains the terms and conditions necessitated by the qualifier.

Rogerian arguments

developed by psychiatrist Carl Rogers, these are based on the assumption that having a full understanding of an opposing position is essential to responding to it persuasively and refuting it in a way that is accommodating rather than alienating.

second-hand evidence

evidence that is accessed through research, reading, and investigation.

straw man

a fallacy that occurs when a speaker chooses a deliberately poor or oversimplified example in order to ridicule and refute an idea.

syllogism

a logical structure that uses the major premise and minor premise to reach a necessary conclusion.

Toulmin model

an approach to analyzing and constructing arguments created by British philosopher Stephen Toulmin. "Because (evidence as support), therefore (claim), since (warrant or assumption), on account of (backing), unless (reservation).

warrant

in the Toulmin model, it expresses the assumption necessarily shared by the speaker and the audience.