Rhetoric, Argumentation, and Source Evaluation Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering rhetoric concepts, Toulmin argument model, source evaluation criteria, and distinction between scholarly and popular sources.

Rhetorical Triangle

A conceptual model composed of three independent, interacting elements: Speaker, Subject, and Audience.

Aristotle

The historical figure known as the father of rhetoric, defining it as the art of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.

Dr. Hepsibah Ross Kelly

A scholar from North Carolina who explains the ordinariness of rhetoric and how it can be applied in any conversation, situation, or paper.

Ethos

A rhetorical appeal focused on ethics, speaker credibility, and trustworthiness, established by offering evidence and quotes.

Pathos

A rhetorical appeal focused on the audience, their values, and drawing out emotion, empathy, or interest.

Logos

A rhetorical appeal derived from the word for 'word,' focusing on logic, content, the message, and the thesis statement.

Sympathy

The act of feeling for someone else.

Empathy

The act of feeling the exact same emotion as another person.

Roy G BIV

An acronym representing the sequence of colors that break the white light barrier.

Academic Argument

Academically defined as 'a search for the truth,' requiring a problem, solution, claim, reasons, evidence, and an undecided audience.

Implicit Argument

A type of argument that does not look like an argument on the surface, such as an image or a slogan.

Explicit Argument

An argument that directly states its claim along with supporting reasons and grounds.

Genuine Argument

An argument involving shareable assumptions, rational and convincible willing participants, and mutual interest in the topic.

Enthymeme

An argumentative structure where a claim is directly followed by a reason connected by the word 'because'.

STAR Criteria

A source evaluation standard requiring evidence to be Sufficient, Typical (not outlier info), Accurate (up to date in time and content), and Relevant.

Kairos

A Greek term meaning 'of the season' or right timing, referring to the knowledge and study of situational or seasonal significance rather than clock or calendar time.

Steven Toulmin

A scholar who developed a distinct approach to academic arguments involving claims, facts, warrants, backing, and careful refutation of edge cases.

Claim

The central assertion or thesis statement of an argument.

Reason

A statement that supports a claim and connects an opinion to evidence, often introduced by 'because'.

Grounds

The specific facts and evidence used to support a reason and build an argument's case.

Warrant

In Toulmin's model, the underlying assumption or assumed meaning that applies gathered facts to the claim.

Backing

In Toulmin's model, additional support provided to reinforce the warrant.

Syllogism

A form of deductive proof used to structure thoughts and lead logically to a conclusion.

Scholarly Articles

Publications written by scholars or specialists, typically 10 or more pages long, featuring technical terminology, citations, reference lists, and peer review prior to publication.

Popular Articles

Brief articles written by journalists or professional writers, usually 1 to 2 pages long, printed on glossy paper with color photos, lacking technical terminology or formal citation lists.