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AP Language Chapter 3 Vocabulary Flashcards

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5544891557ad hominemAn argument based on the failings of an adversary rather than on the merits of the case; a logical fallacy that involves a personal attack. Latin for "To the man".0
5544891558ad populumLatin for "to the crowd." A fallacy of logic in which the widespread occurrence of something is assumed to make it true. Bandwagon appeal.1
5544891559appeal to false authorityThis fallacy occurs when someone who has no expertise to speak on an issue is cited as an authority.2
5544891560argumentA process of reasoned inquiry; a persuasive discourse resulting in a coherent and considered movement from a claim to a conclusion.3
5544891561assumptionA fact or statement that is taken for granted rather than tested or proved.4
5544891562backingSupport or evidence for a claim in an argument.5
5544891563begging the questionA fallacy in which a claim is based on evidence or support that is in doubt.6
5544891564circular reasoningA fallacy that occurs when someone tries to prove a point by restating it.7
5544891565claimA statement essentially arguable but used as a primary point to support or prove an argument.8
5544891566claim of factasserts that something is true or not true.9
5544891567claim of policyproposes a change.10
5544891568claim of valueargues that something is good or bad, right or wrong.11
5544891569the classical orationA five-part argument structure used by classical rhetoricians. The five parts are introduction, narration, confirmation, refutation, conclusion.12
5544891570introduction (exordium)Introduces the reader to the subject under discussion.13
5544891571narration (narratio)Provides factual information and background material on the subject at hand or establishes why the subject is a problem that needs addressing.14
5544891572confirmation (confirmatio)Usually the major part of the text, includes the proof needed to make the writer's case.15
5544891573refutation (refutatio)Addresses the counterargument. It is a bridge between the writer's proof and conclusion.16
5544891574conclusion (peroratio)Brings the essay to a satisfying close.17
5544891575closed thesisStatement of the main idea of the argument that also previews the major points the writer intends to make.18
5544891576deductionA logical process whereby one reaches a conclusion by starting with a general principle or universal truth (a major premise) and applying it to a specific case (a minor premise) ; usually demonstrated in the form of a syllogism.19
5544891577either/or (false dilemma)A fallacy in which the speaker presents two extreme options as the only possible choices.20
5544891578faulty analogyA fallacy that occurs when an analogy compares two things that are not comparable.21
5544891579first-hand evidenceEvidence based on something the writer knows, whether it's from personal experience, observations, or general knowledge of events.22
5544891580hasty generalizationA fallacy that presents a generalization that is either not supported with evidence or is supported with only weak evidence.23
5544891581inductionA method of reasoning by which a rhetor collects a number of instances and forms a generalization that is meant to apply to all instances.24
5544891582logical fallacyPotential 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.25
5544891583open thesisdoes not list all the points the writer intends to cover in an essay.26
5544891584post hoc ergo propter hocThis fallacy is Latin for "after which therefore because of which," meaning that it is incorrect to always claim that something is a cause just because it happened earlier. One may loosely summarize this fallacy by saying that correlation does not imply causation.27
5544891585qualifierWords like usually, probably, maybe, in most cases, and most likely that are used to temper claims a bit, making them less absolute.28
5544891586quantitative evidenceIncludes things that can be measured, cited, counted, or otherwise represented in numbers--for instance, statistics, surveys, polls, and census information.29
5544891587rebuttalrefutation; opposing response to an argument30
5544891588reservationAn unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly.31
5544891589Rogerian argumentsDeveloped by psychiatrist Carl Rogers, these are based on the assumption that fully understanding an opposing position is essential to responding to it persuasively and refuting it in a way that is accommodating rather than alienating.32
5544891590second-hand evidenceEvidence that is accessed through research, reading, and investigation. It includes factual and historical information, expert opinion, and quantitative data.33
5544891591straw manA fallacy that occurs when a speaker chooses a deliberately poor or oversimplified example in order to ridicule and refute an idea.34
5544891592syllogismA form of reasoning in which two statements are made and a conclusion is drawn from them; the format of a formal argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.35
5544891593Toulmin modelAn approach to analyzing and constructing arguments created by British philosphopher Stephen T in his book the Uses of Argument; "Because (evidence as support), therefore (claim), since (warrant or assumption), on account of its waterproof material, unless, of course, there is a hole in it."36
5544891594warrantexpresses the assumption necessarily shared by the speaker and the audience.37

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