Non-Fiction Terminology

Question 1

Argument

Answer 1

A series of statements intended to justify some opinion; any true argument has at minimum three parts: claim, evidence, and interpretation

Question 2

Claim

Answer 2

An opinion that can be justified by further evidence and interpretation. The term claim usually refers to the main idea, the point, or the thesis that you plan to present in an argument.

Question 3

Counterargument

Answer 3

An alternative interpretation of evidence that challenges rather than supports your claim.

Question 4

Evidence

Answer 4

A part of the argument that is interpreted in support of the claim. Effective evidence needs to be acceptable to the readers without further argument, based on fact, examples statistics, credible narrative description, or on already-accepted opinions.

Question 5

Fallacy

Answer 5

A weak interpretation of evidence, as opposed to a valid, strong or convincing interpretation. Common fallacies include: hasty generalization, faulty or strained analogy, ad hominum, etc.

Question 6

Interpretation

Answer 6

The bridge you build between accepted evidence and your detectable claim. Interpretation is sometimes referred to as the warrant or backing for your argument. Effective interpretation includes accurate analogies between evidence and claim, accurate generalizations from evidence, and accurate paraphrases of accepted opinions.

Question 7

Justification

Answer 7

Defines a claim as being something worth arguing about, that the claim requires some evidence and interpretation in order to be believed, and the claim is not already accepted by likely readers.

Question 8

Grounds

Answer 8

The evidence and interpretation combined in support of your claim.

Question 9

Warrant

Answer 9

A stated or unstated belief, rule, or principle that underlines an argument. A backing is an even broader principle that serves as the foundation for a warrant.

Question 10

Major Proposition

Answer 10

The main point of an argument, which is supported by the minor propositions.

Question 11

Minor Proposition

Answer 11

The reasons you offer in support of the major proposition.

Question 12

Fact

Answer 12

A verifiable statement.

Question 13

Opinion

Answer 13

A valid opinion is a judgement based on the facts and careful deductive or inductive reasoning.

Question 14

Induction

Answer 14

A process of reasoning by which you develop evidence in order to reach a useful generalization.

Question 15

Deduction

Answer 15

A process of reasoning that proceeds from the general to the particular.

Question 16

Conclusion

Answer 16

Valid conclusion of an argument that derives logically from the major and minor propositions. The logical conclusion is termed the inference, in which you arrive at a decision by reasoning from the previous evidence.

Question 17

Refutation

Answer 17

The acknowledgment and handling of opposing viewpoints. You must anticipate opposing viewpoints and counter them effectively in order to convince or persuade readers.