Terms B-G

Question 1

Begging the question

Answer 1

An argument is circular if its conclusion is among its premises, if it assumes what it is trying to prove is, indeed, true; such arguments are said to beg the question; a circular argument fails as a proof because it will only be judged to be sound by those who already accept it’s conclusion (aka, circular reasoning)

Question 2

Claim of fact

Answer 2

A claim that asserts something exists, has existed or will exist based on data that the audience will accept or objectively verifiable

Question 3

Claim of policy

Answer 3

A claim asserting that specific courses of an action should be instituted as solutions to problems

Question 4

Claim of value

Answer 4

A claim that asserts some things are more or less desirable than others

Question 5

Cliche

Answer 5

A word or phrase, often a figure of speech, that has become lifeless because of overuse

Question 6

Colloquialism

Answer 6

A word or phrase in everyday use in conversation and informal writing but is inappropriate for formal situations

Question 7

Concession

Answer 7

An acknowledgment of objection to a proposal

Question 8

Counterargument

Answer 8

An opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward; a strong writer addresses counterargument through the process of concession and refutation

Question 9

Deduction

Answer 9

Reasoning by which we establish that a conclusion must be true because the statements on which it is based are true

Question 10

Description

Answer 10

One of the four traditional forms of discourse; uses language to create a mood/emotion or depict an image/sensation

Question 11

Didactic

Answer 11

Intended to teach a specific lesson or moral or provide a model of correct behavior or thinking

Question 12

Exposition

Answer 12

One of the four traditional forms of discourse; explains or “sets forth” an idea(s)

Question 13

Epigraph

Answer 13

A quotation or aphorism at the beginning of a literary work suggestive of the theme

Question 14

Equivocation

Answer 14

Using the same term in two different senses in an argument

Question 15

Ethos

Answer 15

An appeal through ethics- the qualities of character, intelligence, and goodwill in an argument that contribute to an audience’s acceptance of the claim

Question 16

Euphemism

Answer 16

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts, sometimes used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness, or to add humor or ironic understatement

Question 17

Explication

Answer 17

The act of interpreting or discovering the meaning of a test, usually involving close reading, annotation, and special attention to figurative language

Question 18

False analogy

Answer 18

Two cases are not sufficiently parallel to lead readers to accept a claim of connection between them; assuming without sufficient proof that if objects or processes are similar in some ways, then they are similar in other ways as well

Question 19

False dilemma

Answer 19

Reducing an argument or issue to two polar opposites and ignoring any alternatives

Question 20

Generalization

Answer 20

Basing a claim upon an isolated example or asserting that a claim is certain rather than probable; asserting that a claim applies to all instances instead of only some