Terms B-G Flashcards
Begging the question
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)
Claim of fact
A claim that asserts something exists, has existed or will exist based on data that the audience will accept or objectively verifiable
Claim of policy
A claim asserting that specific courses of an action should be instituted as solutions to problems
Claim of value
A claim that asserts some things are more or less desirable than others
Cliche
A word or phrase, often a figure of speech, that has become lifeless because of overuse
Colloquialism
A word or phrase in everyday use in conversation and informal writing but is inappropriate for formal situations
Concession
An acknowledgment of objection to a proposal
Counterargument
An opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward; a strong writer addresses counterargument through the process of concession and refutation
Deduction
Reasoning by which we establish that a conclusion must be true because the statements on which it is based are true
Description
One of the four traditional forms of discourse; uses language to create a mood/emotion or depict an image/sensation
Didactic
Intended to teach a specific lesson or moral or provide a model of correct behavior or thinking
Exposition
One of the four traditional forms of discourse; explains or “sets forth” an idea(s)
Epigraph
A quotation or aphorism at the beginning of a literary work suggestive of the theme
Equivocation
Using the same term in two different senses in an argument
Ethos
An appeal through ethics- the qualities of character, intelligence, and goodwill in an argument that contribute to an audience’s acceptance of the claim
Euphemism
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
Explication
The act of interpreting or discovering the meaning of a test, usually involving close reading, annotation, and special attention to figurative language
False analogy
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
False dilemma
Reducing an argument or issue to two polar opposites and ignoring any alternatives
Generalization
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
