Important Persuasion/ Argument Vocabulary

Vocabulary Claim—writer’s position on an issue or problem; usually the last sentence in intro paragraph Support—material that proves a claim; includes reasons and evidence Assumptions—opinions or beliefs that are taken for granted Opposing Viewpoints—objections to the writer’s claims; what the other side is going to claim

More Vocabulary Counterargument/Rebuttal—arguments made to oppose (counter) opposing views Call to Action/Call for Agreement—statement telling reader what you want him/her to do or to believe

Still More Vocabulary Emotional Appeal—Uses strong feelings, rather than facts and evidence to persuade Loaded Language—Relies on words with strongly positive or negative associations. Appeals by Association—“Sell” a product or idea by linking it with something or someone positive or influential

Hooks for Non-Fiction Shocking Statistics/Facts Anecdotes (short stories) Rhetorical Question Quotation

Types of Support Statistics—data, percentages, and averages drawn from RELIABLE sources Examples—specific details that illustrate the claim Facts—statements that can be verified in a reference source or by observation Narratives or Anecdotes—brief stories that illustrate the point

More Types of Support Expert Opinions—quotations from reliable sources—scholars, researchers, people with a great deal of experience in a field For example, a professor at Harvard will be a better expert on the impact of global warming than Tony Hawk. Observations or Personal Experiences—first-hand accounts of an event