Argument Unit AP Language and Composition

Deductive Reasoning General Particular

Inductive Reasoning Particulars Generalities

Transaction between Writer and Reader Be sure to understand your readers’ views! Begin by stating what your readers probably think. (This helps to hide your cynical side. Omit the following: “By Heaven, my view is absolutely right!”)

Thesis Statement Your opinion is the thesis, or claim, of your argument. With inductive reasoning, your thesis statement will be at the beginning (clueing them in to your purpose). Deductive reasoning is necessary if the reader has difficulty accepting your thesis until they have heard some of your argument.

evidence/facts emotions ethical/character Logos - evidence/facts Pathos - emotions Ethos- ethical/character Persuasive Appeals

Syllogism The format of a formal argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.

Toulmin Method British Philosopher, Stephen Toulmin, devised this practical method for dividing an argument into three parts.

Data: The evidence to prove something.

Claim: What are you proving with the data?

Conclusion: The assumption or principle that connects the data to the claim.

Data Example: All human beings are immortal.

Minor Claim: Socrates is a man.

Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is immortal.

Logical Fallacies- a mistake in reasoning

Non sequitur Stating a conclusion that doesn’t follow from the first premise. Example: “I’ve lived in this town a long time—why my grandfather was the first mayor—so I’m against adding fluoride to the drinking water.”

Oversimplification Supplying neat and easy explanations for large and complicated phenomena. Example: “No wonder drug abuse is out of control. Look at how the courts have hobbled police officers.” “All these bad teenagers should be shipped to China.”

Hasty Generalization Leaping to a generalization from inadequate or faulty evidence. Example: “Women are too emotional to fight in combat.”

Dogmatism (Dogmatic) A writer who attempts to persuade by asserting or assuming that a particular position is the only one conceivably acceptable. Example: No rationale person would disagree that … It is clear to anyone who has thought about it that…

False Authority It occurs chiefly when writers offer themselves, or other authorities they cite, as sufficient warrant for believing a claim. Example: “We ought to castrate all sex offenders; Uncle Oswald says we should.” or “According to reliable sources, my opponent is lying.”

Ad hominem Attack against the man Example: “Mayor Burns is divorced and estranged from his family. How can we listen to his pleas for a city nursing home?”

Begging the Question Taking for granted from the start what you set out to demonstrate. (You repeat that what is true is true.) Example: “I am in college because that is the right thing to do. Going to college is the right thing to do because it is expected of me.”

The speaker/writer attributes false or exaggerated characteristics to the opponent and attacks him on those falsehoods. Strawman Argument- The speaker/writer attributes false or exaggerated characteristics to the opponent and attacks him on those falsehoods. Example: You say you are for allowing only people over twenty-one to vote. I’ll never understand mean, simple- minded activists like you who are willing to deny democratic freedoms to millions of citizens.

Bandwagon Fallacy Arguments that urge people to follow the same path everyone else is taking. V: Terry Shivo, Drunk Driving, Illegal Immigration Example: Everyone else is going camping without chaperones. The parent replies, “If everyone jumps off the bridge tomorrow, will you jump off one too?”