Claims & Thesis
A statement that is debatable and needs support to be accepted.
a claim
Facts, statistics, examples, and expert testimony a writer uses to support a claim.
Evidence
The writer's explanation of how and why the evidence supports the claim.
Commentary (reasoning)
An opposing viewpoint that a writer brings up and responds to.
A counterargument (counterclaim)
The appeal to logic and reason.
Logos
A defensible claim that states the writer's overall position and often previews the line of reasoning.
A thesis
Evidence drawn from a personal story or individual experience.
anecdotal evidence
The logical sequence of claims that work together to support the thesis.
The line of reasoning
The move where a writer admits that part of an opposing view is valid.
A concession
The appeal to a speaker's credibility or character.
Ethos
Which is arguable: "Many teens use social media" or "Schools should ban phones during class"?
"Schools should ban phones during class"?
Name two qualities that make evidence strong.
Any two: relevant, sufficient, credible, accurate, recent
Words like "therefore," "however," and "furthermore" that show how ideas relate.
Transitions
The move where a writer shows that an opposing argument is wrong or weaker than it seems.
A refutation (rebuttal)
The event, problem, or need that prompts a writer to create an argument.
Exigence
"Homework does more harm than good" judges something as good or bad. Is it a claim of fact, value, or policy?
A claim of value.
Why might a statistic published by a company that sells the product be questionable?
The source may be biased (conflict of interest)
Reasoning that moves from several specific examples to a general conclusion.
Inductive reasoning
Why does addressing counterarguments usually make an argument stronger?
It builds credibility (ethos) and answers objections before the reader raises them
An animal shelter ad shows a shivering puppy alone in a cage. Which appeal is it using?
Pathos
"The city should extend library hours on weekends" is what type of claim, and what word is the clue?
A claim of policy; "should"
A writer describes one student who improved after dropping homework and concludes homework should be banned everywhere. Which quality of evidence is missing?
Sufficiency (a hasty generalization)
The often unstated assumption that connects a piece of evidence to a claim.
The warrant
"While it's true that uniforms cost money up front, families save more over the year on clothing." Identify the concession and the rebuttal.
Concession: uniforms cost money up front. Rebuttal: families save more over the year
Why might a student arguing for a later school start time use different evidence with the school board than with classmates?
The audience is different, and writers choose evidence based on what the audience values
Explain the difference between a concession and a refutation, and why a writer might use both in the same paragraph.
A concession admits the other side has a fair point, and a refutation shows why the writer's position still holds. Using both shows fairness and confidence, which strengthens the argument.