Not-so-simple Sentences
Technically referred to as “cohesion” by linguists, the property of a text to hold together at the level of sentence and paragraph.
What is flow?
Another word for thesis or argument.
What is a claim?
An appeal to logic.
What is logos?
Used to set off lists, separate clauses, employ introductory expressions, and, sometimes, indicate a “pause.”
What are commas?
The use of invalid reasoning.
What is a fallacy?
Contains a subject and verb that can stand alone.
What is an independent clause?
Implied logical connection, or underlying assumption, between a claim and a reason.
What is a warrant?
A story that can be used to build pathos.
What is an anecdote?
Use this to link independent clauses without the aid of a coordinating conjunction.
What is a semi-colon?
When a rhetor confuses correlation for causation.
What is a "false cause" fallacy?
An independent clause by itself.
What is a simple sentence?
Evidence offered in support of a reason itself.
What are grounds?
We are often told to think of these in pathos-oriented arguments.
What are "the children?"
Used to mark off “non-essential information,” as well as indicate citations.
What are parentheticals?
Frequently used as an argument against taking the first steps in something, this tactic is technically fallacious.
What is a "slippery slope" fallacy?
For, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.
What is a coordinating conjunction?
Invented by Aristotle, this logically-true structure gets re-arranged in enthymemes.
What is a syllogism?
A common way to appeal to logos that requires the rhetor to connect their idea to something the reader already understands.
What is argument by analogy?
Use this (or not!) to clear up ambiguity in lists.
What is an oxford comma?
Often used colloquially to mean something different, in logic this refers to the use of circular reasoning (your premise is presupposed by the conclusion).
What is "begging the question?"
Considered “boring” by many, this can also be used to deliberately obscure blame.
What is passive voice?
This philosopher invented in enthymemes in 1958.
Who was Stephen Toulmin?
What happens when a rhetor and a reader encounter a claim that they simply cannot come to terms over.
What is stasis?
Used to set off parenthetical expressions within parenthetical expressions (which you probably should try to avoid in general!).
What are brackets?
The mistake of thinking that just because an argument is fallacious, it is wrong.
What is the "fallacy" fallacy?