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?"
What is a "claim?"
What is logos?
Used to set off lists, separate clauses, employ introductory expressions, and, sometimes, indicate a “pause.”
What is a comma?
What is "soundness?"
Contains a subject and verb that can stand alone.
What is an independent clause (or simple sentence)?
From the Latin for "in mind," this tool helps map out the underlaying assumptions in our arguments.
What is an enthymeme?
Typically used to build pathos, this entails sharing a short but relatable story that is somehow relevant.
What is an anecdote?
Use this to link independent clauses without the aid of a coordinating conjunction.
What is a semi-colon?
Frequently used as an argument against taking the first steps in something lest something worse happen later, this tactic is technically fallacious.
What is a "slippery slope fallacy?"
An independent clause joined to a dependent clause.
What is a complex sentence?
Evidence offered in support of a reason itself.
What are the grounds?
A common way of appealing to logos that requires the rhetor to connect their idea to something the reader already understands.
What is an "argument by analogy?"
Used to mark off “non-essential information,” create appositives, and to indicate citations.
What are parentheses?
What is a "syllogism?"
For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
What are the 7 coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)?
This philosopher invented in enthymemes in 1958 based on principles of Aristotelian logic.
Who was Stephen Toulmin?
The moment when a rhetor and the reader encounter a type of claim that they simply cannot agree on.
What is "stasis?"
People have a choice in using this (or not!) to clear up ambiguity in lists.
What is the Oxford comma?
Often used colloquially to mean something completely different, in logic this refers to the use of circular reasoning (your premise is presupposed by the conclusion).
What is "begging the question?"
Considering "boring" by some, this style can also be used to deliberately obscure blame.
What is "passive voice?"
Implied logical connection, or underlying assumption, between a claim and a reason.
What is a warrant?
Serena Williams drinking Gatorade in a Gatorade ad is an example of this type of appeal.
What is pathos?
Used to set off parenthetical expressions within parenthetical expressions (which you probably should try to avoid in general, outside of very specific needs).
What are brackets?
The mistake of thinking that just because an argument is fallacious, it is wrong.
What is the fallacy fallacy?