Glossary
Argument
A claim or set of claims supported by reasons and evidence, intended to persuade an audience to accept a particular viewpoint.
Example:
The student's argument for year-round schooling was based on research about academic retention and international educational models.
Bias
A predisposition or inclination toward a particular viewpoint, often preventing an impartial judgment. It can be revealed through selective facts, extreme language, or unsupported claims.
Example:
A news article that consistently uses emotionally charged language to describe one political party while presenting the other neutrally likely exhibits bias.
Evidence
Facts, statistics, examples, expert testimony, or other verifiable information used to support a claim or argument.
Example:
To support her claim that exercise improves mood, the speaker presented scientific evidence from psychological studies.
Extreme Word Choice
The use of exaggerated, overly emotional, or highly charged language to influence an audience's perception or to reveal a speaker's strong bias.
Example:
Describing a minor policy change as an 'unprecedented assault on liberty' is an example of extreme word choice designed to provoke a strong reaction.
Fact vs. Opinion
The distinction between verifiable information (facts) and personal beliefs or judgments (opinions). Texts can be biased if they present opinions as if they were facts.
Example:
It's important to differentiate between the fact that the Earth revolves around the sun and the opinion that space travel is a waste of resources.
Heavily Opinionated
A characteristic of text where the speaker strongly pushes one side of an issue without adequately considering or presenting alternative viewpoints.
Example:
The editorial was heavily opinionated, asserting that all modern art is meaningless without offering any counterarguments or acknowledging its artistic merit.
Perspective
The speaker's unique viewpoint or lens through which they see and interpret a topic. It is shaped by their experiences, beliefs, and values.
Example:
While two journalists might report on the same event, their individual perspective could lead one to focus on economic impacts and the other on social justice implications.
Position
The speaker's background, affiliations, and identity, which reveal who is delivering the message. It encompasses factors like age, education, political party, or professional role.
Example:
A speech given by a climate scientist holds a different position than one given by an oil executive, influencing how their message is received.
Rhetorical Analysis
The examination of how a speaker or writer uses language and rhetorical strategies to achieve a particular purpose or effect on an audience.
Example:
In a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, one would examine his use of metaphor, anaphora, and appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos.
Rhetorical Choices
The specific linguistic and stylistic decisions a speaker or writer makes to persuade, inform, or engage their audience. These include appeals, organization, diction, and syntax.
Example:
The author's rhetorical choices, such as using vivid imagery and personal anecdotes, made their argument about environmental conservation more compelling.
Selective Facts
The practice of presenting only the information that supports a particular argument while deliberately omitting contradictory or inconvenient details.
Example:
The politician presented selective facts about the economy, highlighting only positive growth statistics while ignoring rising unemployment rates.
Sophistication
In AP English Language, this refers to a nuanced and complex understanding of the text, demonstrating insightful analysis and often recognizing the interplay of various rhetorical elements.
Example:
The essay achieved sophistication by not only identifying the speaker's use of irony but also explaining how that irony subtly undermined the opposing viewpoint.
Unsupported Claims
Statements or assertions made by a speaker that lack sufficient evidence, data, or logical reasoning to back them up.
Example:
The advertisement made unsupported claims about the product's ability to cure all ailments, providing no scientific studies or testimonials.