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English 1H Midterm
Definitions
66
English
Undergraduate 1
10/16/2007

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Term
persuasion
Definition
to win over logically, emotionally, or physically
Term
argument
Definition
to persuade through reason
Term
common ground
Definition
the assumption or principle both sides agree to in order to conduct their argument
Term
assumption
Definition
unexamined belief, serves as basis for line of reasoning
Term
concrete thinking
Definition
testing abstract asswertions by transplanting them into real world situations
Term
deduction
Definition
reasoning from premises to a conclusion
Term
premises
Definition
the stated asumptions used as reasons in an argument
Term
syllogism
Definition
the pattern or reasoning from a premise to a conclusion

major premise: Socrates is a man
minor premise: all men are mortal
conclusion: Socrates is mortal
Term
enthymene
Definition
a syllogism with one premise left unstated

major premise: Socrates is a man
conclusion: Socrates is mortal
understood minor premise: All men are mortal
Term
sound argument
Definition
logic that is valid and true
Term
validity
Definition
when only one conclusion can and must follow from the premises
Term
true
Definition
when each of the premises is verifiable or accepted as true by both parties

major premise: Socrates is a man
minor premise: all men are women
conclusion: Socrates is a woman
Term
fallacy
Definition
a logically invalid conclusion
Term
non-sequitur
Definition
when the conclusion does not logically follow from the premises or evidence
Term
reductio ad absurdum
Definition
disproving an argument by taking it to its inevitale and absurd conclusion
Term
dialectic
Definition
the systematic elimination of counterarguments
Term
induction
Definition
infers a single conclusion from a set of instances or examples
Term
evidence
Definition
data, examples, that support or demonstrate the truth of a premise
Term
hypothesis
Definition
provisionnal thesis to be tested by experiment or examination of evidence
Term
analogy
Definition
extended comparison between unlikes to clarify understanding
Term
appeal to authority
Definition
support for an argument from an identified authority knowledgeable in the subject
Term
statistics
Definition
quantitative evidence
Term
graphs
Definition
visual display of quantitative information
Term
grouds
Definition
premises or evidence upon which a claim is made
Term
claim
Definition
the judgment or inference made about the evidence or grounds
Term
warrant
Definition
the underlying assumption(s) that enble the writer to make the claim about the grounds
Term
backing
Definition
a warrant for the warrant
Term
qualification
Definition
the limitation placed upon the claim to make it more defensible
Term
rebuttal
Definition
refuting an objection or counterargument
Term
Toulmin sentence
Definition
arranging Toulmin's erms syntactically and schematically to organize logical analysis of an argument
Term
rhetoric
Definition
non-rational modes of persuasion
Term
pathos
Definition
appeal to the reader's emothion, values, or beliefs in an argument
Term
ethos
Definition
the credibility of the writer over and above the logic of the argument itself
Term
tone
Definition
the attitude of the reader or subject
Term
logos
Definition
appeal to reason in argument
Term
rationalization
Definition
using questionable or self-serving reasons to justify a position
Term
persona
Definition
the personality of the writer implied by the text (may differ from the actual personality of the writer)
Term
satire
Definition
ridiculing in order to correct or punish
Term
irony
Definition
the opposite of what is said or written is what is meant
Term
sarcasm
Definition
heavy-handed irony
Term
allegory
Definition
extended metaphor using personification
Term
non sequitur
Definition
conclusion does not follow from premises; almost all other fallacies are derivations from this basic fallacy

I'm not doing well in history because it's an afternoon class.
Term
post hoc
Definition
substitues temporal sequence for logical sequence

Last week, I washed my car. This week, it rained. If we need rain, all I have to do is wash my car.
Term
begging the question
Definition
assumes as proven what needs to be proven

How do I know Fox News is objective? Because the network's motto is "Fair and Balanced".
Term
false analogy
Definition
confuses similarity with causation

If you can play golf, you can play cricket. After all, they're both games.
Term
oversimplification
Definition
leaves out intervening premises

The solution to the Iraq war isn't difficult: just leave.
Term
hasty generalization
Definition
draws conclusion based on inadequate sampling

Terry's always got a calculator with him. He must be an engineer.
Term
ad hominem
Definition
attacks the person instead of the argument

"If they don't have the guts, I call them girlie men."
-Arnold Schwarzenegger
Term
correlation is not causation
Definition
confuses simultaneity for causation

When investing in the stock market, it's best to check the astrological signs. If they're positive, you'll make money.
Term
guilt by association
Definition
confuses association with causation

Jazz musicians tend to drink a lot. Jeremy's a jazz musician, and probably a drunk, too.
Term
bandwagon
Definition
confuses popularity with correctness

We need a law requiring a three-foot buffer betwen cyclists and cars. After all, other states already have such a law.
Term
slippery slope
Definition
assumes that accepting part of an argument is to accept all possible consequences of the argument

If you try a little marijuana, the next thing you know, you're doing cocaine, and pretty so you're strung out on heroin.
Term
appeal to (false) authority
Definition
misuses the authority appealed to- no expertise in relevant area, out of date, etc.

I always check with my doctor when it comes to deciding whom to vote for.
Term
unity
Definition
relevance of all details in the argument, directly or indirectly, to the thesis
Term
coherence
Definition
connection or transition between sentences and paragraphs
Term
syntactical
Definition
mechanincs of writing- repeated terms, linking sentences, etc.

Mary went to the store.
Mary has a nice soprano voice.
Term
semantic
Definition
expectation and fulfillment pattern between sentences

Mary went to the store.
She bought some ice cream.
Term
logical
Definition
explicitly reveals causal connection between ideas in sentences

Mary went to the store.
People generally go to stores to buy things.
Therefore, Mary probably went to the store to buy something.
Term
tonal
Definition
maintains consistent attitude towards reader or subject (topic)

Mary, the moron, went to the store to buy something, but the idiot forgot her mone, and so now she wants me to run down there and pay her bill. Forget it!
Term
figurative
Definition
creates associative connections rather than relying purely on causal relationships

Mary is the rose of my heart. She is the blossom of my soul.
Term
logic
Definition
pattern of reasoning in an argument or essay- technically the validity of a line of reasoning
Term
specificity
Definition
the evidence used to support the logic
Term
tone
Definition
the attitude of the writer towards the reader or the subject
Term
pathos
Definition
appeal to the reder's emotion, values, or beliefs in an argument
Term
ethos
Definition
the credibility of the writer over and above the logic of the argument itself
Term
quality
Definition
the tension in an essay between its originality and its persuasiveness- the greater the originality, the more persuasive the argument must be, and vice-versa
a high quality paper will push originality as far as it can while still remaining persuasive
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