AP Vocabulary 5

L.J. Perales © 2009 www.apeng3.com

Sign Warrant Definition: a warrant that offers an

observable datum as an indicator of a condition

Example: The war on drugs has failed because prisons are full of drug offenders and use among teens is rising.

Slanting Definition: selecting facts or words

with connotations that favor the arguer's bias and discredit alternatives

Example: Policies on immigration are invariably ineffective.

Slippery Slope Definition: appealing to worst case

scenario of a logical argument Example: "You can never give

anyone a break. If you do, they'll walk all over you."

Slogan Definition: an attention-getting

expression used largely in politics or advertising to promote support of a cause or product

Example: Nike – Just Do It!

Statistics Definition: information expressed

in numerical form Example: 9/10 doctors indicate

product A is more effective than product B.

Stipulative Definition Definition: a definition that makes

it clear that it will explore a particular area of meaning of a term or issue

Example: For the purposes of argument, we will define a “student” to be “a person under 18 enrolled in a local school”.

Straw Man Definition: disputing a view similar

to, but not the same as, that of the arguer's opponent

Example: Senator Jones says we should fund the attack submarine program. By doing so, he is throwing support to war efforts.

Style Definition: choices in words and

sentence structure that make a writer's language distinctive

Example: "The style of an author should be the image of his mind, but the choice and command of language is the fruit of exercise."(Edward Gibbon)

Substantive Warrant Definition: a warrant based on beliefs

about the reliability of factual evidence Example: If you dangle mother's wedding

band over her womb, you can determine the sex of the child. My mother and sister did this successfully, so it will be true in all cases.

Support Definition: any material that

serves to prove an issue or claim; in addition to evidence, it includes appeals to the needs and values of the audience

Example: The body paragraphs of a persuasive essay.

Syllogism Definition: a formula of deductive

argument consisting of three propositions: a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion Example: Major premise: All humans are mortal. Minor premise: Some animals are human. Conclusion: Some animals are mortal.

Two Wrongs Make a Right Definition: diverting attention from the issue

by introducing a new point - responding to an accusation with a counter-accusation that makes no attempt to refute the first accusation

Example: Bill has borrowed Jane's pen but didn't return it. He tells himself that it’s okay to keep it, since she would have taken his.

Values Definition: conceptions or ideas

that act as standards for judging what is right or wrong, worthwhile or worthless, beautiful or ugly, good or bad

Example: goodness, beauty, truth, justice

Warrant Definition: a general principle or

assumption that establishes a connection between the support and the claim

Example: Pizza causes some people to experience heartburn.

Vocabulary 5Exam Upcoming…

L.J. Perales © 2009 www.apeng3.com