Terms to Know for the AP Test
Terms to Know for the AP Test
Argumentation (The use of logic to prove a point)
Assert/assertions/unqualified assertions - opinions stated as facts – the basis of all arguments Ex.: “Such is not the course adopted by tyranny in democratic republics, body is left free, and the soul is enslaved.” The writer asserts that, in democratic republics, the soul is enslaved. This assertion rests upon an assumption – a supposed “fact” that is never actually proved. The assumption is that tyranny does exist in democratic republics.
Qualification (qualifying a statement) - to modify, restrict or limit - An unqualified assertion, then, is an opinion stated as truth with no limitations or modifications. If you are asked to defend, challenge, or qualify someone else’s point, then qualify means that you may redefine the argument in some way. Ex.: If the position is, “If ignorance is bliss, then ‘tis folly to be wise,” a qualification of this argument is illustrated by the following: While ignorance may seem blissful, true wisdom comes from experiencing both happiness and sorrow, and understanding the existence of both good and evil.
Speaker’s stance - the attitude a speaker takes on a particular issue; the speaker’s position Ex.: In George Bernard Shaw’s “The Devil Speaks,” the devil’s stance is that man’s creative powers are used to create instruments of destruction; man loves destruction and death.
Issue
- a debatable question that gives rise to different positions or stances Ex.: A rebuttal to the argument that school should begin later in the day because teenagers tend to sleep late is that one function of school is to prepare teenagers for the workplace.
Digression
- a departure from the main topic under discussion – may be done intentionally for effect Ex.: Marc Antony apologizes for digressing in his speech about Julius Caesar. While he focused on the “fact” that Caesar was ambitious, his
Argumentation (The use of logic to prove a point)
Assert/assertions/unqualified assertions - opinions stated as facts – the basis of all arguments Ex.: “Such is not the course adopted by tyranny in democratic republics, body is left free, and the soul is enslaved.” The writer asserts that, in democratic republics, the soul is enslaved. This assertion rests upon an assumption – a supposed “fact” that is never actually proved. The assumption is that tyranny does exist in democratic republics.
Qualification (qualifying a statement) - to modify, restrict or limit - An unqualified assertion, then, is an opinion stated as truth with no limitations or modifications. If you are asked to defend, challenge, or qualify someone else’s point, then qualify means that you may redefine the argument in some way. Ex.: If the position is, “If ignorance is bliss, then ‘tis folly to be wise,” a qualification of this argument is illustrated by the following: While ignorance may seem blissful, true wisdom comes from experiencing both happiness and sorrow, and understanding the existence of both good and evil.
Speaker’s stance - the attitude a speaker takes on a particular issue; the speaker’s position Ex.: In George Bernard Shaw’s “The Devil Speaks,” the devil’s stance is that man’s creative powers are used to create instruments of destruction; man loves destruction and death.
Issue
- a debatable question that gives rise to different positions or stances Ex.: A rebuttal to the argument that school should begin later in the day because teenagers tend to sleep late is that one function of school is to prepare teenagers for the workplace.
Digression
- a departure from the main topic under discussion – may be done intentionally for effect Ex.: Marc Antony apologizes for digressing in his speech about Julius Caesar. While he focused on the “fact” that Caesar was ambitious, his