AP Seminar Terms

Assumption

A belief regarded as true and often understated.

Limitation

A boundary or point at which an argument or generalization is no longer valid.

Thesis

A claim or position on an issue or topic put forward and supported by evidence.

Argument

A claim or thesis that conveys a perspective developed through a line of reasoning and supported by evidence.

Secondary Source

A commentary about one or more primary sources that provides additional insight or about the primary sources data, study, or artifacts.

Qualification

A condition or exception.

Solution

A means of answering a question or addressing a problem or issue.

Bias

A personal opinion, belief, or value that may influence one's judgment, perspective, or claim.

Perspective

A point of view conveyed through an argument.

Point of View

A position or standpoint on a topic or issue.

Implication

A possible future effect or result.

Inquiry

A process for seeking truth or information through a study.

Claim

A statement mad about an issue that conveys a perspective and can be examined.

Deductive

A type of reasoning that constructs general propositions that are supported with evidence or cases.

Inductive

A type of reasoning that presents cases or evidence that lead to a logical conclusion.

Concession

Acknowledgment and acceptance of an opposing or different view.

Logos

An appeal to logic.

Diction

An authors choice of words to create a tone or effect.

Counterargument

An opposing perspective, idea, or theory supported by evidence.

Primary Source

An original source of information about a topic.

Ethos

Appeal of speaker or writer to his/her own credibility.

Pathos

Appeal to emotion.

Line of Reasoning

Arrangement of claims and evidence that leads to a conclusion.

Assertion

Categorical statement which generalizes an opinion about human nature.

Vocal Variety

Changing vocal characteristics in order to emphasize ideas, convey emotion or opinion, or achieve other specific purposes.

Alignment

Cohesion between the focus of an inquiry, the method of collecting information, the process of analysis of the information, and the conclusions made to increase understanding of that focus.

Rebuttal

Contradicting an opposing perspective by providing alternate, more convincing evidence.

Commentary

Discussion and analysis of evidence in relation to the claim which may identify patterns, describe trends, and/or explain relationships.

Refutation

Disproving and opposing perspective by providing counterclaims or counter evidence.

Fallacy

Evidence or reasoning that is false.

Data

Evidence supporting the claim.

Plagiarism

Failure to acknowledge/cite any ideas or evidence taken from another source.

Lens

Filter through which an issue or topic is considered or examined.

Cross-Curricular

Goes beyond the traditional boundry of a single content area or discipline.

Quantitative

Having to do with numbers, amounts, or quantities.

Qualitative

Having to do with text, narrative, or descriptions.

Issue

Important problem for debate or discussion.

Evidence

Information used as proof to support a claim or thesis.

Interdisciplinary

Involving two or more areas of knowledge.

Complex Issue

Issue involving many facets or perspectives that must be understood in order to address it.

Author

One who creates work that conveys a perspective and can be examined.

Inference

Reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

Text

Something composed that conveys a perspective and can be examined.

Resolution

The active solving a problem or dispute.

Credibility

The degrees to which a source is believable and trustworthy.

Reliability

The extent to which an idea or or claim is logical.

Validity

The extent to which that something can be trusted or accurate.

Literature

The foundational and current texts of a field or discipline of study.

Context

The intent, audience, purpose, bias, situatedness, and/or background of a source.

Sequencing

The organization of curriculum content into an order which progresses from simple to more complex.

Scaffolding

The provision of temporary structured support for students to aid skill development.

Coventions

The stylistic features of writing.

Tone

The way in which an author expresses an attitude about his or her topic or subject through rhetorical choices.

Conclusion

Understanding resulting from analysis of evidence.

Anecdote

Very brief story told to illustrate a point.