Important Persuasion/ Argument Vocabulary

Vocabulary Claim—writer’s position on an issue or

problem; usually the last sentence in intro paragraph

Support—material that proves a claim; includes reasons and evidence

Assumptions—opinions or beliefs that are taken for granted

Counterarguments—objections to the writer’s claims; what the other side is going to claim

More Vocabulary

Rebuttal—arguments made to oppose (counter) opposing views

Call to Action/Call for Agreement—statement telling reader what you want him/her to do or to believe

Still More Vocabulary Emotional Appeal—Uses strong feelings,

rather than facts and evidence to persuade

Loaded Language—Relies on words with strongly positive or negative associations.

Appeals by Association—“Sell” a product or idea by linking it with something or someone positive or influential

Hooks for Non-FictionShocking Statistics/FactsAnecdotes (short stories)Rhetorical QuestionQuotation

Types of SupportStatistics—data, percentages, and averages drawn from RELIABLE sources

Examples—specific details that illustrate the claim

Facts—statements that can be verified in a reference source or by observation

Narratives or Anecdotes—brief stories that illustrate the point

More Types of Support Expert Opinions—quotations from

reliable sources—scholars, researchers, people with a great deal of experience in a field

For example, a professor at Harvard will be a better expert on the impact of global warming than Tony Hawk.

Observations or Personal Experiences—first-hand accounts of an event