Understanding Persuasive Language and Arguments
Fundamentals of Argument and Text Analysis
Core Components of an Argument
Fact: A statement that can be verified through experience or logic.
Inference: A conclusion reached based on evidence and logical reasoning from a fact.
Opinion: A conclusion that must be supported by facts and inferences.
Axiom: A statement that is established, accepted, or self-evidently true and does not require demonstration.
Thesis (or Central Hypothesis): The main point or claim that the author wants to prove.
Secondary Hypotheses: The arguments with which the author supports their main thesis.
Language and Its Effects
Subjective Language: Occurs when the author is influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
Denotation: The literal or primary dictionary definition of a word.
Connotation: The emotional tones or feelings a word evokes in the reader.
Persuasive Texts: These texts may use facts, but more commonly rely on inferences and opinions, often employing subjective language.
Author’s Purpose: The reason an author writes, which can be to inform, persuade, or instruct.
Evaluating Arguments for Bias and Weakness
Ambiguity: The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.
Tendentious and Biased Elements
An author’s argument can be ambiguous and biased due to the following:
- Stereotypes: An overgeneralization that classifies people or groups into a fixed, unreliable category.
- Overgeneralizations: Using absolute words to persuade in a biased manner.
- Absolute Language: Using words such as all, nothing, always, never, none, and completely.
- Unilateral Presentations: Presenting only one side of an issue.
- Sophistries and Fallacies: Deceptive or misleading arguments.
- Altered Chronological Order: Changing the sequence of events to mislead the reader.
- False Cause and Effect: Claiming a cause-and-effect relationship where none exists.
Signs of Weak Argumentation
An argument is weak if the author’s central hypothesis or main points are not supported by a solid set of evidence. Look for these signs:
- The central thesis or main points are contradicted.
- A supporting statement contradicts a principal point.
- The author does not define the core concepts of the text.
Text Structure and Comprehension
Sentence: A set of words that expresses a complete idea or thought.
Statement: A minimal word or phrase that communicates something.
Supporting Statements: Phrases or sentences that help the reader understand the main points. They complement, explain, and develop the central ideas. They can be presented in various patterns, such as explanations, examples, answers to questions, lists, and cause-and-effect relationships.
Summary: A short exposition that identifies the key ideas (main points) of a text, omitting finer details.
Analogy: A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification, showing a relationship of proportion or similarity.
Interpretation: The personal explanation or meaning that a reader gives to a text, which is influenced by their tastes, experiences, cultural position, and knowledge.
Strategies for Understanding Vocabulary
To better understand the meaning of a word, you can use the following strategies:
- Infer the meaning from the context.
- Reread the subsection, paying close attention to punctuation marks.
- Divide the word into syllables and check for a familiar root.
- Analyze Latin prefixes, which are syllables at the beginning of a word that amend its meaning.
- Break the word down into its Greek roots.