AP English Language and Composition Flashcards: Relevance, sufficiency, and credibility in paragraphs
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Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is 'relevance' in the context of evidence within a paragraph?
Relevance refers to how closely a piece of evidence is related to the claim it is intended to support. Relevant evidence directly proves, explains, or illustrates the specific point being argued.
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What is 'relevance' in the context of evidence within a paragraph?
Relevance refers to how closely a piece of evidence is related to the claim it is intended to support. Relevant evidence directly proves, explains, or illustrates the specific point being argued.
What is the relationship between a source's potential bias and its credibility?
A source's potential for bias directly impacts its credibility. While all sources have some perspective, a highly biased source may intentionally omit or distort information, making it less trustworthy and therefore less credible.
What is 'sufficiency' when evaluating the evidence in a paragraph?
Sufficiency refers to whether there is enough evidence to convincingly support a claim. An argument lacks sufficiency if it relies on too little or too narrow a range of evidence, leading to a hasty generalization.
How do relevance, sufficiency, and credibility work together to support a paragraph's main claim?
A strong argument requires a sufficient amount of relevant evidence drawn from credible sources. The absence of any one of these three elements significantly weakens the overall persuasiveness and logical soundness of the claim.
A student claims their school's lunch program is universally disliked after interviewing two of their friends. Which quality of evidence is the primary weakness?
The primary weakness is a lack of sufficiency. A sample size of two friends is not enough evidence to support a broad generalization about the entire school's opinion.
Can a piece of evidence be both credible and relevant, but still contribute to a weak argument?
Yes, if the total body of evidence is not sufficient. A single, highly credible and relevant fact is a good start, but without other supporting evidence, the argument may not be convincing enough to prove a complex claim.
For a research paper on the economic effects of a new tax policy, a writer cites a tweet from a celebrity actor. Which quality of evidence is most questionable?
The credibility of the evidence is most questionable. A celebrity actor is typically not a qualified expert on economic policy, making their opinion an unreliable source for an academic argument.
If a writer argues for stricter gun control laws and provides a statistic about the number of car accidents, which quality of evidence is lacking?
This argument lacks relevance. Evidence about car accidents is not directly related to the claim about gun control laws and therefore does not support the argument.
Why might a writer fail to provide sufficient evidence for a claim?
A writer might fail to provide sufficient evidence because they are making a hasty generalization or they have not conducted thorough enough research. This weakens their argument by leaving it open to exceptions and counterclaims.
What does 'credibility' mean in relation to a source of evidence?
Credibility refers to the trustworthiness and reliability of a source. It is often determined by the author's expertise, potential for bias, the reputation of the publication, and the verifiability of the information.