AP English Language and Composition Flashcards: Types of evidence and purposeful selection
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List three distinct types of evidence a writer might select from.
A writer might select from various types of evidence, including facts, statistics, analogies, personal experiences, expert opinions, testimonies, or experiments.
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List three distinct types of evidence a writer might select from.
A writer might select from various types of evidence, including facts, statistics, analogies, personal experiences, expert opinions, testimonies, or experiments.
If a writer aims to build a logical appeal (logos) about climate change, what types of evidence would be most effective?
To build a logical appeal, the writer should use evidence such as verifiable facts, scientific data, statistics from experiments, and expert opinions from climatologists.
How does a writer's choice of evidence affect their credibility (ethos)?
The purposeful selection of reliable, relevant, and well-sourced evidence strengthens an argument and demonstrates the writer's knowledge, thereby building their credibility with the audience.
What is the difference between facts and expert opinions as types of evidence?
Facts are objective, verifiable pieces of information, whereas expert opinions are interpretations or judgments made by a recognized authority in a specific field.
What is the primary goal a writer considers when selecting evidence for an argument?
A writer selects evidence with the primary goal of achieving a specific purpose, such as to inform, persuade, or entertain a particular audience.
Explain why a writer must consider their audience when selecting evidence.
A writer must consider their audience to choose evidence that will be most persuasive and impactful, taking into account the audience's existing knowledge, values, and potential biases.
How does using a variety of evidence types strengthen an argument?
Using a variety of evidence types strengthens an argument by appealing to the audience through multiple persuasive strategies (e.g., logic, emotion, credibility), making the claim more robust and harder to refute.
To argue for a new local traffic light, a citizen speaks at a town hall meeting. What blend of evidence would be most persuasive to an audience of fellow residents and town officials?
The citizen should blend statistical evidence of accidents at the intersection (logos) with personal observations or anecdotes of near-misses (pathos) to create a compelling case.
A student is writing an argumentative essay for a history class. Why might they choose to include a direct testimony from a primary source?
Including a testimony adds a powerful, personal dimension to the argument, which can appeal to the audience's emotions (pathos) and provide compelling, firsthand support for a claim.
Define 'anecdotal evidence'.
Anecdotal evidence consists of personal stories, brief accounts, or observations used to illustrate a point or support a claim within an argument.