AmLit 1.17 The Elements of an Argument

Which of the following is an example of a Call to Action?

• "Is the dream changing?"

• "'Now it's faith and fortitude.”"

• "Be an active citizen."

• "'Now there is no guarantee.'"

Which one of the following is not an element of an argument?

• Call to action

• Concession

• Refutation

• Juxtaposition

What kind of evidence is "quantitative"?

• Personal anecdotes

• Hypothetical "What if..." situations

• Facts and statistics

• Analogies

Which one of the following is NOT characteristic of a claim?

• It states a fact that will be proven by the argument.

• It previews and predicts the topic of the argument.

• It controls the scope of the argument.

• It makes a provocative statement that is debatable.

What is the author's central message or claim about the American Dream?

• The facts and statistics suggest that Americans are more divided than ever.

• The stories and facts he presents throughout the text strongly suggest that most people believe 'the American dream is a bygone thing.'"

• The stories are examples of Americans who have not "pulled themselves up by their bootstraps" and helped the economy by not wearing a mask.

• The Americans portrayed in the story are "suckers" and "losers" for hoping that big business and government will help them.

Acknowledging an opposing argument is known as a

• juxtaposition

• synecdoche

• refutation

• concession

Responding and disproving an opposing claim is called

• a refutation

• a concession

• a benchmark

• coup d’état

Which one of the following statements is NOT a claim?

• "In this (and every) election year, many politicians rev up emotions that keep voters from focusing on the pocketbook and daily-life issues that truly matter."

• "To be 'middle class' in America once meant living well and having financial security. But today that comfortable and contented lifestyle is harder to achieve and maintain.

• "The traditional American Dream is based on the belief that hardworking citizens can better their lives, pay their monthly bills without worry, give their children a start to an even better life and still save enough to live comfortably after they retire."

• "But the traditional American Dream? For most Americans, it's still a dream—a pipe dream.”

Which is generally considered NOT a valid and reliable type of support?

• expert testimony

• facts and statistics

• an analogy or comparison

• an appeal to emotion

"Don't leave decision-making and priority-setting to zealots who have an ax to grind—or to the blindly ambitious people who emerge in every generation." What does the term zealot mean?

• a person displaying the quality of "zest"

• 
• 
• a person who is fanatical in pursuing political, religious, or other ideals