The Vocabulary of Argumentation
It is easier to write clear and professional pieces if you have mastered
the vocabulary of argumentation. So when you’re writing and editing your
papers, keep in mind the following terms and expressions:
What you are defending:
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A thesis
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A position
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A claim
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A view
How you are defending it:
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With an argument
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With reasons (not rationalizations)
A solid position is
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Justifiable or justified
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Defensible
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Well supported
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Sound
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Strong
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Tenable
A weak position is
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Unjustifiable or unjustified
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Indefensible
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Poorly supported
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Unsound
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Weak
Some additional useful turns of phrase:
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Those who support a position are its proponents
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In supporting a position one advances it
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Those who reject an a position are its opponents
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They contend that their views are well supported
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A bad argument should be rejected
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There are objections to particular views
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One way to answer arguments is to rebut them
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People can hold, believe, think, maintain positions; "feel" is very
weak
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One can resist conclusions or be inclined to believe them
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Positions should be coherent, without inconsistencies or contradictions
For those of you who haven’t had logic, you also need to learn the following
vocabulary:
Premise, conclusion, argument, valid, invalid, sound, unsound, induction,
deduction, fallacious
By: Laura Purdy
December 2001
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