COM 334: Essentials of Argument
Review Sheet for Mid-term Exam
Review Session: Monday, October 25 5:30-6:30 in CMU 126
On the exam there will be types of questions that test your recall of concepts, your
ability to identify concepts, your ability to apply concepts, and your ability to evaluate
arguments. You should be able to identify and define the concepts listed below. You
should be able to evaluate written arguments and identify fallacies and modes of
argument (spheres, fields). You should be able to craft a clear argument, free of fallacies,
that advances a solid thesis, develops strong claims, supports claims with effective
evidence. The exam will consist of:
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Multiple choice questions
Fill in the blank questions
Short answer questions
Critical analysis of sample texts
An essay answer where you must develop a sound argument
Concepts
Chapter 1:
argument, claim, evidence, reasoning, level of dispute
Chapter 3:
argument spheres, argument fields, rhetorical situation, exigence,
Chapter 4:
fallacy, ad hominem, ad populum, appeal to tradition, straw
arguments, credibility, trustworthiness, identification (mentioned
in the book, but follow your lecture notes on this one)
Chapter 5:
equivocation, rhetorical function, emotive function, cognitive
function
Chapter 6:
propositions, issues, controversality, clarity, challenge, fact, value,
policy
Chapter 7:
begging the question, non sequitur, external and internal
consistency, reliability
Chapter 8:
quasilogial argument, analogy, generalization, causal argument,
coexistential argument, dissociation argument, Post hoc, Slippery
slope, Single-cause