AWA Rhetorical Strategies and Persuasion Flashcards
6 cards from real AWA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 AWA Rhetorical Strategies and Persuasion flashcards as text
What is the primary purpose of using analogies in an AWA essay?
Answer: To make an abstract or complex idea more concrete and accessible
Analogies map familiar concepts onto unfamiliar ones, helping readers grasp and accept complex arguments.
What does 'hedging language' accomplish in academic and AWA writing?
Answer: It acknowledges the limits of a claim, making it more defensible and precise
Words like 'often,' 'in many cases,' and 'tends to' narrow the scope of a claim so it is harder to refute.
Which rhetorical strategy involves using specific examples to support a general claim?
Answer: Inductive reasoning
Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations or examples to a broader generalization, a common and effective AWA strategy.
In an AWA essay, what is the function of a 'concession'?
Answer: To acknowledge a valid point from the opposing view before reinforcing your own position
A concession shows fairness and intellectual honesty by granting merit to a counterpoint before explaining why your overall argument still holds.
What distinguishes a persuasive argument from mere assertion in an AWA essay?
Answer: A persuasive argument provides reasons and evidence; an assertion states a claim without support
Bare assertions declare a position without justification; persuasion requires reasons, evidence, and logical connections to the claim.
Which sentence structure is most effective for emphasizing a key point in an AWA essay?
Answer: A short, declarative sentence placed after a series of longer, supporting sentences
A short, direct sentence stands out amid longer ones and signals to the reader that this point is central to the argument.