AP English Language AMSCO Guided Notes
3.2: Line of Reasoning
AP English Language Guided Notes
AMSCO 3.2 - Line of Reasoning
Essential Questions
- As a reader, how can you determine if an argument's line of reasoning supports the thesis and is logical?
- As a writer, how can you organize a text to help communicate your line of reasoning?
- How are methods of development used to accomplish a writer's purpose?
- How can I use methods of development to advance my argumentative writing?
I. The Line of Logic
1. What is a line of reasoning and why is clarity and logic essential to an effective argument?
2. How do transitional words and phrases function in guiding readers through a writer's line of reasoning?
A. Common Reasoning Patterns
1. What is deductive reasoning and what signal words typically indicate this pattern?
2. How does inductive reasoning differ from deductive reasoning in building toward a conclusion?
3. What is causal reasoning and how do writers use it to explain relationships between events or ideas?
4. How does analogic or comparative reasoning work to support an argument?
II. Reasoning to a Claim or Thesis
1. How does inductive reasoning lead a reader from evidence to a thesis?
2. In Schlosser's excerpt about the food movement, what specific evidence does he present to support his thesis about two different food cultures?
III. Reasoning from a Claim or Thesis
1. How does deductive reasoning differ from inductive reasoning in the organization of an argument?
2. In Schlosser's paragraph about McDonald's Corporation, what claim does he establish and what types of evidence does he use to justify it?
IV. Commentary and Line of Reasoning
1. What role does commentary play in connecting evidence to claims within a line of reasoning?
2. How does commentary explain both the significance and relevance of evidence to support an argument?
3. In Swinburn's text about obesity prevention, how does his commentary show the connection between school cafeteria policies and broader eating patterns?
V. Sequencing Paragraphs
1. How does the sequence and organization of paragraphs in an essay reveal the writer's overall line of reasoning?
2. What is a supporting claim and how does each paragraph in a longer argument contribute to the overarching thesis?
3. In Schlosser's Fast Food Nation, how does the progression from introducing fast food's ubiquity to examining its effects on agriculture and rural areas develop his line of reasoning?
VI. Reasons and Consequences
1. What is the purpose of using cause-effect as a method of development in an argument?
2. What signal words indicate cause-effect relationships and how do they guide readers through reasoning?
3. How does Malala Yousafzai use cause-effect development in her UN speech to create an unexpected and powerful effect?
4. How can writers organize cause-effect development using multiple causes leading to one effect or one cause leading to multiple effects?
Key Terms
commentary
line of reasoning
relevance
sequence
significance
thesis