AP English Language AMSCO Guided Notes
5.1: Constructing Cohesive Arguments
AP English Language Guided Notes
AMSCO 5.1 - Constructing Cohesive Arguments
Essential Questions
- What role do body paragraphs play in laying out a line of reasoning?
I. Understand Writers guide understanding of a text's lines of reasoning and claims through that text's organization and integration of evidence
1. What is the relationship between a writer's organization of evidence and a reader's understanding of the argument's line of reasoning?
II. Argument and Line of Reasoning
1. How does the bridge metaphor explain the relationship between a writer's reasoning and a reader's comprehension of an argument?
2. What role do supporting claims, commentary, and evidence play in constructing a coherent argument?
III. 1.1 Functions of Body Paragraphs
A. Functions of Body Paragraphs
1. What are the primary functions that body paragraphs serve in an essay?
2. How does the pattern of claim, evidence, and commentary help ensure effective communication of an argument?
B. The Role of Supporting Claims in an Essay
1. What is a supporting claim and how does it relate to the overarching thesis of an essay?
2. Where can a topic sentence appear in a body paragraph, and what does it accomplish?
C. The Role of Topic Sentences in a Paragraph
1. What is the relationship between evidence and commentary in supporting a topic sentence's claim?
2. How does commentary explain a writer's reasoning and connect evidence to the overarching argument?
3. What is the difference between deductive and inductive arguments, and how does each structure evidence and claims?
D. Commentary bridges the evidence to the claim
1. Why is commentary often the most important part of supporting an argument?
2. How can the template 'This evidence proves [claim] because [explain how]' help writers provide effective commentary?
Key Terms
body paragraph
evidence
commentary
reasoning