| alignment | The degree to which the purposes, goals, and methods of an inquiry are consistent with and support each other. |
| argument | A reasoned position supported by evidence and logic to convey a perspective, point of view, or version of the truth. |
| bias | A personal preference, prejudice, or inclination that may influence an author's interpretation of evidence and conclusions. |
| causal relationships | Connections that show how one element causes or directly influences another. |
| causality | The relationship between a cause and its effect, used as a purpose for organizing arguments. |
| claim | Statements or assertions that form the foundation of an argument and require support. |
| comparative relationships | Connections that show similarities and differences between elements of evidence. |
| concession | An acknowledgment of the validity or strength of an opposing argument or point. |
| conclusion | Final judgments or determinations reached through analysis of evidence in research. |
| context | The circumstances, background information, and existing knowledge in a field that frame and give meaning to a research question or project goal. |
| correlational relationships | Connections that show how two elements vary together without necessarily implying causation. |
| counterargument | Arguments that oppose or challenge the main argument's position. |
| credibility | The quality of being trustworthy and believable, which is enhanced through accurate and ethical attribution of sources. |
| deductive reasoning | A logical approach where a general claim is followed by specific evidence to support it. |
| evidence | Information, data, or examples used to support or prove claims in an argument, including facts, observations, predictions, analogies, and explanations. |
| fallacies | Errors in reasoning or flawed arguments used to persuade readers, often manipulatively. |
| generalization | A broad conclusion drawn from limited examples or data, which may not account for exceptions or complexity. |
| goal | The specific objectives or desired results that a researcher or artist aims to achieve through their inquiry or work. |
| implication | The potential consequences, applications, or broader significance of research findings. |
| inductive reasoning | A logical approach where specific evidence leads to a general conclusion. |
| internal coherence | The logical consistency and interconnectedness of elements within a study, work, or argument, where components align with and support each other. |
| limitation | Constraints, boundaries, or weaknesses in research methodology, data, or scope that affect the validity or applicability of conclusions. |
| line of reasoning | A clear, logical path that guides the audience through reasons and evidence to reach a conclusion. |
| logical alignment | The coherent connection between evidence, reasoning, and conclusions in an argument. |
| methods of inquiry | The systematic approaches, procedures, and techniques used to investigate questions or create artistic works. |
| nuance | Subtle distinctions, complexities, or shades of meaning within an argument. |
| opposing views | Alternative perspectives or counterarguments that differ from the main position being argued. |
| oversimplification | The reduction of a complex argument to an overly simple form that loses important details or nuance. |
| pattern | Recurring sequences, structures, or relationships identified in evidence. |
| purpose | The intended goal or objective of scholarly inquiry, which may be to address practical, theoretical, interpretive, or aesthetic problems. |
| qualitative evidence | Evidence based on descriptions, observations, and explanations rather than numerical data. |
| quantitative evidence | Evidence based on numerical data, statistics, and measurable information. |
| reason | Logical explanations that connect evidence to claims and support the argument's position. |
| rebuttal | A direct response or counter-response to an opposing argument or criticism. |
| refutation | A response that disproves or argues against an opposing claim or counterargument. |
| relevance | The quality of evidence being directly related to and supporting the specific claims or arguments being made. |
| tone | The writer's attitude or emotional stance toward a topic, conveyed through word choice and sentence structure. |
| trend | General directions or tendencies shown by data or evidence over time. |
| validity | The degree to which evidence is sound, reliable, and actually supports the claims being made. |