In Third Place...

You've got to know how to argue. I know, isn't it great? Every teen has that rebellious streak in them--and with APLC, you're actually told to argue [with/about] things! Your parents were totally wrong when they told you that arguing/fighting would get you nowhere; an AP class is somewhere, right? Especially since it looks so good on a college application, and all~

So, arguing. It's a basic human nature, or so I've been told. People like to disagree. The thing is...arguing doesn't mean exactly what you think it means (Inconceivable!), in fact, it may just mean the exact opposite of what you think it means. Everything is an argument. Yes. Everything. My post is an argument. The fact that I think the food I had for dinner last night was a bit...shall we say...off...is an argument.

As a matter of fact, Monty Python put it really nicely. "An argument is a collective series of statements to establish a definite proposition." Or, in English (rather than smart-people jargon), an argument is an idea. Any idea that you can back up. Otherwise, it's just...sort of...a statement, I suppose. "Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contradictory position." That statement (which could be an argument!) is rather false. You could argue that you agree with something--as long as you can support it.

And, pray tell, how do you support that? Easily--there are only four different support types, after all. First, there are facts and statistics -- these ones are the most difficult sources to dispute. Next is authority, which is where you can prove that someone like, say, President Obama said something about the point you're trying to make. Third is an anecdote -- just any old personal experience. And the best part about that? You don't have to use your own personal story! It can be anyone's, as long as it's relevant to your topic, of course. And, finally, we have the support type of values. This can be any type of PERSONAL value; like religious beliefs, national beliefs, traditions, or anything like that. Not value like money, 'cause, you know, that would be difficult to do. "My opinion is worth fifty million; yours is only worth five bucks!" Okay, maybe not...but there would be a lot of hurt feelings, y'know.

If you don't think you'll need to know how to use arguments...well, enjoy being naive! There is not a single assignment in the AP Lang course that doesn't involve argumentation of some sort. Everything's an argument, remember?