Vocab List--for AWA
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22 Jan 2005, 08:25
I used to teach English exam prep classes for gr. 12 students writing the provincial exam (a canadian exam that greatly affects students' marks used for college application) and made a vocab list to help them "cheat" when writing literary analysis essays. I have revised the list a little bit to make it more suitable for the AWA section (mainly Argument). Hopefully it helps somebody here.
I grouped the words into different categories, but the meanings are not always exactly the same. If you are unsure about the definitions, make sure you check a dictionary and learn to use them properly.
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Vocab List:
Examine (an argument): inspect, assay, parse, probe, scrutinize, dissect, analyze, speculate, ruminate, assess, evaluate
Strengthen/Support: defend, advocate, assist, bolster, boost, reinforce, shore up, buttress, fortify, supplement, back up, defend, secure, heighten, magnify, extend, expand, enhance, build up, develop, cement, substantiate, corroborate
Fix/Improve (the argument): amend, ameliorate, remedy, adjust, reconstruct, redress, overcome
Explain/Demonstrate/ Clarify (a term): justify, rationalize, construe, evince, decipher, define, elucidate, explicate, expound, illustrate, refine, reveal, spell out, unravel, untangle, illuminate, satisfy reason, delineate, specify, prescribe, differentiate, articulate
Vague (terms): ambiguous, parry, equivocal, ill-defined, impalpable, imprecise, indefinite, lax, obscure, problematic, questionable, unexplicit, unintelligible, abstract, cryptic, dubious, opaque, inconceivable, impenetrable, incomprehensible
Prove/Affirm (evidence provided by the author): validate, verify, affirm, authenticate, certify, confirm, demonstrate, examine, make evident, manifest, uphold, authenticate, aver, certify, confirm, asseverate, warrant, establish, assure, attest, ascertain, establish, vindicate
Argue/Convince/Rebut: prompt, persuade, decoy, contend, debate, dispute, expostulate, contest, disprove, confute, appeal to, controvert, oppose, negate
Gather (more info): amalgamate, amass, assemble, collect, muster
Give specific info: exemplify, adduce, allege, enumerate, excerpt, extract, indicate, recite, recount, refer to, specify, spell out, detail,
Assumption: assume, presume, deduce, presuppose, presuppose
Emphasis: emphasize, focus, accentuate, underscore, highlight, pinpoint
Weaken/Flaw (how the problems have flawed the argument): attenuate, debilitate, cripple, handicap, undermine, water down, mar, impair, scant, warp, thwart
Weak argument/logic (what you can use when you want to say: "this argument sucks"): unconvincing, unimpressive, the argument doesn’t hold, flimsy, propaganda-like, diluted, limp, erroneous, fallacious, inadequate, amiss, invalid, illogical, ungrounded, lacks cogency, inchoate, convoluted,
Misleading (info): beguiling, deceptive, misleading, deceptive, disingenuous, duplicitous, dissembling
Good argument (what the argument can become after your brilliant suggestions): cogent, compelling, conclusive, convictive, convincing, credible, effective, efficient, eloquent, forceful, impelling, impressive, logical, potent, powerful, sound, stimulating, valid, poignant