Ideas in Argument

Name: Ideas in Argument
Author: John R. Williamson; Mary Jo Zell; Elizabeth Davis

First Edition©2022 John R. Williamson; Mary Jo Zell; Elizabeth Davis

About

As the former Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the College Board, nobody knows the AP® English Units like the person who led their development: John Williamson. Now, he and his team of AP® experts have written the first fully aligned complete resource for AP® English Language and Composition.

This innovative text, Ideas in Argument, builds skills and understanding by sequencing and scaffolding concepts carefully throughout the year. It also focuses on building context and exploring ideas to help students build strong arguments that wrestle with important ideas, not just broad topics. Each Unit includes brief, approachable skill workshops aligned to each Big Idea in the Course and Exam Description and to AP® Classroom. In addition, we’ve given students and teachers a wealth of diverse and high-interest texts, step-by-step writing instruction, and plenty of AP® Exam practice to guide students to success on the exam.

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UNIT 1: COMMUNICATING AN IDEA

Rhetorical Situation: The Writer’s Message
Queen Elizabeth II, History Will Remember Your Actions　　

Claims and Evidence: The Writer’s Claim
Stephen King, Why We Crave Horror Movies　

Reasoning and Organization: Narration and Description
Gary Soto, The Jacket　　

Language and Style: The Writer’s Tone
Trevor Noah, The World Doesn’t Love You　　

Putting it All Together: Modeled Text
Noah Spencer, Why I, a Heterosexual Teenage Boy Want to See More Men in Speedos (student writing)

Ideas in American Culture
    Colonization and Exploration
        William Bradford, from Of Plymouth Plantation
        N. Scott Momaday, from The Way to Rainy Mountain　　

    Faith and Doubt
        Jonathan Edwards, from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
        Langston Hughes, Salvation

Composition Workshop: Writing a Narrative
Brighton Earley, Finding the Flexibility to Survive (student model)　　

Rhetorical Situation: Creating a Message
Reasoning and Organization: Creating Unity
Claims and Evidence: Developing and Supporting a Thesis
Language and Style: Conveying an Attitude

Preparing for the AP® Exam

Free-Response Question: Rhetorical Analysis

Writing and Supporting a Defensible Thesis
Benjamin Franklin, from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Multiple-Choice Questions: Reading
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, from The Danger of a Single Story

Multiple-Choice Questions: Writing

UNIT 2: APPEALING TO AN AUDIENCE

Rhetorical Situation: Considering the Audience
Kamala Harris, I Will Not Be the Last　　

Claims and Evidence: Relevant and Sufficient Evidence
Steve Rushin, Give the Kids a Break　　

Reasoning and Organization: Persuasion
Tenzin Namgyak, Why Diversity Is Necessary for Democracy (student writing)

Language and Style: Syntactical Choices for Effect
George W. Bush, Address to Nation on September 20, 2001　　

Putting it All Together: Modeled Text
Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Don’t Understand the Protests? What You Are Seeing Is People Pushed to the Edge　　

Ideas in American Culture

    Reason and Revolution
        Patrick Henry, Speech to the Virginia Convention　　
        Harvey Milk, You’ve Got to Have Hope　

    Patriotism and Democracy
        Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, Number 1　　
        Donald Kagan, On Patriotism　　

Composition Workshop: Writing a Persuasive Argument

Kalindi Desai, Phones Create Barriers between Peers (student essay)　

Claims and Evidence: Selecting Relevant Evidence

Rhetorical Situation: Appealing to an Audience

Reasoning and Organization: Developing a Line of Reasoning

Language and Style: Creating Emphasis Through Syntax

Preparing for the AP® Exam

Free-Response Question: Argument

Establishing a Line of Reasoning

Multiple-Choice Questions: Reading
John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address　　

Multiple-Choice Questions: Writing

UNIT 3: UNDERSTANDING CONTEXT

Rhetorical Situation: The Rhetorical Context
William McRaven, Make Your Bed　　

Claims and Evidence: Sources of Evidence
Bryan Stevenson, Mockingbird Players　

Reasoning and Organization: Exposition: Process Argument
J.J. Goode, Single-Handed Cooking　　

Language and Style: Transitions
Emma Chiu, Driving: It's Going Out of Style (student writing)

Putting It All Together: Modeled Text
Chris Daly, How the Lawyers Stole Winter　　

Ideas in American Culture
    The Individual and Nature　
        Ralph Waldo Emerson, from Nature　
        Rachel Carson, The Obligation to Endure　

　The Individual and Society
Henry David Thoreau, from Walden　
E.B. White, Walden

Composition Workshop: Writing a Process Argument

Alex Kucich, It’s Time for America to Start Feeling the Love for Ultimate Frisbee (student model)

Rhetorical Situation: Establishing Context

Claims and Evidence: Establishing a Purpose

Reasoning and Organization: Explaining Relevance

Language and Style: Using Transitions

Preparing for the AP® Exam

Free-Response Question: Synthesis　

Incorporating Evidence From Sources: Work Experience for Teens

    Source A: Jessica Dickler, Why So Few Teenagers Have Jobs Anymore
    Source B: Helen Thomson, Why Adolescents Put Themselves First　
    Source C: Abigail Hess, Young People Are Less Likely to Hold Summer Jobs Now—Here's What They're Doing Instead　　
    Source D: Grace Chen, Should Public Schools Provide Students With Vocational Opportunities　　

Multiple-Choice Questions: Reading
Wendell Berry, from The Agrarian Standard　

Multiple-Choice Questions: Writing

UNIT 4: ANALYZING PURPOSE

Rhetorical Situation: Multiple Purposes
Patrick Wang, Why We Should Teach the Truth about American History (student writing)

Claims and Evidence: Function of Evidence
Alyssa Biederman, Melina Walling, and Sarah Siock, Meet Gen Z Activists　

Reasoning and Organization: Exposition: Definition Argument
Hector St. John Crevocoeur, What Is an American?

Language and Style: Eliminating Ambiguity
Amy Harmon, "They" Is the Word of the Year, Merriam-Webster Says, Noting Its Singular Rise　　

Putting it All Together: Modeled Text
Barack Obama, 2008 Election Victory Speech　

Ideas in American Culture
    Division and Unity
        Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address　
        Milton Friedman and Rose Friedman, from Free to Choose: A Personal Statement　

    Equality and Social Discontent
        Frederick Douglass, What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?
        Barbara Kingsolver, #MeToo Isn’t Enough: Now Women Need to Get Ugly　

Composition Workshop: Writing a Definition Argument

Zoie Taylore, Redefining Ladylike (student model)

Rhetorical Situation: Connecting Audience and Purpose

Reasoning and Organization: Explaining Significance

Claims and Evidence: Selecting Purposeful Evidence

Language and Style: Eliminating Ambiguity

Preparing for the AP® Exam

Free-Response Question: Rhetorical Analysis

Writing Commentary
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Testimony before House Judiciary Committee

Multiple-Choice Questions: Reading
Colin Powell, Address at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the US Diplomacy Center　

Multiple-Choice Questions: Writing

UNIT 5: CREATING COHERENCE

Rhetorical Situation: The Writer’s Exigence
PINK, MTV Video Music Awards Speech　

Claims and Evidence: Unity and Coherence
Kendrick Lamar, He Was Telling a Different Kind of Truth Statement Dictated to Paper Magazine

Reasoning and Organization: Causal Arguments
Melena Ryzik, How Sesame Street Started a Musical Revolution

Language and Style: Syntax for Emphasis
Narain Dubey, Breaking the Blue Wall of Silence: Changing the Social Narrative about Policing in America (student writing) 　　　　　

Putting It All Together: Modeled Text
Madison Moore, Tina Theory: Notes on Fierceness

Ideas in American Culture
    Place and Values
        Mark Twain, from Life on the Mississippi
        Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts, from Harlem is Nowhere

    Opportunity and Oppression
        Upton Sinclair, from The Jungle　
        J.D. Vance, from Hillbilly Elegy　

Composition Workshop: Writing a Causal Argument

Keegan Lindell, Why I, a High School Football Player, Want to see Tackle Football Taken Away (student model)

Rhetorical Situation: Writing an Introduction

Reasoning and Organization: Unifying an Argument

Claims and Evidence: Connecting Relevant Evidence

Language and Style: Using Subordination and Coordination

Preparing for the AP® Exam

Free-Response Question: Argument

Creating Unity and Coherence

Multiple-Choice Questions: Reading
Corrie Ten Boom, from The Hiding Place　　

Multiple-Choice Questions: Writing

UNIT 6: ESTABLISHING AND EVALUATING CREDIBILITY

Rhetorical Situation: The Writer’s Credibility
Tre Johnson, Black Superheroes Matter　　

Claims and Evidence: Strategic Evidence
Dan Barber, What Farm-to-Table Got Wrong　　

Reasoning and Organization: Exposition: Classification/Division Argument
Mindy Kaling, Women in Romantic Comedies Who Are Not Real　

Language and Style: Precision of Language
Richard Wright, A Hunger for Books

Putting It All Together: Modeled Text
Greta Thunberg, Speech at the U.N. Climate Action Summit　　

Ideas in American Culture
    Endurance and Expression　
        William Faulkner, Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech　　
        Lin Manuel Miranda, What Artists Can Do　　　

    Wealth and Poverty
        Andrew Carnegie, The Gospel of Wealth　　
        Christian H. Cooper, Why Poverty Is Like a Disease　　

Composition Workshop: Writing a Classification/Division Argument

Josh C., A Massacre of Art (student model)

Claims and Evidence: Synthesizing Evidence

Reasoning and Organization: Arranging Reasons and Evidence

Rhetorical Situation: Establishing Credibility

Language and Style: Using Precise Diction

Preparing for the AP® Exam

Free-Response Question: Synthesis

Synthesizing Evidence from Sources: Citizen Journalism

    Source A: Jason Tanz, Journalism Fights for Survival in the Post-Truth Era　　
    Source B: Tony Rogers, Understanding Citizen Journalism　
    Source C: Chris Hogg, Is There Credibility in Citizen Journalism
    Source D: Gracy Olmstead, Verifying Content on Facebook Is the User’s Responsibility　
    Source E: Pew Research Center, One-Sided and Inaccurate News Seen as the Biggest Problems with News on Social Media (infographic)
    Source F: Gary Varvel, Excuse Me (cartoon)　

Multiple-Choice Questions: Reading
Franklin D. Roosevelt, The New Deal Speech　

Multiple-Choice Questions: Writing

UNIT 7: COMPARING PERSPECTIVES　　

Rhetorical Situation: Nuance, Complexity, and Contradictions
Ryan Kim, This is Us, It Has Always Been: The Myth of American Exceptionalism (student writing)

Claims and Evidence: Qualification and Concession
Tim Sprinkle, Do Robots Deserve Legal Rights?　　

Reasoning and Organization: Evaluation Comparison/Contrast Argument
Suzanne Britt, Neat People vs. Sloppy People　　

Language and Style: Syntax for Purpose
Colson Whitehead, The "Loser Edit" That Awaits Us All　

Putting It All Together: Modeled Text
Tommy Orange, How Native American Is Native American Enough?　　

Ideas in American Culture
    Identity and Identities
        Ralph Ellison, from Hidden Name and Complex Fate
        Durga Chew-Bose, Tan Lines

    Justice and Civil Disobedience
        Martin Luther King, Letter from Birmingham Jail
        Edward Snowden, Why I Became a Whistleblower

Composition Workshop: Writing an Evaluation Argument Using Comparison and Contrast

Riley Stevenson, Climate Activists Must Fight for System Change and Individual Change (student model)　

Rhetorical Situation: Introducing and Concluding an Argument

Reasoning and Organization: Connecting Reasons and Evidence

Claims and Evidence: Qualifying an Argument

Language and Style: Crafting Purposeful Syntax

Preparing for the AP® Exam

Free-Response Question: Rhetorical Analysis

Explaining Significance
Rosa Parks, Quiet Strength

Multiple-Choice Questions: Reading
Natalie Goldberg, from Writing Down the Bones　

Multiple-Choice Questions: Writing

UNIT 8: EXPLAINING COMPLEXITIES

Rhetorical Situation: The Dynamic Rhetorical Situation

Preminda Jacob, Banksy and the Art of Destroying Art

Claims and Evidence: Counterarguments: Refutation and Rebuttal
Molly Ivins, Guns: Ban the Things. Ban Them All.

Reasoning and Organization: Evaluation: Problem/Solution Argument
Paul Jankowski, Are We So Connected That We’re Disconnected? Three Ways to Break through the Clutter

Language and Style: Identifying Contrast and Incongruity
Lydia Wei, Trendy Restaurant Menu (student writing)

Putting It All Together: Modeled Text
Kevin Roose, Don't Scoff at Influencers. They're Taking Over the World　　

Ideas in American Culture
    Mind and Matter
        Stephen Hawking, Questioning the Universe　　
        Mary Roach, from Stiff

    Criticism and Critique
        Horace Miner, Body Ritual Among the Nacirema　　
        The Onion, Wealthy Teen Nearly Experiences Consequence　　

Composition Workshop: Writing an Evaluation Argument that Proposes a Solution

Walter Li, Self-Care Alone Will Not Fix The System (student model)

Rhetorical Situation: Addressing Complexity

Reasoning and Organization: Justifying a claim

Claims and Evidence: Developing a Counterargument

Language and Style: Connecting with an Audience Through Stylistic Choices

Preparing for the AP® Exam

Free-Response Question: Argument

Acknowledging and Responding to Opposing Arguments

Multiple-Choice Questions: Reading
Ronald Reagan, Tear Down This Wall

Multiple-Choice Questions: Writing

UNIT 9: JOINING THE CONVERSATION　

Rhetorical Situation: Understanding the Rhetorical Situation
Dan Crensaw, Five Lessons That Veterans Can Teach Us

Claims and Evidence: Biases and Limitations of Evidence
Matthew S. Williams, Are Space Habitats the Wave of the Future　　

Organization and Development: Multimodal Arguments
John Barry, It’s All a Part of the Game　

Language and Style: Voice and Complexity
Ingrid Marie Geerken, Once Upon a Falling October (student writing)

Putting It All Together: Modeled Text
Toni Morrison, Be Your Own Story　　

Ideas in American Culture
    Truth and Consequences
        Barbara Ehrenreich, In America, Only the Rich Can Afford to Write about Poverty
        Scientific American, Truth in Journalism　

    Technology and Globalization　
        Thomas Friedman, The World Is Flat　
        Fareed Zakaria, Everyone Seems to Agree, Globalization Is a Sin. They're Wrong

Composition Workshop: Writing a Multimodal Argument

Nati Duron, Quiet Confidence: Introverts and the Power of Silence (student model)

Rhetorical Situation: Acknowledging Multiple Perspectives

Reasoning and Organization: Unifying an Argument Across Multiple Methods of Development

Claims and Evidence: Synthesizing Evidence

Language and Style: Establishing a Voice

Preparing for the AP® Exam

Free-Response Question: Synthesis

    Demonstrating Complexity: The Value of Liberal Arts
    Source A: Lynn Pasquerella, Yes, Employers Do Value Liberal Arts Education
    Source B: Robert Reich, A Four Year College Degree is Not Preparing People for Today’s Jobs　
    Source C: Daniel Bortz, Skills Employers Look For in College Graduates
    Source D: Richard Vedder, Jonathan Robe, and Christopher Denhart, The Value of a College Degree is Diminishing Over Time　　
    Source E: Association of American Colleges and Universities, Employer Research Supports High Impact Learning Practices (infographic)
    Source F: Committee for Economic Development, Business Supporting College and Career Readiness (infographic)

Multiple-Choice Questions: Reading
E.O. Wilson, The Bird of Paradise　　

Multiple-Choice Questions: Writing

GLOSSARY/GLOSARIO
GUIDE TO MLA, APA, AND CSE DOCUMENTATION STYLES
INDEX

Authors

John R. Williamson

John R. Williamson is the Dean of K-12 Programs and Superintendent of Model Laboratory School at Eastern Kentucky University where he also continues to teach both AP® English courses. Prior to this role, John served as the Vice President of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for The College Board’s AP® Program where he led the transformation of all 38 AP® courses and exams, including both AP® English Language and AP® English Literature. For over 20 years John has led workshops across the country as an AP® faculty consultant and trainer. Additionally, he has experience as a reader and table leader for both AP® English exams. John has taught courses at all high school levels as well as both undergraduate and graduate courses in composition, rhetoric, linguistics, and literature.

Mary Jo Zell

A teacher for almost thirty years, Mary Jo Zell currently serves as the English department chair at Keller High School in Keller, Texas, where she teaches AP® English Language, AP® English Literature, and Dual Credit English. She is also an adjunct professor at Tarrant County Community College. She has been a reader and table leader for the AP® English Language Exam for the last 18 years. She served on the AP® English Literature Instructional Design Team and is an AP® faculty consultant who has conducted national and international workshops and summer institutes.

Elizabeth A. Davis

Elizabeth Davis has taught English for more than three decades for Round Rock ISD and College Station ISD, where she also served as English Department Chair for many years. She has been a reader for the AP® English Language Exam and served on the AP® Literature Instructional Design Team. For over twenty years, she has served as an AP® faculty consultant, conducting workshops in both AP® English Language and AP® English Literature.

Fully Aligned to the CED. Written by the People Who Know It Best.