Rhetorical terms · AP English Language, SAT Reading and Writing, ACT Reading
Line of reasoning
Line of reasoning: The logical sequence of claims that connects a thesis to its supporting evidence across an essay.
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What it means
A line of reasoning is the path an argument follows from its central claim through a series of supporting claims. Each body paragraph advances the argument a step, and the order of the steps matters: later points often build on earlier ones.
An essay can contain good evidence and still lack a line of reasoning if the paragraphs form a list of related points. The question to ask is whether each claim moves the argument forward.
Example
Thesis: cities should replace parking minimums with parking maximums. Line of reasoning: (1) parking minimums raise the cost of housing; (2) higher costs push residents farther from jobs; (3) longer commutes increase traffic, the problem minimums were supposed to solve.
On the exam
The top score in the AP Lang and AP Lit evidence and commentary row requires evidence that supports all claims in a line of reasoning.
Lessons and practice questions
Related terms
- ClaimAn arguable statement a writer asks the audience to accept, supported by reasons and evidence.
- Defensible thesisA thesis that takes a position on the prompt and can be supported with evidence and reasoning.
- CommentaryThe writer's explanation of how a piece of evidence supports a claim; the analysis that follows a quotation or example.