Name: ______Period: ______Date: ______

“Why War?” Persuasive Academic Vocabulary

Term / Definition/Explanation / Example/Word in Context
English Persuasive Words
argument (n.)
to argue (v.) / a reasons that show something is true/untrue, right/wrong / She had a powerful argument against ______.
audience (n.) / a person that is reading or listening to a piece of writing / ______is geared towards a youth audience.
counterargument (n.) / reasons that show the opposite of an argument / The _____ debate showed off the counterargument.
evidence (n.) / facts or signs that show clearly whether something is true / The thumbprint was evidence in the ______.
pro (n.)
con (v.) / the advantages and disadvantages of something / We discussed the pros and consof ______.
Content Words
genocide (n.) / the deliberate murder of a race of people / Hitler committed genocide against the ______.
internment (n.)
to inter (v.) / keeping people in prison during wartime for political reasons / The protesters were put into an internment ______.
to repeal (v.)
repeal (n.) / when a government officially ends a law / In 1865, the U.S. repealed laws that used to allow ______.
gender (n.) / being either male or female / It’s ______to discrimate against a certain gender.
sexism (n.)
sexist (adj.) / unfairly treating one sex/gender better than another / The boss was sexist, always hiring men for the job, because he thought ______were too weak.
sexual orientation (n.) / being either heterosexual or homosexual / The ______candidates have talked a lot about rights based on sexual orientation.
homophobia (n.)
homophobic (adj.) / hatred and fear of homosexuals / Many believe “______Ask, ______Tell” was developed out a type of homophobia.
citizen (n.)
citizenship (n.) / someone who legally belongs to a country, having certain rights / Mr. Nittle’s father was a citizen of ______.
immigrant (n.) / someone who enters another country to live there permanently / The ______is called a “melting pot,” because it is a nation of immigrants.
prejudice (n.)
prejudiced (adj.) / unreasonable like/dislike of people different from you / Prejudice can include ______, sexism, classism and homophobia.

“Why War?” Persuasive Academic Vocabulary – Teacher Version

Term / Definition/Explanation / Example/Word in Context
English Response to Literature Words
argument (n.)
to argue (v.) / a reasons that show something is true/untrue, right/wrong / She had a powerful argument against smoking.
audience (n.) / a person that is reading or listening to a piece of writing / Twilight is geared towards a youth audience.
counterargument (n.) / reasons that show the opposite of an argument / The tv debate showed off the counterargument.
evidence (n.) / facts or signs that show clearly whether something is true / The thumbprint was evidence in the trial.
pro (n.)
con (v.) / the advantages and disadvantages of something / We discussed the pros and consof coffee.
Content Words
genocide (n.) / the deliberate murder of a race of people / Hitler committed genocide against the Jews.
internment (n.)
to inter (v.) / keeping people in prison during wartime for political reasons / The protesters were put into an internment camp.
to repeal (v.)
repeal (n.) / when a government officially ends a law / In 1865, the U.S. repealed laws that used to allow slavery.
gender (n.) / being either male or female / It’s illegal to discrimate against a certain gender.
sexism (n.)
sexist (adj.) / unfairly treating one sex/gender better than another / The boss was sexist, always hiring men for the job, because he thought women were too weak.
sexual orientation (n.) / being either heterosexual or homosexual / The presidential candidates have talked a lot about rights based on sexual orientation.
homophobia (n.)
homophobic (adj.) / hatred and fear of homosexuals / Many believe “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was developed out a type of homophobia.
citizen (n.)
citizenship (n.) / someone who legally belongs to a country, having certain rights / Mr. Nittle’s father was a citizen of Spain.
immigrant (n.) / someone who enters another country to live there permanently / The United States is called a “melting pot,” because it is a nation of immigrants.
prejudice (n.)
prejudiced (adj.) / unreasonable like/dislike of people different from you / Prejudice can include racism, sexism, classism and homophobia.