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section 2 / culminating activity
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Crafting an AP Argument Essay
Argument
Although the definition of consumerism is “the promotion of the interests of consumers,”
the term is associated with excessive acquisition of goods and services. Critics believe
that consumerist societies push people to work more than they should, borrow money
and accrue debt, and spend less time with family and friends than they otherwise would.
In an article in the Atlantic magazine, writer Amanda Mull claims that “Consumerism is
how Americans construct their identities, express their opinions, and mediate the drudg-
ery of everyday life.”

Write an essay that argues your position on the role of consumerism in the United States
today.

Developing Sophistication in an
Section 3 It’s likely that you’ve been writing pro-con lists for assignments since elementary school.
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AP Argument Essay

These lists are helpful when you want to see two sides of an issue and to identify the
strongest arguments for and against a proposal or an idea. In reality, though, an issue is
rarely two-sided. Complicated issues are complicated because there are many facets to

them and there is no straightforward answer to the questions they raise.

Exploring the Complexities or Tensions of an Argument
The complexity of an issue can also be described as its “nuance” or sometimes as its
“tensions.” When you capture those complexities throughout your argument, you move
the entire argument to a new level of sophistication — one that sees and evaluates the
facets to draw an informed, thoughtful conclusion. We call those arguments qualified
arguments, and they are sophisticated indeed. What follows are some ways to be sure
that your argument essays address those complexities.
Qualifying Your Argument: Considering Alternative Perspectives
Nearly all good arguments take other perspectives into consideration. In other words,

they are qualified arguments , which acknowledge the limitations of their claims and
positions. Qualifying your argument shows you are open-minded and considerate of
other views and makes your position more reasoned, and also more reasonable. If you’re
not sure whether your argument is qualified, check to make sure you haven’t used

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