A Glossary of Terms

Argument

An argument is made up of a logically developed series of claims. According to Webster’s Dictionary, an argument is “a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating the truth or falsehood of something.” (Does the argument as presented make sense? Does the author give enough substantial evidence to support the claims made?).

Claim

According to Webster’s Dictionary, a claim is “an assertion open to challenge.” Once you identify the specific claims made by the author of each passage, you should be able to identify each author’s main idea.

Main Idea

The main idea is the most important thought about the text. To figure out the main idea, ask yourself this question: What is being said about the person, thing, or idea (the topic)? The main idea is usually the first sentence. The writer then uses the rest of the opening paragraph to support the main idea.

Supporting Evidence

Supporting evidence refers to statements of fact made to support a claim. The evidence for a claim includes the facts or information on which the claim rests.

Validity, Relevance, Sufficiency

• What is meant by “validity, relevance, and sufficiency of evidence used to support each claim?”
• Is the evidence valid? Is it hard evidence and not weak? Is the evidence sound evidence that stands up to being challenged?
• Is the evidence relevant? Does it relate to the claim? Is it to the point that the author is making? To what extent does it support the author’s claim?
• Is the evidence sufficient? Is there enough evidence to support the author’s claim?

Expository Writing

In expository writing, you seek to explain. You set out to explain something that you assume your reader does not yet know or fully understand.

Expository Essay

The expository essay requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, explain the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. This can be accomplished in many ways including comparison and contrast, definition, example, and the analysis of cause and effect.

Context Clues

Context clues are hints found within a sentence, paragraph or passage that help you understand the meaning of a new word or an unfamiliar word.

Tone

Tone is the way authors express their attitude through their writing. The tone may be consistent throughout the passage. The author’s tone can also shift, sometimes quickly, depending on the purpose of the passage. 

Transitions

Transitions are like bridges between parts of your writing. They are cues that help the reader to interpret the ideas you are developing. Transitional devices are words or phrases that help carry a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another. Finally, transitional devices link sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas. 

Topic Sentence

A topic sentence or thesis statement is a single sentence that states both your topic and your point of view.A topic sentence broadly indicates the argument of the paragraph. Although not all paragraphs have clear-cut topic sentences, an easy way to make sure your reader understands the topic of the paragraph is to put your topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph.

Introductory Paragraph

The introductory paragraph of an essay has several functions:

• Setting the context by providing general information about the main idea
  and introducing the topic
• Stating why the main idea is important by describing its significance to the reader
• Stating your thesis by composing a sentence stating the position you will support

Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs include specific detailed evidence to support the writer’s argument. These paragraphs also explain how and why the information you have provided connects to and supports your thesis.

Concluding Paragraph

A concluding paragraph wraps up what you have been discussing. Your conclusion should restate your thesis statement from paragraph one and the main points of your argument. A concluding paragraph never contains new information or a counterclaim.

Counterclaim

In order to present a fair and convincing message you may need to anticipate some of the arguments that dispute your thesis. A counterclaim provides another perspective on your thesis. Counterclaims can begin with transitional phrases such as “However,” or “Conversely” or a simple “But.”

Organization

Organization, also referred to as structure, is the logical progression and completeness of ideas in writing. When writing is well-organized, sentences and paragraphs are connected into a clear and concise essay. A well-organized piece of writing helps readers understand the purpose of the essay by making the sentences and paragraphs logical and clear.

Inference and Implication

To imply is to hint at something, but to infer is to make an educated guess. A speaker or writer does the implying, and a listener does the inferring. If a speaker or writer implies something, she is suggesting it in an indirect way rather than making a definite statement. As a reader or listener a person draws his own conclusions from what has been said or hinted.

Critical Reading

Critical reading involves carefully evaluating a text by identifying the connections between claims and evidence. You are actively responding by asking questions about the reading’s strengths and weaknesses in the argument presented.

The Writing Process

The writing process is a series of overlapping stages that most writers follow in composing texts. It is also called the composing process. The writing process may lead to successive versions of a piece of writing as it goes through various stages of drafting and revising until it is completed.

Also visit the Purdue OWL.