Argument

Source

A book, article, website, person, or piece of media that contains information is considered a source.

Counterclaim

A reasonable argument that opposes or disagrees with another claim

Precise claims

A specific claim with clear language

Transitions

A word, phrase, or clause that links one idea to the next to create cohesion.

Logical fallacy

An error in reasoning that makes an argument invalid

Fallacious reasoning

An invalid, or incorrect, argument

Thesis

Another word for claim, the sentence that controls the argument

Ethos

Appealing to readers by proving expertise or knowledge of a topic

Logos

Appealing to readers with facts or data

Pathos

Appealing to the emotions of readers

Valid reasoning

Arguments or claims that have a sound basis in logic and fact

Synthesize

Combine different ideas or information. Research projects require students to combine elements from multiple sources to show an understanding of the topic being researched or to make a point about the topic

Organization

Complex ideas and information arranged with clarity using effective transitions

Cohesion

Connection between sentences, paragraphs, and ideas in a text

Sufficient evidence

Enough info to prove the author's claims

Develop

Explore and reveal a central idea within a text using reasons, evidence, and details

Relevant evidence

Facts, details, or information related to the topic in the text and helps support the author's opinion, claim, and reasoning

Audience

For whom writing is written

Argumentative text

Form of writing where writer makes a claim and supports that claim with reasons and evidence

Extended definitions

Giving long explanations for complex terms, often including examples to help the audience understand the terminology and how it relates to the text and its central idea

Substantive topics

Important issues that impact many people or deal with a basic social issue

Summary

Including the main points of text in words not used before making clear to the reader how the points made throughout the text supported the central idea

Paraphrase

Information from a source that is rewritten in your own words and followed by a citation, used when clearer to use your own wording

Claim

Main statement or message, the sentence that controls the argument

Objective tone

Maintaining a neutral attitude in writing

Writing process

Most informational or technical pieces require hard work and revision before they can be considered ready, includes prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing, proofreading, and publishing

Authoritative source

One that has been written by an expert who is recognized in his or her field of expertise, government websites, public records, and peer-reviewed journals

Plagiarism

Presenting the words, works, or ideas of someone else as though they are one's own and without providing attribution to the author

Analysis

Process of looking closely at the small details of a topic, explanation, or argument to see how they work together and affect the whole

Call to action

Providing an opportunity for the audience to act on the argument, information, or explanation developed in the text, encouraging the audience to change their thought processes, research a topic further, see the broader implications of an idea, or think about something in a new way

Cause and effect

Relationship where one thing makes another thing happen

Repetition

Returning to a theme, idea, or scenario presented in the introduction to provides the audience with closure, going full circle

Formatting

Structuring writing in a way that will best communicate the writer's central idea, reasons, and details in order to prove a point

Problem and solution

Text that is organized by identifying a problem and proposing one or more solutions

Quotations

The exact copying of what a source said, word for word, put inside quotation marks and followed by a citation, used when important to preserve tone, accuracy, or voice

Research

The process of gathering information in order to learn more about a topic

Chronological order

The sequence a series of events happened

Order of importance

The structure of listing supporting details from most important to least important, or by least important to most important

Compare and contrast

The structure of putting together similarities and differences

Citation

The way the writer tells readers that certain details or information included in the text come from another source.

Relationships

The ways in which ideas are connected to clarify how claims and reasons or claims and counterclaims are related

Purpose

The writer's intention for his or her piece

Convey

To communicate complex ideas, concepts, and informational clearly and accurately

Examine

To inspect or investigate a topic and text closely to determine its nature, condition, rhetorical strategies, organization, complexity, and accuracy

Integrate

To put together key details and evidence from sources to show an understanding of the topic or issue

Accurate

To represent the information correctly, preserving facts, details, and intention of the original author of the source

Formal style

Used for academic and professional communications or for situations in which two individuals do not know each other well, often uses complex sentences and third-person point of view, and avoids punctuation that is meant to show emotion, such as exclamation points.

Informal style

Used in relaxed situations in which people know each other well, may use patterns of everyday speech, slang, simple sentences, contractions, and expressions of emotions

Persuasive rhetorical strategies

Using language to persuade, influence, or please the audience

Complex

When an idea, concept or information has many sides or aspects to it, these ideas often need more than a sentence or two to explain them properly

credible

believable; reliable

Impact

how the argument could affect the audience and on society as a whole

Concrete details

specific information, facts, and knowledge shared within a text in order to explain, inform, or prove a particular point, usually appeals to at least one of the reader's five senses and allows the reader to create a mental picture of the idea, concept, or argument being discussed

prompt

statements and questions that focus on a topic or issue to move you to respond

voice

the conscious choices a writer makes to develop his/her own style of writing

Significance

why the topic presented is important and why the audience should care about the issue presented

Concluding statement/section

writing that explains why the argument is important or significant or provides a call to action