Informative Essay Vocabulary Terms
source
A book, article, text, website, image, or other resource consulted for information.
Citation
A written reference to a specific SOURCE work (book, article, dissertation, report, musical composition, etc.) identifies the document in which the work may be found.
Informative Essay
An essay that gives the reader information and facts about a topic.
Body Paragraph
An informative essay will have three (3). Each body paragraph will explain a different key idea that supports the main topic/thesis of the essay. Body paragraphs have a topic sentence and text evidence facts (quotations) and elaboration of the evidence.
What do you highlight or underline in the texts?
Answers to the prompt questions
Direct Quote
Copying a text word for word exactly as the author wrote it without using quotation marks. Not using quotation marks for direct word for word copying is PLAGIARISM - intellectual theft = ZERO credit!
Evidence
Details from articles and media sources, including facts, examples, and reasons to support the topic sentences and key ideas in the essay.
supporting details/evidence
Details/evidence from the source articles that help to explain the topic sentence.
Essay Structure/Outline
Includes 5 paragraphs: • Introduction - introduces the topic and clearly states the thesis. • 3 body paragraphs- each explains a different key idea • Conclusion - Restates thesis and summarizes key ideas
Thesis statement
MOST IMPORTANT in the intro paragraph. It describes what your entire essay will be about. (Main Topic + 3 Key Ideas) - gets restated in conclusion.
Plagiarism
Taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas. This includes using direct quotes and paraphrased information without using an in-text citation of the original source. Plagiarism = NO CREDIT
Introduction Paragraph
The first paragraph of an essay includes a hook, a lead or background information, and a thesis.
Conclusion Paragraph
The last paragraph in an essay. Rewords the thesis statement, the main points of the essay, and ends with a clincher/closing statement.
Elaboration or analysis sentence starters can be ...
This explains, proves, demonstrates
Elaboration / analysis
To explain the evidence in greater detail, i.e. give examples.
Paraphrase
To restate something in your own words. Still needs a source of the information. >>>Using ideas from a text without the source is PLAGARISM - intellectual theft = no credit!
A body paragraph contains...
Transition Word or Phrase, Topic Sentence, Evidence, Analysis or Elaboration, Wrap up Sentence
Hook/Background Information
the beginning of an essay designed to grab the reader's attention and introduce the topic by giving background information about the topic. Found in Introduction Paragraph.
transition words
words and phrases that provide a connection between ideas, sentences and paragraphs
Formal Writing
writing that is grammatically correct, proper; used in most letters, books, essays, and textbooks
