Glossary

Abstract – A brief summary of a longer text, usually used in academic papers to present the main idea and findings.

Active Voice – A sentence structure where the subject performs the action (e.g., “The writer composed the essay”).

Adjective – A word that describes or modifies a noun (e.g., clear, important, academic).

Adverb – A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., quickly, very, carefully).

Argument – A reasoned claim or set of claims supported by evidence intended to persuade an audience.

Audience – The specific group of readers or viewers a writer addresses.

Brainstorming – A method of generating ideas in a free-flowing manner before organizing them into a structure.

Cause and Effect – A rhetorical mode that explains relationships between actions/events and their consequences.

Citation – Formal reference to a source of information, used to give credit and avoid plagiarism.

Clause – A group of words containing a subject and verb; can be independent (a complete sentence) or dependent (incomplete).

Classification – A writing technique that groups subjects into categories based on shared characteristics.

Cliché – An overused phrase or idea that has lost its original impact or meaning.

Clarity – The quality of being easily understood; a key goal in academic and professional writing.

Coherence – Logical flow and unity among ideas in a paragraph or essay.

Conclusion – The final paragraph or section of an essay, which summarizes the main ideas and reinforces the thesis.

Connotation – The emotional or cultural meaning associated with a word, beyond its dictionary definition.

Content – The ideas, arguments, and evidence presented in a piece of writing.

Context – The circumstances or background that influence the meaning of a text.

Conventions – Accepted rules in writing regarding grammar, punctuation, formatting, and style.

Counterargument – An opposing viewpoint presented to strengthen a writer’s argument by addressing and refuting it.

Credibility – The reliability or trustworthiness of a source or writer.

Diction – The choice and use of words in writing, which affects tone, clarity, and audience engagement.

Description – A rhetorical mode using sensory details to create vivid imagery or convey a mood.

Drafting – The stage of the writing process when a writer produces a complete version of a text.

Editing – Refining a draft to correct surface-level issues such as grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Essay – A short piece of writing on a particular subject, usually expressing the writer’s argument or perspective.

Evidence – Support for an argument, claim, or thesis, drawn from facts, examples, statistics, or expert opinions.

Expository Writing – Writing that explains, informs, or clarifies, using facts rather than opinions.

Fragment – An incomplete sentence that lacks a subject, verb, or complete thought.

Freewriting – A prewriting strategy where a writer writes continuously for a set period without concern for grammar or structure.

Grammar – The system of rules governing the structure of sentences, including syntax, punctuation, and word use.

Hook – An engaging opening sentence or question designed to capture the reader’s attention.

Introduction – The opening section of an essay, which presents the topic, background, and thesis.

Logical Fallacy – An error in reasoning that weakens an argument (e.g., slippery slope, ad hominem).

Narration – A rhetorical mode that tells a story or relates a sequence of events.

Note-taking – The practice of recording key ideas from readings or lectures for later reference in writing.

Outlining – Creating a structured plan that organizes main ideas and supporting details before drafting.

Paragraph – A unit of writing made up of related sentences focused on a single idea.

Paraphrasing – Rewriting source information in your own words while preserving the original meaning.

Passive Voice – A sentence structure where the subject receives the action (e.g., “The essay was written by the student”).

Peer Review – A process in which classmates or colleagues provide feedback on each other’s drafts to improve content and clarity.

Plagiarism – The act of using someone else’s words or ideas without proper attribution.

Point of View – The perspective from which a text is written (e.g., first person, third person).

Prewriting – The stage of the writing process involving idea generation and planning.

Process Essay – A mode of writing that explains how something works or how to do something, step-by-step.

Pronoun – A word that takes the place of a noun (e.g., he, she, they, it).

Purpose – The reason for writing a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain.

Quotation – The exact words taken from a source and enclosed in quotation marks.

Revising – The process of improving a draft by rethinking ideas, organization, and clarity.

Rhetoric – The art of effective or persuasive communication, especially in writing and speaking.

Rhetorical Mode – A pattern or structure for organizing writing, such as narration, description, or argumentation.

Run-on Sentence – Two or more independent clauses joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.

Sentence Variety – The use of different sentence structures to enhance writing style and readability.

Source – Any book, article, website, or document used to gather information for research writing.

Structure – The arrangement of ideas and paragraphs in a coherent, logical manner.

Summary – A brief restatement of the main points of a text in the reader’s own words.

Syntax – The arrangement of words and phrases to form grammatically correct sentences.

Thesis Statement – A single, concise sentence that clearly expresses the central argument or focus of an essay.

Tone – The writer’s attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice and style.

Topic Sentence – The sentence in a paragraph that expresses the main idea of that paragraph.

Transition – A word, phrase, or sentence that connects ideas and helps maintain flow in writing.

Verb – A word that expresses an action or a state of being.

Voice (Writer's Voice) – The distinctive tone and style that comes through in a writer’s work, often influenced by diction and sentence structure.

Works Cited / References – A list of sources cited in a paper, formatted according to a style guide like MLA or APA.