Essay Terms

Question 1

Hook

Answer 1

-initial attention getter

Question 2

Central Idea

Answer 2

-the core of the writer’s assertion

Question 3

Thesis

Answer 3

-outline of writer’s proofs

Question 4

Topic Sentence

Answer 4

-focus of paragraph, part of thesis

Question 5

Structure

Answer 5

-introduction, body conclusion

Question 6

Expository Essay

Answer 6

-presentation of information, facts, ideas

Question 7

Persuasive Essay

Answer 7

-presentation to convince reader

Question 8

Descriptive Essay

Answer 8

-single clear picture of person, place, thing, or idea

Question 9

Narrative Essay

Answer 9

-tells a story

Question 10

Literary Criticism

Answer 10

-analyzes and comments on literature

Question 11

Formalist Criticism

Answer 11

• Emphasizes the work as an independent creation utilizing personal response and close examination of the work
• dominant from 30’s to 70’s; most often used with student criticism

Question 12

Deconstructive Criticism

Answer 12

• opposite of formalist criticism

- seeks to reveal author’s social, cultural, or philosophical assumptions by close examination of the text

Question 13

Historical Criticism

Answer 13

• Works are studied with historical context

- example: the study of Macbeth would involve Elizabethan attitudes towards ghosts

Question 14

Psychological Criticism

Answer 14

-utilizes Freudian theories and psychoanalytic interpretations

Question 15

Gender Criticism

Answer 15

-feminist and gay criticism reflecting cultural framework