Essay Vocabulary Flashcards
Thesis
a statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved and answers a research question.
Research Question
Questions that arise after reading/viewing a piece of literature/narrative. It is the starting point of an essay and is to be answered directly by the thesis statement.
Claim
An opinion/proposition that the author “claims” to be true.
Proposition
A statement that the author is proposing for further scrutiny, possibly a proof.
Statement
A sentence that can either be true or false.
Topic Sentence
A sentence that expresses the main idea of the paragraph in which it occurs.
Paragraph
4+ sentences usually dealing with a single theme and indicated by a new line, indentation, or numbering.
Body Paragraph
units of text that offer supporting evidence to back up the thesis statement of an essay, report, or story. A good body paragraph contains three main sections: a topic sentence, relevant supporting sentences, and a closing (or transition) sentence. Any sentence should contain a quote.
Quote
Words/sentences enclosed by “” and are not the author’s own words.
Citation
providing the source to a quotation from a book, paper, or author, especially in a scholarly work.
Commentary
A detailed analysis of a passage/quote.
Transition
a word or phrase that connects one idea to another. This connection can occur within a paragraph or between paragraphs. Transitions are used to show how sen- tences or paragraphs are related to each other and how they relate to the overall theme of the paper.
Margin Note
Writing on the sides of a paper/text detailing a person’s thoughts about said paper/text.
Footnote
Supporting information printed at the bottom of the page that does not interrupt the flow to a piece.
