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 sentences 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
