Literary Term Flashcards
Main idea
The writer’s most important point,opinion, or message
Supporting details
Specific information, examples, and facts that help a reader better understand the main idea of a piece of writing and make an argument believable
Author’s purpose
The purpose is the reason the writer wrote the piece. The piece was most likely written to entertain, inform, or persuade
Audience
The particular group of readers or viewers that the writer is addressing. A writer considers his or her audience when deciding on a subject, a purpose for writing, and the tone and style in which to write
Argument
A statement, reason, or fact for or against a point;this is what a writer tried to prove in an essay, especially a persuasive essay
Evidence
Details that support your claims and make you appear credible
Thesis statement
The central idea of an essay. The thesis is a complete sentence that establishes the topic of the essay in clear, unambiguous language
Logical appeal
Argument that speaks to a readers mind and/ or common sense and requires him or her to be reasonable
Emotional appeal
Argument that speaks to a reader’s emotions;it may be powerful, but writers must be careful not to make readers feel manipulated
Ethical appeal
Argument that appeals to a reader’s sense of ethics or moral values;it establishes that a source is trustworthy
Counter argument
When a writer acknowledges the arguments of those who might disagree with him or her and then shows why those arguments are wrong
Hook
A sentence at the beginning of an essay that grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to keep reading
Bibliography
A list of materials used to research a topic and/ or write a text
Synthesize
To combine information from a variety of sources
Compare
To identify similarities between two things
Contrast
To identify differences between two things
Research questions
A research question is one that can be answered using facts found though research. The more specific it is, the easier it it to answer
Primary source
A firsthand account of an event
Secondary source
A source that presents information compiled from or based on other sources
Generalization
A broad statement about an entire group
Opinion
A statement that reflects the writer’s or speaker’s belief, but which cannot be supported by proof or evidence
Fact
A statement that can be proved
Bias
A particular tendency or inclination that prevents fair consideration of a question; prejudice
Objective
Based on facts
Subjective
Includes a writer’s personal feelings and opinions
Credible
Believable
Reliable
From trustworthy source
Coherent
Logically connected; consistent
Logical order
When a writer arranges his or her ideas (or steps in a functional document) in an order that makes sense and is easy for a reader to follow
Heading
The title or caption of a page, chapter, or section
Graphics
A picture used to illustrate the information presented in a text
Subtitle
A secondary, usually explanatory, title of literary work
Chart
A visual representation of numerical data
Graph
A diagram representing a system of connections among two or more things with the use of dots, lines, bars, etc.
Diagram
A drawing or plan that outlines and explains the parts, operation, etc. of something
Context clues
Hints or suggestions that may surround unfamiliar words or phrases in a piece of writing and clarify their meaning
Informational reading
Texts that communicate information and data
