Reading Test Flashcards
Coherence
The paragraph should flow logically from sentence to sentence. Using transition words and organizing details and information
Development
The paragraph providers enough evidence and explanation to convince the reader. Explain the significance of details and providing lots of details to prove larger claims (abstract and concrete/general and specific)
Unity
All material in the paragraph must relate to one main idea expressed in the topic sentence
Essay Introduction
- Introduces the specific topic of the essay and identifies the scope of the essay
- Includes any background information/context to understand their argument or claim
- Establishes the importance or the significance of the argument (so what factor)
- Has the thesis at the end
Essay Conclusion
- Reemphasizes the essay argument without restating the the thesis (rewording the thesis would be fine)
- Readdresses and summarize the importance of significance of the argument
- At the end, recap, propose new solutions, work to be done, reflect in a way that you don’t introduce new things.
Topic Sentence
The opening sentence of a paragraph, which states the paragraph’s main claim. All paragraph details and sentences must directly connect to the topic sentence. Also, must connect to the thesis.
• Sentence must be clear, not too focused and not too broad, and simple that states the argument
Active Reading
Reading text with a determination to understand and evaluate it for its relevance to your needs. You can skip things that are irrelevant to the purpose of reading the text. Highlight parts of the text that are important, impose questions, write notes on summarizing the important part for easy understanding.
Public Space
A publicly owned space but has limits to its use.
e.g. Parks, streets, squares, any informal gathering spot
Public Place
Public places are privately owned places that many people can use. Although its free of use, people can be excluded of can be asked to pay.
e.g. Malls, restaurants
Public Realm
A generalized term that encompasses both public space and public places. This term is focuses more on social things - public activites, media
MLA
The documentation method recommended by the Modern Language Association and is used in humanities - English, Philosophy, History, Communications, and Literature. Relies heavily on quoting because, in humanities, exact words are a crucial part of the discipline. When incorporating quotes, they either should be weaved into the writing, have a signal phrase or have a lead in. For the in-text citations, they page number must be placed at the end before the period in parenthesis.
APA
The documentation style recommended by the American Psychological Association and is used in most social science and related courses - anthropology, education, political science, psychology and sociology. Identifying when a particular study was published is essential. APA relies heavily on summary or paraphrase and should include either signal phrases or attribution tags for quotations. When paraphrasing, the in-text citations should have the author and date of publication either at the end in parenthesis before the period or in front or middle in this way : Hirsch (2002)…
Claim (Thesis Statement)
The essay’s central claim in which it must be s debatable assertion requiring proof or development. This development is done through the paragraphs of the essay. The main goal of this thesis is to get your reader to agree with it.
• The argument must have a “so what factor” (why the argument is significant).
• Must indicate the evidence of claim but points do not need to come in any specific number
- These points of evidence guid the essay into ideas that support the thesis claim (they become individual paragraphs).
Quality of an arguable thesis:
1) Significant (interesting)
The thesis is meaningful or important to the audience (has the so what factor). The thesis must establish the significance of the claim.
Quality of an arguable thesis:
2) Insightful (arguable)
The thesis should not be easily found as true or false. It must impose questions upon its readers about whether or not the argument is agreeable. The thesis should have a claim that allows readers to agree or disagree and that throughout the essay, the reader will be persuaded.
Quality of an arguable thesis:
3) Specific
The thesis needs to define the topic narrowly enough so it is manageable. With this specificity, the thesis should include concrete and specific terms that create an argument.
Quality of an arguable thesis:
4) Feasible (manageable)
The claim of the thesis provides the length of the essay. When assigned an essay, the claim indicated in the thesis should reflect what is required in the essay. You need both sufficient and relevant evidence.
Sufficient evidence : you must have enough evidence to support your argument
Relevant evidence : you must use evidence that is directly related to the thesis claim which links to the topic. Finding evidence from the past may be more irrelevant than using current evidence.
Lead In Sentences
Signal Phrase: a phrase that tells your reader, “these ideas/words coming up are not mine, they are from a source.” This is especially vital for paraphrases or summaries because there are no quotation marks to function as a signal.
e.g. According to author… Or Arguing on behalf of author…
Attribution Tag: refers to attributing words to source the reporter interviews. It tells us who said this and establishes the authority of the source.
e.g. Urban Planner… Ethicist… Surrey mayor… Criminologist…
Summary and Paraphrase
Summary: involved a condensing of the original source and restating it in your own words. A summary is usually a much shorter version of the original passage. Provides a general overview of a main point of a source. Used with larger text.
Paraphrasing: involves restating ache source’s idea in your own words. Used when trying to limit a long quote. It should offer the same level of detail as the source but in your own words.
Plagiarism
- When using another’s words or ideas without acknowledgement
- Submitting the same paper for credit in two different courses
- Having someone write your paper or buying a paper online
- Having someone else edit your paper for you
