Expository Writing vocab

Citation Style

Term definition.

a set of guidelines for citing the basic information required to identify and locate a specific publication within a written work

Term,Transitional Words

Term definition.

Transition words that locate relationships and enhance the analysis of informational text

Example.

Because of the fire in the building, the class had to meet elsewhere.

Term,Thesis Statement

Term definition.

a statement included in the introduction of a paper which makes a specific claim and provides a preview as to what will follow in the paper

Example.

A science student writes the following thesis statement in response to the question, “Is global warming a problem?” “Environmentalists agree that global climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately.”

Term,Paraphrase

to express the meaning of a text in different words, often used in research writing

Term,Jargon

Term definition.

unique words or expressions that are used in a particular profession or setting

Term,Keyword (Research)

Term definition.

specific, relevant search terms

Term,Unreliable Source

Term definition.

Information presented in an informal way without documentation, and no author/publisher information.

Example.

anonymous blog article

Term,Clarity / Word Choice

use of vocabulary or other organizational choices to ensure the intended meaning comes through

Term,Order of Importance

Term definition.

An organizational approach where ideas are arranged with the most important claim at the top or bottom

Term,Claim (Argumentation)

Term definition.

the position being taken in the argument; the thesis

Term,Problem and Solution

Term definition.

an organizational approach where the author presents a problem and possible solution

Term,Sequential Order

Term definition.

An organizational approach following an orderly progression of events, ideas, or steps

Term,Organizational Structure

Term definition.

text structure can include cause/effect, problem/solution, main idea/details, and/or sequence

Term,Criticism

Term definition.

an author's judgment/opinion about an idea or topic

Term,Informative / Explanatory Writing

Term definition.

a writing style which demonstrates comprehension of a topic or process

Example.

In a science class, students write about a procedure that they performed and the results that they achieved.

Term,Author's Purpose

Term definition.

the author's intention for writing

Example.

persuasive, narrative, expository, or informative

Term,Graphic Organizer

Term definition.

a visual display of the relationships between facts and ideas

Example.

Graphic organizers, such as story maps, timelines, venn diagrams and K-W-L charts, help students organize information.

Term,Main Idea

Term definition.

the central point of the passage

Term,Audience

Term definition.

the intended recipient of a written or verbal communication

Example.

When writing lesson plans, your students are your audience. A student writing a research presentation would have both his classmates and the teacher as an audience

Term,Primary Purpose / Author's Purpose

Term definition.

why the author wrote a text

Example.

Charlie wrote an OpEd for the paper to convince people to stop littering.

Term,Controversial

a statement or belief that goes against the average societal opinion

Term,Transition Words

Term definition.

phrases and words used to link sentences, paragraphs, and ideas together

Example.

first, next, last, on the other hand

Term,Cause and Effect

Term definition.

a writing method in which the author explains reasons why something happened or the effects of something that has happened

Example.

A politician's speech in which all of the bad actions of an opponent are listed to argue that the politician should be elected instead.

Term,Compare and Contrast

Term definition.

an organizational approach where the author provides similarities and differences about two ideas

Term,Spatial Order

Term definition.

An organizational approach where ideas are arranged related to physical space

Term,Reliable Source / Credible Source

Term definition.

information presented in a professional way, with a formal tone, includes source documentation, and author and/or publisher information.

Example.

a textbook

Term,Generalization

Term definition.

forming a general concept from specific information

Example.

When her new student brought in all his supplies and completed his homework during his first week, the teacher made the generalization that he was a responsible student.

Term,Bibliography

Term definition.

a list of all the sources explored in the research process

Term,Chronological Order

Term definition.

an organizational approach that follows an orderly progression of events based in time

Term,Hook (In Writing)

Term definition.

a writing choice that grabs the audience's attention in an introductory paragraph

Term,I-Chart

Term definition.

A type of graphic organizer especially used for inquiry and research, usually used beginning in upper elementary grades. There are three phases to this method of organizing information: “Planning,” “Interacting,” and “Integrating/Evaluating.

Term,Summary

Term definition.

a short retelling of the main points of a text

Example.

literature review