Grading Conferences Vocab

Study these words so that you can use them in your grading conferences

Claim

A statement or assertion that requires evidence to support it.

Evidence

Quotations or paraphrases from the text to support a claim or argument made.

Structure

How an essay is organized.

Ex. By supporting reasons, Counterargument then supporting reasons, Chronologically, etc.

Analysis

The process of examining and interpreting the evidence presented in relation to a claim, often to explain its significance.

transitions

Words or phrases that connect ideas or sections in writing, guiding the reader through the text.

Fused sentence

A sentence that joins two independent clauses without appropriate punctuation or conjunctions, leading to grammatical errors.

Incomplete Sentence/ Fragment

A grammatical error that occurs when a sentence is not complete and lacks a subject or verb, making it unable to stand alone.

Informal language

Words or phrases that are conversational, relaxed, and often used in casual settings, rather than formal writing.

1st person

A narrative point of view that uses pronouns such as "I" or "we". It allows the writer to share personal thoughts and experiences directly with the reader.

2nd person

A narrative perspective where the narrator addresses the audience directly using the pronoun "you," often involving the reader in the action.

Tense

Refers to the time of an action or state of being, typically expressed through verb forms such as past, present, or future. Formal writing about literature should be written in the present tense.

Capitalization

The practice of writing words with their first letter in uppercase, often used for proper nouns, the beginning of sentences, and titles.

MLA Format

A standardized writing style developed by the Modern Language Association, commonly used in academic settings for citing sources and formatting papers.

Punctuation

Refers to the marks used in writing to clarify meaning and separate structural units, including periods, commas, question marks, and exclamation points.

Parallel Structure

A grammar concept where a list of ideas are expressed using the same patterns, supporting readability in writing.

Interpret

To explain the meaning of something or to understand it.

Context

Background or surrounding information that might be necessary to aid understanding. Examples include: character dynamics, setting, previous plot points, etc.

Argument

A form of reasoning in which one presents a claim, supported by evidence and logical reasoning, to persuade others to agree with that position.

Synthesis

The process of combining different ideas, sources, or concepts to create a cohesive understanding/ claim.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language, affecting meaning and clarity.