Composition Terminology

English 1101 / 01 * Summer 2001 * Mr. Hagin

Common Sentence Purpose Identifiers

1. allusiona general reference to a major author, published work, or historical event 2. analogyan elaborate point-by-point comparison between two things 3. analysisthe process of studying the parts of a whole 4. characterizationthe method an author uses to reveal and describe characters and their personalities 5. clarificationspecifying, differentiating, or limiting your opinion to reduce possible confusion 6. classificationplacing an object or idea into a group or class with others having similar characteristics 7. clinchera sentence that summarizes the main point made in a paragraph 8. commentarystatements of personal opinion about a topic that are used to explain or advance an argument 9. comparisona discussion of two ideas that shows their similarities 10. contrasta discussion of two ideas that shows their differences 11. critiquea critical discussion of a specified topic 12. definitionan established factual understanding of a particular word 13. descriptionstatements that emphasize the characteristics or qualities of a person, place, thing, or idea 14. examplea case situation serving as a model or precedent for another that is similar 15. generalizationa brief inference or general conclusion 16. moralthe particular value or lesson imparted to the reader by the author 17. qualificationa description by enumerating the characteristics of something, usually through the use of evidence 18. quantificationdetermining or expressing the number of something, usually through the use of statistics 19. querya question stated in an essay; all questions asked should be answered by the author 20. quotea word or passage extracted verbatim from an original source and incorporated into another essay, bounded by quotation marks 21. quipa brief, witty remark delivered offhand 22. summaryinformation conveyed in a condensed form 23. thesisa statement of the authors ultimate opinion on a given topic 24. topic sentencea sentence that guides the opinion and context of a new topic 25. transitiona word or phrase that establishes the relationship between two ideas or paragraphs

Toulmin Method Terms

26. backingimplicit assumptions; evidence offered to support a warrant 27. claima conclusion; a thesis to be established; a statement that asserts a belief or a truth 28. groundsthe evidence, reasons, or support for the claim; explicit reasons advanced 29. warranta statement that establishes the logical connection between a claim and its supporting reason

Logic Terms
30. a priorian argument based on hypothesis or theory rather than on experiment or experience 31. antithesisan immediate opposition or contrast of ideas 32. assertionan unsupported statement (argued without evidence)

33. catalystsomething that causes a change but without changing itself 34. causean event that acts upon another, causing a change to take place (effect) 35. concessiona point that a writer allows the other side to score 36. conclusionan idea that follows reasonably from one or more other ideas 37. conjecturean inference based on inconclusive or incomplete evidence 38. contingentdependent upon conditions or events not yet established 39. correlationa causal, complementary, parallel, or reciprocal relationship between two entities 40. counterpointa contrasting but parallel element, item, or theme 41. credibilitybelievability or reliability, as expressed through the logic or evidence used 42. deductionreasoning based on general premises from which specific conclusions can be drawn 43. effectan outcome or result that follows action of an agent of change (the cause) 44. empirical evidenceproof derived from experience, observation, or experiment 45. enthymenea syllogism with the premises left implicit 46. factsomething presented as objectively real 47. fallacya mistaken inference; an erroneous conclusion based on faulty reasoning 48. hypothesisa theory; something taken to be true for the purpose of investigation or argumentation 49. implicationan indirect indication or inference 50. inductionreasoning based on specific data which enable one to reach general conclusions 51. inferenceany logical or reasonable conclusion based on known facts or accepted premises 52. interpretationthe decoding or clarifying of facts, as seen through the authors point-of-view 53. modalitya classification of propositions based on whether or not they assert or deny the possibility or necessity of their content 54. opiniona personal belief or conclusion based on sentiment or special knowledge 55. oxymorona set of contradictory terms paired together 56. paradigman intellectual model that serves to unify a discipline; a framework for thinking 57. precedentactions and decisions from the past that have established a pattern or model for subsequent actions 58. premisea general statement from which arguments and conclusions may be drawn 59. qualifiera word or phrase that limits the scope of a claim (e.g., usually, most, many) 60. suppositiona statement presumed to be true for the sake of argument or explanation 61. scopethe range, reach, or breadth of a given topic or argument 62. speculationa conclusion, opinion, or theory derived from contemplation or conjecture 63. standardthe gauge by which something is measured; established thresholds 64. stasis theorya method for generating appropriate arguments by determining the nature of a given situation 65. syllogisma form of reasoning that draws a necessary conclusion based on two given conditions 66. truththat which conforms to fact, reality, or universally-accepted standards 67. validityreasonable acceptability

Policy Debate Terms

68. advantagethe gain or improvement that results from the plan 69. burden of proofobligation of the author to prove any initiated argument 70. clashthe process of meeting with and dealing with an opposing argument head-on 71. contentionan argument essential to support a position of the case 72. evidencedata that form the basis for conclusions 73. goalthe general objective or aim in making an argument 74. harmthe undesirable impact of a policy, usually causing pain and suffering on its victims 75. impactthe results or effects of a certain issue, policy, attitude, action, etc.

76. inherencyan inseparable, necessary part of the status quo that serves as a barrier to change 77. justificationproof of validity, righteousness, or correctness 78. linka single connecting element that joins two ideas into a cause/effect relationship 79. observationa statement of an empirical fact 80. planthe specific program proposed to serve as an alternative to the status quo 81. prima facieat first look; a case that seems sound upon initial review 82. rebuttalrefuting opposing arguments while reconstructing those that have been attacked 83. resolutiona position stated in the form of a motion before a legislative assembly 84. shiftto abandon an original position for a different one 85. significancethe degree of importance of a conclusion 86. solvencythe relationship of workability between a policy and its claimed effects 87. status quothe present system; the existing order 88. topicalityarguments that adhere to the boundaries of a query or resolution 89. turnan argument that shows an opponents ideas achieve the opposite of the intended results

Connecting Author with Reader

90. audiencethe intended readers of an essay (in terms of age, education, gender, etc.) 91. biasa writers prejudicial attitude toward the subject 92. connotationthe social interpretation of a word or phrase beyond the literal meaning 93. contextthe circumstances around which the writing is framed, including the authors purpose, intended audience, time frame, format, etc. 94. credibilitythe impression of the authors honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness; believability of an authors statements 95. denotationthe literal meaning (dictionary definition) of a concept or idea 96. dictionan authors choice of words based on their correctness, effectiveness, or clarity 97. empathyunderstanding someone elses situation through first-hand experience 98. juxtapositionthe close placement of two things that better reveals their similarities or differences 99. moodthe feeling exhibited from a written work; a readers emotional response to the essay 100. motifa framework, pattern, idea, or incident repeated in an essay 101. personathe authors voice or self-presentation 102. point of viewthe vantage point through which the writing is filtered 103. spacingextra paragraph spacing indicates greater separation or difference between two paragraphs in terms of topic, setting, character, or tone 104. sympathyfeeling pity or sorrow for someone elses situation 105. themea statement about life that serves as the central idea in a work of literature 106. tonethe authors attitude toward the subject or topic 107. verisimilitudethe quality of appearing to be true or real

Style and Creative Writing Terms

108. alliterationthe repetition of initial consonant sounds 109. anecdotea short summary of an event, usually lighthearted or funny 110. aphorisma concise statement of principle; a general truth or observation about life 111. assonancethe repetition of vowel sounds in close proximity 112. epigrama brief, witty poem or saying that deals with the topic in a satirical manner 113. figurative languagelanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling 114. flashbackreturning to an earlier time in a story for the purpose of making something in the present more clear

115. foreshadowinga suggestion of what is to come later by offering hints and clues 116. hyperboleexaggeration of the truth for a literary effect 117. imagerywords or phrases that conjure visual images in the minds of the readers 118. impressionismsuggestions or intimations of vague thoughts and remembrances 119. ironywords or phrases that suggest the opposite of a literal or normal meaning 120. local colorthe use of details that are common to or representative of a particular region of the world 121. metaphora figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as if it were something else 122. metonymythe substituting of one word for another closely related to it: 123. narrationwriting that tells a story 124. onomatopoeiawords or phrases that imitate the sounds they describe 125. parablea short, descriptive story that illustrates a particular belief or moral 126. parallelismthe use of similar grammatical structures or forms to create pleasing rhythms 127. personificationapplying human qualities to something that is not human 128. reminiscencea recollection of specific events in ones past 129. repetitionthe intentional, continual use of a word, phrase, or other idea intended for dramatic or creative effect 130. settingthe time, place, and circumstances in which narrative action takes place 131. similea type of metaphor that compares specific qualities, using as or like 132. symbolismusing an object or icon to represent something else 133. synecdocheusing a part of something to describe the whole 134. understatementa statement that describes something in less impressive terms 135. paraphrasea restatement of someone elses ideas into your own words 136. frequencythe rate at which an incident occurs 137. probabilitythe likelihood of an occurrence 138. stipulationa term or condition of an agreement 139. sound argumentan argument with a firm logical basis based on valid reasoning 140. testimonypersonal evidence supporting a fact or an assertion 141. theoryan assumption or guess based on limited information, distinguished from experiment or practice 142. topicthe specific subject of an argument or piece of writing