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Writing Key Terms
Milestones Key Terms for Writing
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Argumentative texts | Argumentative texts are forms of writing in which the writer makes a claim and supports that claim with reasons and evidence. |
| Argument | An argument is the main statement of an argumentative text, which usually appears in the introduction. The argument is the main point on which the writer will develop his or her work in order to convince readers. |
| Claims | Claims are ideas and opinions set forth by the writer. For example, a writer could make the claim that the school cafeteria food is too expensive. In a well-developed argumentative essay, the writer should also recognize counterclaims. |
| Counterclaim | An argument that opposes or disagrees with a claim. A strong counterclaim is supported by evidence and sound reasoning. Sometimes the author will include a counterclaim and the reasons it is weak or wrong in order to strengthen his or her own claim. |
| Intorduction | An introduction is the beginning of a piece of writing. The introduction should let readers know what they will be reading about, and it should set up the main idea, or thesis, of the writing. |
| Organization | Organization refers to the way in which a piece of writing is structured. In writing, the organization helps present ideas and information more clearly. Transitions are used to organize information. They have an organizational structure to it. |
| Evidence | Informational texts may include facts, opinions of experts, quotes, statistics, and definitions that can be used as evidence. In literary text, the characters’ thoughts, words, or actions may be used as evidence. |
| Credible | For a claim to be effective, it must be supported with credible evidence and reasoning. Credible evidence and reasoning are supported by facts and are effective in persuading the audience to agree with the writer’s claim. |
| Relationships | Relationships in writing refer to the ways in which ideas are connected. Writing should use words, phrases, and clauses to clarify the relationships between claims and reasons. |
| Cohesion | Cohesion refers to the flow of sentences and paragraphs from one to another. Old and new information is tied together using transitions to help the reader understand how the ideas and concepts within the text are related to each other. |
| Formal Style | Formal style is used in formal writing, such as an essay, research paper, or formal letter. When writing in a formal style, the writer chooses language that matches the audience and purpose and avoids informal language. |
| Concluding statement | The concluding statement is the end of a piece of writing. The concluding statement should sum up the main purpose of the writing and provide an overall takeaway for the reader. |
| Informational/explanatory texts | Forms of writing that inform the reader or explain something are known as informational/explanatory texts. |
| Topic | The topic is what a piece of writing is about. |
| Formatting | Formatting is the way in which a piece of writing is organized, designed, and arranged. For example, a writer can use headings and subheadings to organize the writing and present the information in a clear way. |
| Multimedia | Multimedia refers to a variety of media. Writing does not include only pen on paper or a typed essay. Other ways of enhancing writing can include media such as art, presentations, photographs, charts, and videos. |
| Transition | A transition is a word, phrase, or clause that links one idea to the next. Writing should not jump from one idea to the next without transitions that guide the reader to the next idea. |
| Precise language | Good writers choose their words carefully and use precise language. Specific and vivid words and phrases describe or explain and make meaning clear. |
| Narrative | A narrative is a real or imaginary story that may be about a situation, a single moment in time, or a series of related events and experiences. Experiences are what a character senses through his or her five senses or what a character thinks or feels. |
| Experience | An experience is an event or series of events that happen to or are seen by a character. In a narrative, characters learn, grow, or find meaning by going through an experience. |
| Event | An event is a single thing that happens to a character or that a character sees. |
| Orient the reader | Good writers engage or interest readers and pull them into the narrative by sharing important information that will allow readers to understand what follows. |
| Introduction (orientation) | Good writers carefully orient the reader by sharing just enough information in the opening paragraphs of the narrative to create interest and help the reader understand where and when the story is happening. |
| Narrator | The narrator is the person the writer chooses to tell a story. The narrator may be a character in the story. The narrator may also record the characters’ actions, words, and thoughts but not be a character in the story. |
| Characters | Characters are persons, things, or beings in stories. The characters may be real or imaginary. The details a writer shares about characters—the way they think, talk, and act—help the reader understand the characters’ personalities. |
| Point of View | The perspective a writer chooses to tell a story from is called the point of view. In the first person point of view, the story is happening to the narrator. |
| Sequence | Sequence is the order of events in a narrative. Often, the events in a story are told in the exact order they happened. Sometimes it is told out of order to create surprise or help the reader learn more about the characters and how they think and behave. |
| Narrative techniques | Narrative techniques are the tools writers use to create interesting experiences, events, and characters in a story. |
| Dialogue | Writers use dialogue to show the reader the exact words the characters are saying. Dialogue usually has quotation marks around it. Each time a new character speaks, a new paragraph begins. |
| Description | Good writers use description to help the reader imagine the characters, settings, and events. Description helps make it feel like the reader is living the events of the story, both seeing what a character sees and feeling what the character feels. |
| Pacing | Pacing is the speed at which a story is told. The pace of a story is influenced by the description of characters, settings, and thoughts or reflections; the use of sensory language; the number of details; the length; dialogue; and word choice. |
| Transitional words and phrases | Transitional words and phrases link one idea to the next and help the reader understand how time is passing in the story. They also make clear the order in which events happen. |
| Precise words and phrases | Good writers choose their words carefully. Specific and vivid words and phrases describe or explain and make meaning clear. |
| Sensory language | Sensory language describes concrete words and phrases in a way that allows the reader to experience the way things look, sound, smell, taste, or feel through imagination. Good writers share sensory details to help the reader paint a mental picture. |
| Conclusion | Every story needs to have an end. The end can be anywhere the writer chooses to stop writing. But the reader needs to feel like the story is over. Good writers create this feeling of ending with a conclusion. |
| Audience | The people who will be reading the piece of writing are known as the audience. Writers should keep their audience in mind and adjust their ideas and vocabulary so that they can be best understood. |
| Purpose | The writer’s intention for his or her piece is the writer’s purpose. All writing has a purpose, whether it is to persuade, inform, explain, or entertain. |
| Writing process | Drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading your writing are all essential parts of an effective writing process. The steps in the writing process are prewriting, drafting, revising and editing, proofreading, and publishing. |
| Research | Research is the gathering of information in order to learn more about a topic. |
| Source | A source refers to a book, article, website, person, or piece of media that contains information. |
| Credibility | Credible sources provide evidence and facts that support the writer’s claim. When a writer uses the evidence and facts from the source to support his or her reasoning and persuade the audience to agree with the writer’s claim, the writer gains credibility |
| Paraphrase | To paraphrase means to use someone else’s ideas and to express those ideas in your own words. Paraphrasing is an acceptable way to support your argument as long as cite the source in the text at the end of the sentence. |
| Plagiarism | Plagiarism refers to presenting the words, works, or ideas of someone else as though they are one’s own and without providing attribution to the author. |
| Citation | Citation is the way the author tells readers that certain details or information included in the text come from another source. The citation gives readers enough information that they could find the original source and the information in it. |
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oberholtzerm
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