WritePlacer flashcards
WritePlacer · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Thesis statement
- A thesis statement is a single sentence, usually in the introduction, that states the essay's central claim and directs every paragraph that follows.
- Off-topic response
- An off-topic response is an essay that fails to address the prompt's central issue; it receives a low score regardless of grammar or sentence polish.
- Prompt analysis
- Prompt analysis is the process of identifying the issue, the task (agree, disagree, or explain), and any assumptions embedded in the writing prompt before drafting.
- Audience awareness
- Audience awareness is writing for an educated general reader who has not seen the prompt, so terms are defined and references are explained.
- Stance consistency
- Stance consistency means maintaining the same position throughout the essay, so the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion do not contradict one another.
- Focus maintenance
- Focus maintenance means ensuring every paragraph supports the thesis, with no digressions that fail to connect back to the central claim.
- Topic sentence
- A topic sentence is the first sentence of a body paragraph; it names the single idea the paragraph will develop and links it to the thesis.
- Transition words
- Transition words are connectors such as however, therefore, and for example that signal addition, contrast, cause, or illustration between ideas.
- Introduction paragraph
- An introduction paragraph names the issue, states the thesis, and previews the line of reasoning the essay will follow.
- Conclusion paragraph
- A conclusion paragraph restates the thesis and its implications without introducing new evidence or a new main argument.
- Body paragraph structure
- A body paragraph contains a topic sentence, evidence, explanation of how the evidence supports the claim, and a link back to the thesis.
- Logical order
- Logical order is a deliberate sequence of paragraphs, such as strongest-to-weakest, chronological, or problem-solution, that guides the reader through the argument.
- Concrete evidence
- Concrete evidence is a specific fact, example, observation, or statistic that supports a claim, rather than a vague generalization or repeated assertion.
- Warrant
- A warrant is the explanation that connects evidence to a claim; without it, the reader must infer why the evidence matters.
- Generalization
- A generalization is a broad statement about a group or situation; it needs a specific example before it can serve as credible support.
- Anecdote as evidence
- An anecdote is a brief personal story used as evidence; it is effective only when clearly relevant and explicitly tied to the argument.
- Depth over breadth
- Depth over breadth means developing two or three main points with detailed support instead of listing many points with little explanation.
- Compound sentence
- A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) or a semicolon.
- Complex sentence
- A complex sentence contains an independent clause and a dependent clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction such as because, although, or while.
- Active voice
- Active voice is a sentence pattern in which the subject performs the action, as in 'The committee approved the plan.'
- Parallel structure
- Parallel structure means items in a list or comparison share the same grammatical form, such as all verbs or all noun phrases.
- Sentence fragment
- A sentence fragment is a group of words missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought, and it is treated as a mechanical error.
- Comma splice
- A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma; correct it with a conjunction, semicolon, or period.
- Subject-verb agreement
- Subject-verb agreement is the rule that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement is the rule that a pronoun must match its antecedent in number and person, as in 'students ... they.'
- Its versus it's
- 'Its' is the possessive form of 'it,' while 'it's' is a contraction meaning 'it is' or 'it has.'
- Run-on sentence
- A run-on sentence joins two independent clauses without punctuation or a conjunction, creating an unclear and mechanically flawed statement.
- Counterargument
- A counterargument is an opposing view that the writer acknowledges and then rebuts, showing awareness of alternative positions.
- Logical fallacy
- A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning, such as an ad hominem attack or a false dilemma, that weakens an argument's credibility.
- False dilemma
- A false dilemma is a fallacy that presents only two options when other alternatives exist, forcing an oversimplified choice.
- Correlation versus causation
- Correlation versus causation is the distinction between two events occurring together and one event actually causing the other.
- Qualifying a claim
- Qualifying a claim means adding limits such as 'often' or 'in most cases' so the assertion is more precise and defensible.