TASC English Level 3 key terms

The most important point an author wants readers to understand about a whole passage, stated or implied, and supported by most of the details rather than by just one sentence.

A fact, example, reason, or statistic that explains, proves, or develops the main idea; it answers questions like which, how, or why and can usually be found directly in the text.

A brief restatement of a text's central points in your own words, leaving out minor examples and personal opinion while keeping the author's meaning accurate and complete.

A reasonable conclusion drawn by combining clues in the text with background knowledge; it is not stated directly, but the text must logically support it.

Information stated plainly and directly in a passage, so a reader can point to the exact words that give the answer without guessing or drawing a conclusion.

The reason a writer creates a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain a process; purpose shapes the tone, structure, and kinds of details an author chooses.

The way ideas in a passage are organized, for example cause and effect, comparison and contrast, chronological order, problem and solution, or description, which readers use to follow the logic.

The single position an argumentative text sets out to prove, usually stated near the beginning or end and supported throughout by reasons and evidence.

An opposing view that a writer acknowledges and then answers, showing awareness of other positions and strengthening the writer's own case by refuting objections.

The part of an argument that responds directly to a counterargument, explaining why the opposing view is weak, limited, or outweighed by stronger evidence.

A slant or preference that unfairly favors one side, shown through loaded word choice, omitted facts, or one-sided examples; it weakens the reliability of a source.

The believability of an author or source, judged by qualifications, accuracy, currency, and freedom from obvious bias; credible sources are preferred when evaluating information.

A broad message about life or human nature that a literary work conveys through characters, events, and images; it is a complete idea, not a single topic word.

The techniques an author uses to reveal a character's personality, including direct description and indirect clues such as actions, dialogue, thoughts, and reactions of others.

The reason a character acts or feels a certain way, often revealed through dialogue, background, or conflict; understanding it helps explain plot events and character change.

A struggle between opposing forces in a story, such as person against person, nature, society, or self; it drives the plot toward a turning point and resolution.

The sequence of events in a narrative, typically moving through exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, with each event causing or affecting the next.

A hint or clue early in a narrative that suggests what will happen later, building suspense and making later events feel prepared for rather than sudden.

The use of a concrete object, person, or event to stand for a larger abstract idea, such as a caged bird representing lost freedom within a story.

The attitude a writer expresses toward the subject or audience, created by word choice and sentence style and often described with adjectives like humorous, critical, or solemn.

The feeling a reader experiences while reading a text, produced by setting, imagery, and diction; it differs from tone, which belongs to the writer's attitude.

Language that departs from literal meaning to create vivid comparisons or effects, including metaphor, simile, personification, and hyperbole, and requiring interpretation by the reader.

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, allowing readers to picture, hear, smell, taste, or feel a scene, and often contributing to a work's mood.

Information in nearby words, sentences, or paragraphs that helps a reader figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word, such as a definition, example, contrast, or cause-effect signal.

The emotional or cultural association a word carries beyond its dictionary meaning, such as the warmth of home or the sting of cheap, which affects tone and persuasion.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, independent of the feelings or associations it may suggest; it is the neutral core that connotation shades.

A word or phrase such as however, therefore, or in addition that links ideas and signals the relationship between sentences or paragraphs, guiding readers through a text.

The quality of a text whose ideas connect logically and flow smoothly, achieved through clear organization, consistent focus, and effective transitions between parts.

The grammar rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person, so singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs.

The rule that a pronoun must match the noun it replaces in number and gender, so a singular antecedent takes a singular pronoun such as he, she, or it.

A group of words punctuated as a sentence but missing a subject, a complete verb, or a complete thought, which must be joined to or expanded into a full sentence.

Two or more independent clauses joined without correct punctuation or a conjunction; it can be fixed with a period, semicolon, or comma plus coordinating conjunction.

An error in which two independent clauses are joined by only a comma, with no coordinating conjunction; it is a common type of run-on sentence.

A word, phrase, or clause that describes another word; a misplaced or dangling modifier sits too far from its target and creates confusing or unintended meaning.

The use of matching grammatical forms for items in a list or comparison, which makes writing clearer, more balanced, and easier to read aloud.

A sentence, usually in the introduction, that states the essay's main claim and previews the reasons or points that later paragraphs will develop and support.

The sentence that introduces the focus of a body paragraph, connecting that paragraph's evidence back to the essay's thesis and controlling what the paragraph discusses.

Facts, examples, statistics, expert statements, or quotations used to support a claim; strong evidence is relevant, accurate, sufficient, and drawn from trustworthy sources.

Specific words, phrases, or passages taken from a reading and used to support an answer or interpretation, ideally quoted briefly and explained in the writer's own words.

A restatement of a source's idea in your own words and sentence structure while keeping the original meaning, usually shorter and more focused than the original passage.

A formal reference showing where information came from, such as an author, title, and page or publication details, allowing readers to locate and verify the source.

Presenting another person's words or ideas as your own without proper quotation or citation, whether done deliberately or through careless copying and inadequate paraphrasing.