English 30-2 Diploma flashcards
English 30-2 Diploma · 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 single sentence stating the central claim of a written response and previewing its reasoning; it must be arguable and specific rather than a statement of fact.
- Topic sentence
- The first sentence of a body paragraph; it names the paragraph's single point and connects that point to the overall thesis of the response.
- Personal response assignment
- A Part A writing task in Alberta English 30-2 that asks students to develop an idea using their own experiences, observations, or reading alongside the provided texts.
- Text-based response assignment
- A Part A writing task in Alberta English 30-2 requiring an argument built from evidence inside a provided text rather than from the writer's personal anecdote.
- Embedded quotation
- A short quotation woven into the writer's own sentence so the sentence stays grammatically complete and the quotation's relevance is explained.
- Paraphrase
- Restating a source's idea in the writer's own words and sentence structure, while still identifying where in the source the idea appears.
- Plot summary trap
- A weakness in written responses where the writer retells events instead of analyzing them; markers reward commentary explaining why details matter to the claim.
- Transition words
- Words such as however, therefore, and for example that signal the logical relationship between sentences and between paragraphs of a response.
- Comma splice
- Two independent clauses joined by only a comma; it is repaired with a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction.
- Sentence fragment
- A word group punctuated as a sentence but missing a subject, a finite verb, or a complete thought, which counts as a major writing error.
- Audience awareness
- Adjusting diction, sentence length, and amount of explanation to suit the reader named or implied by the writing prompt.
- Formal register
- Word choice that avoids slang, contractions, and conversational filler; expected in exam writing unless the prompt invites a personal, informal voice.
- Concluding sentence
- The last sentence of a body paragraph; it ties that paragraph's evidence back to the thesis and prepares the reader for the next point.
- Reading time budget
- A plan for the two-hour Part A: roughly ten minutes planning, forty-five to fifty minutes drafting each response, and five minutes proofreading at the end.
- Main idea
- The central point that the whole passage supports; distractors often restate one supporting detail or a true but minor point instead.
- Inference
- A conclusion drawn from details in the passage combined with logical reasoning; the answer must be supported by the text, not by outside knowledge.
- Stated detail question
- A question answerable by locating explicit information in the passage; the correct option usually paraphrases the passage's exact wording.
- Vocabulary in context
- The meaning of a word as used in a particular sentence, decided by surrounding words, syntax, and connotation rather than by a dictionary list.
- Author's purpose
- The reason a text was written, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or describe; it is signalled by structure, tone, and intended audience.
- Tone
- The author's attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice and connotation rather than through the topic the text addresses.
- Mood
- The feeling a text creates in the reader, produced by imagery, setting, and diction; it is distinct from the author's own attitude.
- Point of view
- The perspective from which a text is told, such as first person, third-person limited, or third-person omniscient narration.
- Bias
- A slant toward one side of an issue, shown by loaded words, omitted counterarguments, or selective use of supporting evidence.
- Fact versus opinion
- A fact can be verified with evidence, while an opinion expresses a judgement, belief, or evaluation that cannot be proven true or false.
- Text features
- Headings, captions, bold type, bullet lists, and diagrams that organize information and signal what the writer considers most important.
- Transition signals
- Words such as however, in contrast, and as a result that show whether the next idea continues, contrasts with, or concludes from the previous one.
- Supporting evidence
- Specific details, examples, statistics, or quotations that back a claim; the strongest option is the one most directly tied to that claim.
- Qualifier
- A word such as some, often, may, or tends to that limits a claim; correct answer options usually match the passage's level of certainty.
- Absolute language
- Words such as all, never, always, and only; answer options containing them are usually incorrect unless the passage itself states them.
- Irony
- A gap between what is said and what is meant, or between expectation and outcome, often signalled by contradiction or deliberate understatement.
- Theme
- A recurring idea or insight about life that a literary text develops through events, characters, and repeated images or phrases.
- Drawing conclusions
- Combining several stated details into a judgement that the passage implies but never states directly in a single sentence.