BC GLA 12 cheat sheet

Main idea = the claim the whole passage supports; a supporting detail appears in one paragraph and can be removed without changing the passage's point.

Text structure signals: cause-effect (because, therefore, as a result), comparison (similarly, whereas), sequence (first, subsequently), problem-solution (however, one remedy).

Inference is valid only when the passage plus background knowledge makes it necessarily or highly likely true; anything requiring an extra assumption is speculation.

Tone is judged from diction and syntax: formal/latinate vocabulary signals elevated or academic register; short declaratives and fragments signal urgency or bluntness.

Pronoun and reference tracking: a pronoun agrees with the nearest preceding noun that fits the verb's number and logic; check each antecedent against the sentence's meaning.

Two-part questions (e.g., claim plus evidence) require that the chosen evidence lines actually support the chosen claim, not merely mention the same topic.

For paired or comparative passages, identify the point of agreement first, then locate the precise point of divergence in method, scope, or evaluation.

Graphic or table data in a passage must be read against the axis labels and units; a trend described in prose must match the direction and magnitude shown.

Thesis rule: a defensible thesis states a claim that a reasonable reader could contest; a fact or a summary statement cannot serve as a thesis.

Paragraph unity: every sentence must serve the topic sentence; a sentence that introduces a new subject belongs in a new paragraph.

Evidence sandwich: introduce the source, quote or paraphrase it, then explain how the evidence supports the claim.

Transitions encode logical relations: 'moreover' adds, 'nevertheless' concedes, 'consequently' marks result, 'by contrast' marks opposition.

Counterargument strength: acknowledge the strongest opposing view, then rebut it; rebutting a weak version weakens the essay.

Concision: replace nominalizations with verbs ('made a decision' to 'decided') and cut redundant pairs ('each and every', 'basic fundamentals').

Conclusion rule: restate the thesis in light of the evidence and state the implication; do not introduce a new line of argument.

Parallel structure in lists and comparisons: items joined by and, or, or than must share grammatical form (all nouns, all infinitives, all clauses).

Subject-verb agreement: the verb agrees with the head noun, ignoring prepositional phrases ('The box of tools is'); compound subjects with 'and' take plural verbs unless the pair is a single idea.

Indefinite pronouns: each, either, neither, everyone, nobody are singular; both, few, many, several are plural; 'none' may be singular or plural depending on sense.

Pronoun case: after a preposition or as an object, use objective case (between you and me); as a subject, nominative (he and I).

Comma rules: use a comma plus coordinating conjunction to join independent clauses; a comma alone creates a splice, and no punctuation creates a fused sentence.

Restrictive vs nonrestrictive: clauses essential to identifying the noun take no commas; nonessential clauses are set off by commas (or dashes/parentheses).

Dangling modifiers: an introductory participial phrase must describe the subject of the main clause ('Walking home, she saw...' not 'Walking home, the rain...').

Apostrophes: possessive singular adds 's; plural ending in s adds only an apostrophe; 'its' is possessive, 'it's' means 'it is'.

Colon and semicolon: a colon follows a complete clause and introduces a list or explanation; a semicolon joins two independent clauses or separates complex list items.

Context clue types: definition (appositive or dash), contrast (but, unlike), example (such as, including), and cause-effect (therefore, since).

Connotation pairs: cheap/inexpensive, stubborn/resolute, curious/inquisitive, thin/slender; the denotation matches but the attitude differs.

Commonly confused: affect (verb, to influence) vs effect (noun, result); imply (speaker suggests) vs infer (listener concludes); lie (recline) vs lay (place something).

Precision: choose the word matching the required degree and scope, e.g., 'warm' < 'hot' < 'scorching'; 'claim' < 'assert' < 'insist'.

Register: latinate and polysyllabic words suit formal prose; phrasal verbs and contractions suit informal or conversational prose.

Idiomatic prepositions are fixed: 'comply with', 'differ from', 'superior to', 'preoccupied with', 'consist of'.

Word-part strategy: prefixes (bene-, mal-, circum-, ob-) and roots (dict, spec, tract, cred) narrow meaning when context alone is insufficient.

Redundancy check: a modifier that repeats a meaning already in the word ('advance forward', 'final outcome') signals a usage error.

Argument anatomy: claim (conclusion), premises (reasons), and unstated assumption (warrant) that links evidence to claim.

Validity vs soundness: a valid argument's conclusion follows from its premises; a sound argument is valid and has true premises.

Flaw types: ad hominem, false dilemma, hasty generalization, post hoc, circular reasoning, appeal to authority, straw man, slippery slope.

Correlation is not causation: an observed association supports causation only with mechanism, temporal order, and control of confounds.

Sample evaluation: representativeness, size, and selection method determine whether a survey supports a general claim.

Necessary vs sufficient: 'X is required for Y' means X is necessary; 'if X then Y' means X is sufficient for Y; conflating them is a common error.

Quantifiers matter: 'all', 'most', 'some', and 'few' are not interchangeable; a conclusion stronger than its evidence is unsupported.

Source evaluation: assess author expertise, publication venue, date, and whether the evidence is primary or secondhand before accepting a claim.