EQAO key terms

A conclusion drawn from clues in a text rather than stated directly by the author. Readers combine evidence with their own knowledge to figure out what is implied.

The most important point a text or section is making. It is often stated in a topic sentence but may need to be summarized from several details.

Specific details, quotations, or examples from a text that support an answer, opinion, or inference. Strong responses point to the exact words or facts used.

Briefly restating the key points of a text in your own words, leaving out minor details. A good summary keeps the order and meaning of the original.

Restating a passage in your own words while keeping the same meaning. It shows understanding and is used to avoid copying an author's exact wording.

Presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own without giving credit. Even copying a sentence without quotation marks and a source counts as plagiarism.

Information that shows where a fact, quotation, or idea came from, such as an author and title. Citations let readers check sources and give credit.

The perspective from which a story is told or an argument is made. Common types are first person (I), second person (you), and third person (he, she, they).

The voice that tells a story. A narrator may be a character in the story or an outside observer, and this affects what the reader can know.

The attitude a writer expresses toward the subject or audience, such as humorous, serious, or critical. Tone is created through word choice and sentence structure.

The feeling a text creates in the reader, such as suspense, calm, or sadness. Mood comes from setting, imagery, and word choice rather than the writer's attitude.

A broader message or insight about life that a text explores, such as friendship or perseverance. Themes are usually implied rather than directly stated.

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses to create a picture in the reader's mind. Imagery often uses comparisons and vivid adjectives.

A comparison between two unlike things using the words like or as, such as brave as a lion. Similes help readers picture an idea.

A direct comparison that states one thing is another without using like or as, such as the classroom was a zoo. Metaphors create vivid meaning.

An unfair leaning toward or against an idea, often shown by one-sided language or missing information. Recognizing bias helps readers judge whether a source is reliable.

How trustworthy a source or piece of information is. Reliable sources are accurate, current, and written by people with relevant knowledge.

Words or phrases that connect ideas and show relationships, such as however, therefore, first, and in addition. They guide readers through the logic of a text.

The quality of a piece of writing in which ideas are clearly connected and flow logically. Coherence comes from organization, transitions, and consistent focus.

A group of sentences about one main idea, usually starting with a topic sentence and ending with a concluding sentence. Paragraphs help organize writing.

The sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph, usually near the beginning. The other sentences in the paragraph support it.

A sentence that states the central claim of an essay and previews what the writing will prove. It usually appears at the end of the introduction.

The accepted rules of written language, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. Correct conventions make writing clear and easy to read.

Marks such as periods, commas, question marks, and quotation marks used to separate ideas and clarify meaning. Punctuation affects how a sentence is read.

The way words and phrases are arranged to form sentences, including simple, compound, and complex types. Varied structure improves clarity and flow.

A number that represents part of a whole or part of a group, written as one number over another, such as 3/4. The bottom number shows how many equal parts exist.

The top number in a fraction. It tells how many equal parts of the whole are being counted or described.

The bottom number in a fraction. It tells the total number of equal parts the whole has been divided into.

Fractions that name the same amount even though they have different numbers, such as 1/2 and 2/4. Multiplying or dividing top and bottom by the same number creates them.

A number written using a decimal point to show parts of a whole based on tenths, hundredths, and so on. For example, 0.25 means twenty-five hundredths.

The value a digit has because of its position in a number. In 4,382 the 3 is worth 300 because it is in the hundreds place.

Replacing a number with a nearby, simpler number of a chosen place value. Look at the digit to the right to decide whether to round up or stay the same.

An approximate answer found by rounding or using friendly numbers instead of calculating exactly. Estimating helps check whether an answer is reasonable.

A judgment about whether an answer makes sense in the context of the problem. Checking with estimation or mental math helps catch errors.

A comparison of two quantities by division, often written as 3:5 or 3 to 5. Ratios describe how much of one thing there is compared with another.

A ratio that compares two quantities with different units, such as kilometres per hour. A unit rate compares to exactly one of the second quantity.

An equation stating that two ratios are equal, such as 2/3 = 4/6. Proportions are used to solve problems involving scaling.

A ratio that compares a number to 100, shown with the % symbol. Twenty percent means 20 out of every 100, or 0.20.

The amount of surface a two-dimensional shape covers, measured in square units. For a rectangle, area equals length times width.

The total distance around the outside of a two-dimensional shape, found by adding the lengths of all sides. It is measured in linear units.

The amount of space a three-dimensional object occupies, measured in cubic units. For a rectangular prism, volume equals length times width times height.

The average of a set of numbers, found by adding all the values and dividing by how many there are. The mean is one measure of centre.

The middle value in a data set when the numbers are arranged in order. If there is an even count, the median is the mean of the two middle values.

The value that appears most often in a data set. A set may have no mode or more than one mode.

A letter or symbol that stands for an unknown or changing number, such as x in the expression 3x + 2. Variables let us write general rules.

A mathematical phrase combining numbers, variables, and operations without an equals sign, such as 5n - 4. Expressions are simplified or evaluated, not solved.

A mathematical statement that two expressions are equal, shown with an equals sign, such as 2x + 3 = 11. Solving an equation finds the value that makes it true.