OSSLT flashcards
OSSLT · Build recall with a focused review session.
31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Main idea
- The central point a passage makes about its topic, usually stated in the opening or closing sentence of a paragraph or text and supported by all other details.
- Supporting detail
- A specific fact, example, statistic, or quotation in a text that explains or proves the main idea; questions ask you to locate the sentence containing it.
- Inference
- A conclusion drawn from evidence in the text but not stated directly; the correct answer follows logically from stated facts rather than from outside knowledge.
- Explicit information
- A fact stated directly in words in the passage; the answer can be found by locating the exact sentence rather than by reasoning beyond the text.
- Vocabulary in context
- The meaning of a word as used in a specific sentence; test it by substituting each option into the sentence and checking that the surrounding meaning still holds.
- Graphic text
- Information presented visually, such as a schedule, flyer, chart, label, or form; read the title, headings, legend, and units before answering lookup questions.
- Cause and effect
- A relationship in which one event produces another; signal words include because, since, therefore, as a result, and consequently.
- Sequence
- The order in which events or steps occur; signal words include first, next, then, after, finally, and before.
- Author's purpose
- The reason a text was written, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or instruct; purpose is inferred from the text's content, tone, and format.
- Tone
- The writer's attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice; tone may be humorous, serious, critical, neutral, or sympathetic.
- Fact versus opinion
- A fact can be verified or proven; an opinion expresses a belief, judgment, or feeling and often includes words like best, should, or beautiful.
- Summarizing
- Restating the main idea and key supporting points in a few sentences, in your own words, leaving out minor details and examples.
- Quotation support
- Using exact words from the passage, placed in quotation marks, to support a written answer; it must be copied accurately and tied to your point.
- Paragraph structure
- A group of sentences developing one idea: a topic sentence, supporting detail sentences, and often a concluding sentence that links to the next idea.
- Topic sentence
- The sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph, usually placed first, with the remaining sentences providing evidence, examples, or explanation.
- Complete sentence
- A group of words with a subject and a predicate that expresses a complete thought; it can stand alone as a sentence.
- Sentence fragment
- A group of words that is missing a subject, a predicate, or a complete thought, and therefore cannot stand alone as a sentence.
- Run-on sentence
- Two or more independent clauses joined without correct punctuation or a conjunction; fix it with a period, semicolon, or comma plus coordinating conjunction.
- Comma splice
- An error in which two independent clauses are joined only by a comma; correct it with a period, semicolon, or a conjunction after the comma.
- Coordinating conjunction
- One of the seven words for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS), used with a comma to join two independent clauses.
- Subordinating conjunction
- A word such as because, although, when, if, or since that begins a dependent clause and shows its relationship to the main clause.
- Subject-verb agreement
- A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb; phrases between the subject and verb do not change the number.
- Pronoun agreement
- A pronoun must match its antecedent in number and gender; singular antecedents like each student take singular pronouns such as he or she.
- Apostrophe use
- An apostrophe shows possession (the dog's bowl) or marks a contraction (don't, it's); plain plurals such as dogs take no apostrophe.
- Its versus it's
- Its is possessive, meaning belonging to it; it's is a contraction of it is or it has. Choosing the wrong form is a common test error.
- Sentence combining
- Joining two short sentences into one clear sentence using a connector such as because, although, or which, while preserving all original ideas.
- Modifier placement
- A descriptive word or phrase should sit next to the word it describes; a misplaced modifier appears to describe the wrong noun and confuses meaning.
- Parallel structure
- Items in a list or comparison use the same grammatical form, such as all verbs or all nouns, so the sentence reads smoothly and correctly.
- News report format
- A short writing task with a headline, a lead sentence answering who, what, when, and where, and body paragraphs adding quotes and details.
- Series of paragraphs
- A short writing task expressing an opinion on a stated topic, with a clear position, two or three supporting reasons, and a concluding statement.
- Editing and proofreading
- Checking a draft for spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar errors, and for correct paragraph breaks, before submitting the final response.