OSSLT key terms

The most important point a text makes about its topic, stated or implied. Everything else in the passage should support or explain it.

A specific fact, example, reason, or quotation that backs up a main idea. Details answer who, what, when, where, why, or how.

A conclusion a reader draws by combining clues in the text with background knowledge. The answer is suggested but not stated outright.

Stated clearly and directly in the text, so a reader can point to the exact words. Contrasted with information that must be inferred.

Suggested or hinted at rather than stated directly. Readers must infer implicit meaning from wording, tone, and details.

A sentence, usually near the start of a paragraph, that announces the paragraph's main point and controls what follows.

A brief restatement of a text's key points in your own words, leaving out minor details and examples.

Restating a passage's meaning in different words while keeping the original sense and length roughly similar.

Exact words copied from a source and placed inside quotation marks, credited to the original author.

Surrounding words or sentences that help a reader work out the meaning of an unfamiliar word or phrase.

Figuring out what a word means as it is used in a particular sentence, since many words carry several possible meanings.

The feelings or associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning, such as the difference between 'thrifty' and 'cheap'.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, separate from any emotional associations it may carry.

The writer's attitude toward the subject or audience, revealed through word choice and sentence style, such as humorous, critical, or sympathetic.

The feeling a text creates in the reader, such as suspense, calm, or sadness, built through description and pacing.

The reason a writer produced a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or instruct. Purpose shapes content and style.

The intended readers of a text. Writers adjust vocabulary, tone, and detail depending on who will read the piece.

The perspective from which a text is told, such as first person ('I'), second person ('you'), or third person ('he', 'they').

The voice that tells a story. A narrator may be a character in the events or an outside observer.

A design element that helps readers navigate information, such as headings, captions, bold type, bulleted lists, tables, or labels.

Information presented visually rather than in paragraphs, including charts, diagrams, maps, schedules, and forms.

A short line of text placed beside or beneath a picture, chart, or diagram to explain what it shows.

Distinguishing statements that can be proven true or false from statements that express a belief, feeling, or judgement.

Information such as facts, examples, statistics, or expert statements used to support a claim or strengthen an argument.

A leaning toward one side of an issue that affects how information is selected, worded, or left out.

The believability of a source or author, judged by factors such as expertise, accuracy, and freedom from obvious bias.

Information identifying where a fact, quotation, or idea came from, usually naming the author and title of the source.

A sentence that states the central claim of an essay and previews what the body paragraphs will prove.

A group of related sentences developing one idea, usually opened by a topic sentence and kept unified around that point.

A word or phrase such as 'however', 'therefore', or 'in addition' that links ideas and shows how sentences or paragraphs connect.

The quality of writing that flows logically, with ideas arranged in an order readers can easily follow.

The opening section of a piece that hooks the reader, presents the topic, and usually states the main claim.

The closing section of a piece that restates the main point, draws ideas together, and leaves a final impression.

A group of words punctuated as a sentence but missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.

Two or more complete sentences joined without correct punctuation or a connecting word, creating a confusing string of clauses.

Joining two independent clauses with only a comma. It can be fixed with a period, semicolon, or conjunction.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number, so a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Marks such as periods, commas, semicolons, colons, and quotation marks that clarify meaning and separate parts of sentences.

The system of rules governing how words are formed and arranged into sentences in a language.

Carefully rereading a finished draft to catch errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word choice before submitting it.

Reviewing writing to correct errors in mechanics and to improve clarity, often at the sentence and word level.

Making larger changes to a draft, such as reorganizing paragraphs, adding evidence, or reworking ideas, before fine-tuning errors.