SLE Reading key terms

The central point a passage is built to communicate, broad enough to cover the whole text rather than one section. It usually answers what the author most wants the reader to understand overall.

The essential meaning of a text captured in a brief summary, without supporting details or examples. A reader who states the gist shows general understanding rather than recall of specifics.

A sentence, often near the start, that states the central claim an author will develop and support. It functions as a promise about what the rest of the text will do.

A sentence that announces the focus of a paragraph, usually placed first. It guides the reader by signaling what the following sentences will explain, illustrate, or defend.

A fact, example, statistic, or reason offered to explain or strengthen a broader point. Details answer questions like who, what, when, and how much, and they serve the main idea rather than replace it.

Content stated directly in the text, so a careful reader can locate it without guessing. Questions about explicit information reward precise scanning and attention to exact wording.

A restatement of a passage's meaning using different words while keeping the same sense. Recognizing paraphrases matters because answer choices rarely repeat the text's exact phrasing.

A conclusion drawn from evidence in the text plus reasonable background knowledge, rather than stated outright. A valid inference must be supported by the passage and not merely plausible in general.

A meaning a text suggests without stating it directly, often through word choice or what is left unsaid. Readers identify implications by connecting clues across the passage.

An unstated belief an author or argument relies on for its reasoning to hold. If the assumption is false, the conclusion loses support even when the stated evidence is accurate.

Information surrounding an unfamiliar word, such as a definition, example, contrast, or cause, that helps a reader work out its meaning. Skilled readers use these clues instead of stopping to look words up.

The emotional or evaluative shading a word carries beyond its literal meaning. Words with similar dictionary senses, such as cheap and inexpensive, can signal very different attitudes.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, separate from any emotional association it may carry. Distinguishing denotation from connotation helps a reader judge an author's attitude accurately.

A word with a meaning close to another word in a particular context. Exact equivalence is rare, so a synonym must fit the sentence's sense and register, not just the general topic.

Expression that departs from literal meaning to create comparison or effect, as in metaphor, simile, and personification. Readers must interpret it by mapping the image onto the actual subject.

The way a passage organizes its content, such as chronological order, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, problem and solution, or description. Structure shapes how ideas relate and where key points appear.

A word or phrase that signals the logical relation between ideas, such as however, therefore, or in addition. Transitions tell readers whether the next sentence continues, contrasts, or concludes.

The quality that makes sentences and paragraphs hold together as a connected whole, achieved through transitions, pronouns, and repeated key terms. Strong cohesion lets a reader follow the flow without confusion.

The use of a pronoun or phrase to point back to something already mentioned, such as it, this, or the former. Tracking what a reference points to is essential for accurate comprehension.

The word or phrase a pronoun or referring expression stands for in a text. Locating the antecedent correctly prevents misreading who did what in a sentence.

A group of sentences developing one focused idea, usually marked by indentation or spacing. Paragraph boundaries often reveal how an author has divided and sequenced the argument.

The reason an author writes a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or instruct. Identifying purpose helps a reader predict what kind of evidence and language to expect.

The attitude an author conveys toward the subject or audience, revealed through word choice, imagery, and sentence style. Tone may be critical, sympathetic, amused, or detached, among many possibilities.

The stance a writer or a quoted speaker takes toward an issue, ranging from supportive to hostile. Attitude is inferred from evaluative language rather than stated as a label.

To write with the aim of changing a reader's belief or behavior through reasons, evidence, and appeals. Persuasive texts often include counterarguments and emotional language alongside facts.

A statement the author asserts as true and expects the reader to accept. A claim needs support, and an unsupported claim is weaker than one backed by evidence.

Material such as data, examples, expert testimony, or documents used to support a claim. The strength of evidence depends on its relevance, reliability, and sufficiency.

A set of reasons and evidence arranged to support a conclusion. Evaluating an argument means checking whether the premises are true and whether they genuinely support the conclusion.

A stated reason or proposition offered as a basis for a conclusion in an argument. Premises are what the author asks the reader to grant before accepting the final point.

The point an argument is trying to establish, drawn from its premises. In reading questions, the conclusion is the author's main assertion, not the closing sentence of the passage.

The logical link that connects evidence to a claim. Flawed reasoning can make a confident argument unreliable even when its individual facts are correct.

A slant or partiality that inclines a writer to present information in a way that favors one side. Bias can appear through selective evidence, loaded language, or omitted counterarguments.

A neutral, fact-focused approach that sets aside personal preference when presenting information. Objective writing still has a purpose, but it avoids evaluative language and one-sided selection.

The believability of a source or claim, based on factors such as expertise, evidence quality, and freedom from conflict of interest. Judging credibility helps readers decide how much weight to give information.

An opposing view that a writer acknowledges and then answers. Including one can strengthen a text by showing the author has considered alternatives rather than ignoring them.

A broad statement applied to a whole group or category on the basis of limited cases. Overgeneralizations are a common reasoning flaw because a few examples rarely justify a sweeping rule.

A condensed account of a text's central points in the reader's own words, omitting minor detail. A good summary preserves proportion, giving most space to the most important ideas.