Quebec Sec 5 ESL Enriched (136-520) key terms

The level of formality in language chosen to suit an audience, purpose, or situation, ranging from casual conversation to formal academic writing.

The attitude or feeling conveyed by a speaker's or writer's words, such as enthusiasm, irony, or seriousness, which listeners infer from word choice and delivery.

The ability to adjust vocabulary, detail, and style based on who will read or hear the message, ensuring the content is appropriate and understandable for that group.

The conversational convention of letting one person speak at a time, signaled by pauses, gestures, or phrases that invite another person to respond.

Brief verbal or non-verbal signals such as 'mm-hmm' or nodding that show a listener is following the speaker without taking over the conversation.

A question or statement used to ask a speaker to repeat or explain something that was unclear, for example 'Could you say that again?'.

To restate someone else's idea in your own words while keeping the original meaning, often used to check understanding or to report what was said.

To give a shortened version of a text or conversation that captures only the main points and leaves out minor details.

The central point or message that a text or speech is built around, which the supporting details explain or illustrate.

A fact, example, or reason that explains, proves, or develops the main idea in a text or presentation.

A conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning rather than from a direct statement, often needed when a speaker implies rather than says something.

Stated clearly and directly in the text or speech, leaving no need for the reader or listener to guess the meaning.

Suggested or hinted at rather than stated directly, so the reader or listener must infer the meaning from context and clues.

The general meaning or essence of a text or recording, understood without catching every word or detail.

A listening approach in which you focus on specific facts such as names, numbers, or dates rather than on the overall message.

The practice of writing down key points, examples, and questions while listening or reading so the information can be reviewed and used later.

A structured plan that lists main ideas and supporting points in a hierarchy, often using headings, numbers, or bullet points.

A sentence that states the central argument or position of an essay, usually appearing near the end of the introduction.

The sentence that introduces the main idea of a paragraph and often appears at its beginning to guide the reader.

The quality of a paragraph in which every sentence relates to and supports the single main idea stated in the topic sentence.

The quality of a text that makes it easy to follow because ideas are logically connected and flow smoothly from one to the next.

The use of linking words, pronouns, and repeated terms to tie sentences and paragraphs together so the text reads as a unified whole.

A word or phrase such as 'however' or 'in addition' that signals the relationship between ideas and helps readers follow the argument.

Information such as facts, statistics, examples, or quotations used to support a claim and make an argument convincing.

A reference that identifies the source of a quotation or idea, usually including the author, title, and publication details, to avoid plagiarism.

Presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own without proper acknowledgement, which is a serious academic offence.

An opposing viewpoint that a writer acknowledges and then responds to in order to strengthen the main argument.

A response that challenges or disproves a counterargument, often by pointing out weak evidence or offering a different interpretation.

The perspective from which a story is told or an argument is presented, such as first person ('I') or third person ('he', 'she').

An unfair preference for or against an idea that influences how information is presented, often by omitting or distorting facts.

The quality of being trusted and believed, which a source earns through accuracy, expertise, and fair presentation of evidence.

Language that uses comparisons or images, such as similes, metaphors, and personification, to create meaning beyond the literal words.

A figure of speech that describes one thing as if it were another, without using 'like' or 'as', to suggest a shared quality.

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates vivid mental pictures for the reader or listener.

A type of essay that states a clear position on a debatable issue and supports it with reasons and evidence while addressing opposing views.

A piece of writing or speech that tells a story, usually with characters, a setting, a plot, and a sequence of events.

Writing that uses sensory details and vivid language to paint a picture of a person, place, or object for the reader.

The stage of writing in which you reconsider and improve the content, organization, and clarity of a draft, often with feedback from others.

The stage of writing in which you correct errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word choice to polish the final text.

Comments and suggestions about a piece of writing offered by classmates, used to improve the work before it is handed in.