CBSA OTEE key terms

The central point an author makes about a topic. It summarizes what a passage is mostly about, rather than a single supporting fact or example.

A specific fact, example, statistic, or reason in a passage that explains, illustrates, or backs up the main idea.

A conclusion a reader draws from clues in a text combined with reasonable background knowledge, even though the conclusion is not stated directly.

The attitude an author conveys toward the subject or the reader, shown through word choice, sentence style, and emphasis rather than stated outright.

The level of formality in language chosen for a particular audience and situation, ranging from casual conversation to formal written reports.

Restating a passage's meaning in your own words while keeping its level of detail, often used to show understanding or to avoid direct quotation.

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

The quality of writing in which ideas connect logically and flow smoothly, helped by clear paragraph structure and linking words between sentences.

A word or phrase such as "however" or "therefore" that signals the relationship between ideas and helps the reader follow the writer's reasoning.

The ability to choose the most appropriate action in a realistic workplace scenario by weighing policy, safety, fairness, and the likely consequences of each option.

A situation in which a person's private interests, relationships, or outside benefits could improperly influence their official decisions or duties.

Consistently acting honestly and ethically, following rules, and admitting mistakes even when no one is watching or when doing so is inconvenient.

The authority to decide how to act within the rules, using good judgment rather than applying a policy rigidly or ignoring it entirely.

Referring a problem to a higher authority or more specialized colleague when it exceeds your authority, knowledge, or ability to resolve it safely.

Deciding the order in which tasks should be handled, usually by ranking them by urgency, importance, risk, and the time available.

Treating all people and cases in a workplace by the same standards without favoritism, prejudice, or personal feelings that affect the decision.

Being answerable for your actions and decisions, including explaining them to others and accepting responsibility for the results, good or bad.

A statement or piece of evidence offered in an argument as a reason to accept the conclusion; premises are what the argument is built on.

The claim an argument is trying to establish. It is the statement that the premises are meant to support or prove.

An unstated belief or condition that must be true for an argument to work, even though the argument does not explicitly say so.

Reasoning that moves from general rules to a specific conclusion, where the conclusion must follow if the premises are true.

Reasoning that uses specific observations to reach a general conclusion, which is probable rather than guaranteed even when the evidence is strong.

In logic, the property of an argument whose conclusion must follow from its premises; a valid argument can still have false premises.

A condition that must be present for something to happen, so if it is absent the outcome cannot occur, though its presence alone may not be enough.

The distinction between two things occurring together (correlation) and one actually causing the other (causation); correlation alone does not prove cause.

A way of expressing a number as a share of 100, so 25 percent means 25 out of every 100 and can be written as 0.25.

A comparison of two or more quantities by division, often written as 3:1 or as a fraction, showing how much of one quantity there is relative to another.

A statement that two ratios are equal, or more generally the share of a whole that a part represents.

The arithmetic average, found by adding all values in a set and dividing by the number of values; it is sensitive to extreme values.

The middle value in a set of numbers arranged in order; with an even number of values, it is the average of the two middle values.

The difference between an old value and a new value, divided by the old value and multiplied by 100, showing increase or decrease as a share of the starting amount.

An average in which each value is multiplied by a weight reflecting its importance or frequency before summing and dividing, so larger weights pull the result more.

A value that is much higher or lower than most others in a data set, which can distort averages and should be examined before drawing conclusions.

A difference or inconsistency between two pieces of information that should match, such as a name on a form and the same name in a database.

Something that deviates from the normal pattern or expectation in a set of information, often a signal that further checking is needed.

Carefully checking written text for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting before it is finalized or submitted.

Comparing information in one place with information in another to confirm that the details agree and that nothing has been missed.

A mistake in which two characters or digits are swapped, such as writing 54 instead of 45, often caught by careful comparison.

Consisting of both letters and numbers, as in many passport, licence, and file reference codes that must be entered exactly.

The ability to notice recurring shapes, sequences, or regularities in information and to spot when something breaks the expected pattern.