CLEP College Composition Modular flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Comma splice

Two independent clauses joined by only a comma. Correct it with a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction such as 'and' or 'but.'

Semicolon between clauses

A semicolon joins two independent clauses that are not connected by a coordinating conjunction; it also separates series items that already contain commas.

Restrictive clause

A clause essential to the sentence's meaning. It is not set off by commas because removing it would change which person or thing is meant.

Nonrestrictive clause

A clause that supplies extra, nonessential information and is set off by commas; removing it leaves the sentence's basic meaning intact.

Dangling modifier

An introductory phrase that does not logically describe the subject of the main clause, as in 'Walking home, the rain soaked me.'

Who versus whom

'Who' is the subject form and 'whom' is the object form; substitute 'he' or 'him' in the clause to test which one is required.

Subject-verb agreement rule

The verb agrees with the grammatical subject. Prepositional phrases between subject and verb, such as 'of the boxes,' do not change the subject's number.

Its versus it's

'Its' is the possessive form showing ownership; 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has' and is never possessive.

Cutting wordiness

Replace inflated phrases with single words: 'due to the fact that' becomes 'because' and 'in the event that' becomes 'if,' tightening the sentence's meaning.

Active voice

The subject performs the action. Prefer it when the actor matters, since 'The committee approved the plan' is clearer than the passive version.

Subordination in revision

Turning one of two short sentences into a dependent clause that shows the logical relationship, such as cause, time, or contrast.

Misplaced modifier

A modifier placed too far from the word it describes, creating ambiguity; move it next to its intended target.

End focus

The convention of placing the newest and most important information at the end of a sentence, where readers notice it most.

Nominalization

Turning a verb into a noun, as in 'make a decision' for 'decide'; it adds words and drains energy from prose.

Faulty parallelism

Items in a series or after correlative conjunctions that do not share grammatical form, such as mixing gerunds with infinitives.

Order of revision

Revise globally before locally: settle thesis, organization, and paragraph unity before polishing grammar, punctuation, and word choice.

Paraphrase

Restating a source's idea in your own words and sentence structure while keeping the meaning; it still requires a citation.

MLA in-text citation

Parenthetical credit giving the author's last name and page number with no comma or 'p.', as in (Morrison 112).

APA in-text citation

Parenthetical credit giving author, year, and page, as in (Morrison, 2019, p. 112), with commas separating the elements.

Block quotation

In MLA, a quotation of more than four prose lines set off as an indented block without quotation marks, with the citation after the final period.

Common knowledge

Facts widely known and easily verified in many sources, such as dates of major public events, which need no citation.

Signal phrase

Words such as 'According to Chen' that introduce a source, marking where the source's voice begins and the writer's resumes.

Plagiarism

Presenting another person's words, ideas, or sentence structure as your own, including uncredited paraphrase as well as verbatim copying.

Source credibility test

Evaluate author credentials, publication venue, publication date, and whether the source cites evidence and addresses opposing arguments.

Ethos

The appeal based on the speaker's credibility, character, and trustworthiness, built through credentials, tone, and fair treatment of opposing views.

Pathos

The appeal to the audience's emotions and values, often created through vivid imagery, anecdote, and emotionally charged diction.

Logos

The appeal to reason through evidence, statistics, examples, and logical inference; the claim must follow from the support offered.

Concession

Acknowledging a valid point from the opposing side before rebutting it, which increases the writer's credibility with the audience.

Straw man fallacy

Misrepresenting an opponent's position in a weaker form and then refuting that distorted version instead of the real argument.

False dilemma

A fallacy that presents only two options when more exist, forcing the audience to choose between extremes.

Ad hominem

Attacking the character or circumstances of the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself.

Rhetorical question

A question posed for persuasive effect rather than information; the answer is assumed and the audience supplies it.