FTCE General Knowledge Test key terms

A single sentence that states the central claim of an essay and previews the main points the writer will develop. It usually appears near the end of the introduction.

A sentence, usually placed first in a body paragraph, that states the paragraph's main point and links it to the essay's thesis.

Specific facts, examples, statistics, or quotations a writer uses to prove a claim. Evidence should be relevant, accurate, and clearly explained to the reader.

The quality of an essay whose ideas are arranged in a logical order so readers can follow the reasoning from one point to the next.

A word, phrase, or sentence that shows the relationship between ideas, such as addition, contrast, cause, or sequence.

A writer's attention to the knowledge, expectations, and needs of the people who will read the essay. It shapes word choice, tone, and how much explanation is needed.

The process of rethinking and reshaping a draft by improving its ideas, organization, and support, not just correcting surface errors.

The stage of writing focused on correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics after the content and organization are set.

The final sentence or sentences of an essay that reinforce the thesis and give the reader a sense of closure without introducing a new topic.

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

The rule that a pronoun must match the noun it refers to in number and gender, such as using a plural pronoun with a plural antecedent.

An error in which two independent clauses are joined only by a comma, without a coordinating conjunction or other correct punctuation.

Two or more independent clauses written together without correct punctuation or a connecting conjunction, making the sentence hard to follow.

A group of words punctuated as a sentence but lacking a subject, a verb, or a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a full sentence.

A descriptive phrase that does not clearly modify the word it is meant to describe, often because the intended subject is missing from the main clause.

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list or for paired ideas, which makes sentences clearer and easier to read.

A sentence construction in which the subject performs the action, as in 'The committee approved the plan' rather than receiving it.

A sentence construction in which the subject receives the action, as in 'The plan was approved by the committee.' It often makes writing less direct.

A punctuation mark that joins closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, or separates items in a complex list.

Keeping verbs in a passage in a logical, consistent time frame unless a clear reason requires a shift. Sudden, unneeded changes confuse readers.

The central point a passage communicates about its topic, often stated in a topic sentence or implied through the details.

A fact, example, or reason that explains or proves the main idea of a passage. Details answer questions readers may have about the central point.

A conclusion a reader draws by combining information in the text with background knowledge, even though the text does not state it directly.

The reason a writer creates a text, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain. Recognizing it helps readers interpret choices in the passage.

The writer's attitude toward the subject or audience, revealed through word choice, details, and sentence structure. Tone can be serious, humorous, critical, or neutral.

Words, phrases, or sentence structure near an unfamiliar word that help a reader figure out the word's meaning. They include definitions, examples, and contrasts.

A distinction between statements that can be verified and statements that express beliefs, feelings, or judgments. Readers use it to evaluate whether a claim is supported by evidence.

A brief restatement of a text's main ideas and key details in the reader's own words. A good summary leaves out minor examples and keeps the author's meaning accurate.

A comparison of two quantities by division, often written as a fraction, with a colon, or with the word 'to.'

An equation stating that two ratios are equal, used to solve problems involving scaling or equivalent comparisons. Cross multiplication is a common way to solve one.

A ratio comparing a number to 100, meaning 'per hundred.' For example, 45 percent equals 45 out of 100.

A rate that compares a quantity to one unit of another quantity, such as miles per hour or cost per item.

The arithmetic average found by adding all values in a data set and dividing by the number of values.

The middle value in an ordered data set, or the average of the two middle values when the set has an even number of items.

The value that appears most often in a data set. A set may have one mode, more than one mode, or no mode.

A number from 0 to 1 expressing how likely an event is, calculated as favorable outcomes divided by total possible outcomes.

The amount of surface inside a two-dimensional shape, measured in square units such as square inches or square centimeters.

The distance around the outside of a two-dimensional shape, found by adding the lengths of its sides.

A measure of a line's steepness, calculated as the change in y divided by the change in x between two points.

An equation whose graph is a straight line, often written in the form y = mx + b. The variables have an exponent of one.