MATSEC SEC English Language key terms

The mental process of understanding written or spoken text by linking its ideas to what you already know and to the purpose for which you are reading or listening.

The central point a passage is making, usually stated in a topic sentence or implied across several paragraphs. Everything else in the text supports or explains it.

A fact, example, statistic or reason that backs up the main idea of a text. Details make an argument convincing rather than merely asserted.

A conclusion drawn from clues in the text plus your own reasoning, rather than from a statement made outright. Inferences must be justifiable by evidence in the passage.

A meaning a writer suggests without stating it directly, often left for the reader to work out. Implication differs from inference in belonging to the text rather than the reader's reasoning.

A sentence, usually at or near the start of a paragraph, that announces what the paragraph is about. It guides the reader through the structure of the argument.

To read quickly for the general sense or gist of a text, letting your eyes move fast over the lines. Skimming is useful before detailed reading or when checking overall relevance.

To move your eyes rapidly over a text looking for one specific item such as a date, name or figure, ignoring everything else until it appears.

The attitude a writer conveys towards the subject or audience, for example ironic, sympathetic, amused or disapproving. Tone is created through word choice, sentence length and punctuation.

The reason a text was written: to inform, persuade, entertain, instruct or describe. Identifying purpose helps you judge what to expect and how to read.

The group of readers or listeners a text is aimed at. Writers adjust vocabulary, formality and amount of explanation according to what the audience already knows and expects.

A slant or one-sidedness in a text that favours a particular view, often through selection of facts, loaded words or omission of counter-arguments. Bias can be conscious or unintentional.

Material used to support a claim, such as facts, examples, statistics, quotations or expert opinion. Strong evidence is relevant, sufficient and verifiable.

Writing that tells a story or recounts events, usually with characters, setting and a sequence of happenings. Narratives may be fiction or factual accounts of real experience.

A group of sentences developing one idea, marked by indentation or a line break. A well-built paragraph often opens with a topic sentence and closes with a link or conclusion.

The way sentences and paragraphs are tied together so a piece of writing flows, achieved through linking words, pronouns, repetition of key terms and logical order of ideas.

A word or phrase such as however, therefore, in addition or on the other hand that signals the relationship between ideas and guides the reader through an argument.

A single sentence, usually in the introduction of an essay, that states the central argument the piece will develop and defend. It should be specific rather than a vague announcement of topic.

Writing produced for a practical real-world purpose, such as a letter, email, report, review, speech or article, where format, audience and function matter as much as content.

The level of formality in language, ranging from very formal to casual, chosen to suit the situation, audience and purpose. Mixing registers inappropriately weakens a piece of writing.

A first or intermediate version of a piece of writing, produced to get ideas down before refining them. Drafting is followed by revising content and then proofreading surface errors.

To check a finished piece of writing carefully for errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation before submitting it, rather than changing its ideas or structure.

To revise a piece of writing by improving wording, sentence structure, order of ideas and clarity, going beyond simple correction of mechanical errors.

To restate someone else's idea in your own words while keeping the meaning, usually to show understanding or to fit a point into your own argument.

To condense the main points of a text into a much shorter version, omitting examples and minor detail while keeping the essential meaning and emphasis.

Presenting another person's words or ideas as your own without acknowledgement. It includes copying text, buying essays and close paraphrasing without citation.

A passage of someone else's exact words reproduced in your writing, placed in quotation marks and attributed to its source. Quotations should be brief and relevant.

A word naming a person, place, thing or abstract idea, such as teacher, Valletta, table or honesty. Nouns can be common or proper, countable or uncountable, concrete or abstract.

A word expressing an action, event or state, such as run, happen or seem. Verbs carry tense, aspect and agreement with the subject, and may be main or auxiliary.

A word that describes or limits a noun, such as tall, ancient or several. Adjectives can be comparative or superlative and usually come before the noun or after a linking verb.

A word that modifies a verb, adjective or another adverb, often telling how, when or where something happens, for example quickly, yesterday or very.

A word standing in for a noun or noun phrase, such as he, they, it or themselves. Pronouns must refer clearly to an identifiable antecedent to avoid ambiguity.

A group of words containing a subject and a finite verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence; a subordinate clause cannot and depends on a main clause.

A complete unit of meaning containing at least one independent clause, beginning with a capital letter and ending with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark.

The grammatical form of a verb that locates an action in time, such as past, present or future, and can also show whether the action is ongoing or completed.

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 a plural verb.

The system of marks such as full stops, commas, semicolons, colons and apostrophes used to clarify meaning, mark boundaries and show relationships between parts of a sentence.

An error in which two independent clauses are joined only by a comma, with no conjunction. It can be fixed with a full stop, semicolon or coordinating conjunction.

The associations or emotional overtones a word carries beyond its literal meaning, for example the difference between slim and skinny. Connotation strongly affects tone and bias.

A word with a meaning close to another, such as begin and commence. True synonyms are rare, since words usually differ in formality, connotation or collocation.

A word opposite in meaning to another, such as generous and mean. Antonyms help writers create contrast and help readers work out meaning from context.

A hint in the surrounding words or sentences that helps you work out the meaning of an unfamiliar word, such as a definition, example, contrast or cause-and-effect relationship.

Paying deliberate attention to a speaker in order to understand the message fully, involving concentration on key points, note-taking and checking understanding rather than passive hearing.

Recording the essential points of a talk or passage in abbreviated form while listening or reading, using headings, keywords and symbols rather than full sentences.

The rise and fall of the voice in speech, used to signal questions, emphasis, emotion and the boundaries between ideas. Intonation can change the meaning of an identical sentence.

The extra force given to a particular syllable or word in speech. Word stress can distinguish meaning, as in the noun record and the verb record.

The ability to speak or write smoothly and at a reasonable pace without excessive hesitation or stumbling, even if some errors occur. Fluency is distinct from grammatical accuracy.