Analytical Writing Terms

What is the definition of a claim?

• referring to a source to give credit or proof for your evidence

• a sentence that presents the topic that will be the focus of that paragraph

• what you are trying to prove; a writer’s position on an issue

• using your OWN THINKING to break down the evidence and show HOW it directly supports your argument

What is an argument/reason?

• a sentence that presents the topic that will be the focus of that paragraph

• term Mrs. G uses to encourage you to add more elaboration to better show off your thinking (credit: Miss Ziskind)

• referring to a source to give credit or proof for your evidence

• a statement that supports your claim

What is evidence?

• what you are trying to prove; a writer’s position on an issue

• specific pieces of information that support the argument and therefore the claim; can be facts, quotations, examples, statistics, etc.

• using your OWN THINKING to break down the evidence and show HOW it directly supports your argument

• a sentence that presents the topic that will be the focus of that paragraph

What does it mean to cite?

• referring to a source to give credit or proof for your evidence

• make a statement that supports your claim

• use your OWN THINKING to break down the evidence and show HOW it directly supports your argument

• taking a position on an issue

What is analysis/elaboration?

• referring to a source to give credit or proof for your evidence

• what you are trying to prove; a writer’s position on an issue

• using your OWN THINKING to break down the evidence and show HOW it directly supports your argument

• term Mrs. G uses to encourage you to add more elaboration to better show off your thinking (credit: Miss Ziskind)

What is a topic sentence?

• a statement that supports your claim

• a sentence that presents the topic that will be the focus of that paragraph

• using your OWN THINKING to break down the evidence and show HOW it directly supports your argument

• what you are trying to prove; a writer’s position on an issue

What does it mean to "stretch the sentence"?

• referring to a source to give credit or proof for your evidence

• using your OWN THINKING to break down the evidence and show HOW it directly supports your argument

• specific pieces of information that support the argument and therefore the claim; can be facts, quotations, examples, statistics, etc.

• term Mrs. G uses to encourage you to add more elaboration to better show off your thinking (credit: Miss Ziskind)