4SW Vocabulary Review

appeal

• a word or phrase that connects one idea to another
• to build up, grow, or improve gradually over time
• the “topic sentence”; introduces the topic at the start of an essay
• attract

argument

• when the author uses words or phrases to show the way he or she feels about the subject
• presenting observations about the characteristics of someone or something
• affect
• often expressed as a general statement about life

article

• statement that clearly identifies the topic being discussed, includes the points discussed in the paper, and is written for a specific audience

• a viewpoint that opposes the author’s claim

• a logical guess made by connecting bits of information

• a piece of writing included with others in a newspaper, magazine, or other print or online publication

assertion

• an underlying message or the big idea of a story, often expressed as a general statement about life
• make (an idea, impression, or feeling) known or understandable to someone.
• conclude
• statement

audience

• a feeling of excitement or uncertainty

• central idea or main idea

• A general statement or concept obtained by inference from specific cases.

• the intended target group for a message

author's purpose

• back it up
• to play a significant part in making something happen
• a note of reference, explanation, or comment usually placed below the text on a printed page
• the reason an author writes about a particular topic (to persuade, entertain, inform, explain, describe, analyze, etc.)

cause-and-effect

• a brief statement that presents the main points

• any struggle that characters must overcome to achieve their goal

• a transition in a story to an earlier event or scene

• a pattern that explains the reasons why something happens or the consequences of something happening

characteristics

• the way or pattern in which an author organizes ideas within a text

• opinion that is formed because of known facts or evidence

• language not intended to be taken literally

• a distinguishing trait, quality, or property

claim

• a sentence that says something is true

• to think about carefully and form an opinion

• simile, metaphor, personification

• an assertion, position, or arguable thesis about a topic or issue

climax

• the time and place in which the story occurs

• share or exchange information, news, or ideas.

• a genre of fiction that involves solving a crime or mystery.

• the most intense, exciting, or important point of the story