to clear of blame or responsibility
exonerate
quality or state of having superior rank or importance
preeminence
state of currently occupying an office
incumbency
to passively accept or agree without arguing or protest
acquiesce
to clearly demonstrate or exhibit
evince
requires readers to read between the lines, to gather surrounding textual information, and then to make an inference.
implicit meaning
Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries
Different kinds of ways to introduce evidence
Problem-Solution, Statement-Support, Comparison/Contrast, Cause-Effect
Identifying the structure of a complex text
sentences, paragraphs, transitional words & phrases, chapters & sections
structural elements
Use different kinds of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
Use various kinds of clauses, such as noun clauses.
Use various kinds of phrases, such as infinitive phrases, noun phrases, and prepositional phrases.
Use active voice and passive voice appropriately.
Use parallel structure to make your ideas clear and appealing.
Use questions.
number of ways to vary syntax
Being sensitive to the audience's background, avoiding offensive claims, inviting the audience's critical thinking, allowing audiences to form their own opinions based on the proven facts.
some of the reasons why authors leave claims up to an audience's interpretation
academic journals, newspapers & magazines, books, informational videos, print & digital encyclopedias, credible websites and other online sources, public libraries
credible evidence sources
Hook
Context/background
explanation of the importance of claim
thesis statement
Intro Paragraph of informational Essay
- The accident made Roger too scared to ever try climbing again.
- The committee strove to somehow get past the disagreements and move toward a resolution.
- The couple disagreed on how to actually achieve their goal of saving for a new car.
... has a subject and verb; cannot stand on its own; must be with an independent clause to have complete meaning
Dependent clause
freewriting - continuously writing whatever comes to mind
listing - make a list of topics that interest you
idea mapping - AKA webbing, clustering, mind mapping. Helps create a visual representation of ideas.
some ways to generate ideas
- relevance to point/claim
- sufficiency: adequate to support point/claim
- validity: take note of the author and credibility.
Evaluating evidence
Determine the central ideas first and then discover the supporting details, or
Discover the supporting details first and then determine the central ideas
Analyzing complex texts
Fulfilling the writer’s purpose?
Answering any questions the content raises?
Creating or making connections, or building relationships between ideas?
questions to ask about the overall effectiveness of the chosen text structure
- What information might best be shown visually?
- Where would graphic aids make the most sense for readers?
- What points or ideas will the graphic aids be supporting?
what to consider for graphic aids
Asking whether it is:
- Too broad
- Too narrow
- Improved
- Specific & focused
Refining a research question
skimming, scanning, paraphrasing, summarizing, using direct quotations, and organizing
Efficient note-taking skills
topic sentence that explains what the paragraph is going to be about, supporting sentences that give evidence and explanations to clarify and support the main point, concluding sentence
Body paragraph
For research papers that are longer than the standard five-paragraph format, consider using.... These can be useful for readers’ comprehension as well as the writer’s own focus. Like topic sentences and the introduction of evidence, the headings in an informational essay function as guideposts for readers.
headings
conclusion paragraph for informational essays