Introductions
What is the very first sentence of an introduction called, which is designed to grab the reader's attention?
What is the hook?
This is the first sentence of a body paragraph that tells the reader what that specific paragraph is about.
What is a Topic Sentence?
A conclusion should always begin by doing this to the thesis statement (using different words).
What is Restating (or Paraphrasing)?
This term refers to the primary message or the most important thought of a text.
What is the Central Idea (or Main Idea)?
This term refers to specific information, such as facts or examples, used to prove or explain the central idea.
What are supporting details?
This sentence clearly states the author’s main argument or purpose for the entire essay.
What is the Thesis Statement (or Claim)?
When you use a quote or a specific fact from an article, you are providing this to prove your point.
What is Text Evidence?
This is the main purpose of a conclusion: to wrap up the essay and give the reader a sense of ______.
What is Closure (or Finality)?
This is the main difference between a central idea and a theme.
What is: Central idea is for informational/non-fiction text, and theme is for literary/fiction text?
This specific type of supporting detail uses numbers, percentages, or data to prove a point.
What is a statistic?
Before getting to the claim, an author should provide this type of information to help the reader understand the topic.
What is Background Information?
After providing a quote, the author must include this to explain how the evidence proves their claim.
What is Elaboration (or Analysis/Reasoning)?
True or False: You should introduce brand new evidence or facts in your conclusion.
What is False?
If a text has multiple sections with their own "mini" main ideas, these are known as ________ ideas.
What are Supporting (or Subordinate) ideas?
True or False: A supporting detail can be a "fact" even if it doesn't directly prove the author’s specific claim.
What is True? (It’s a fact, just not a relevant one).
In a standard 5-paragraph essay, the Claim or Thesis statement is usually found in this specific part of the introduction.
What is the last sentence?
This term refers to words like "Furthermore," "However," or "In addition" that help the essay flow.
What are Transition Words?
In the conclusion, you should briefly do this for the main points made in your body paragraphs.
What is Summarize?
This is the term for a central idea that is not directly stated in the text, requiring the reader to "read between the lines" using supporting details.
What is an Implicit (or Inferred) Central Idea?
When the SBAC asks you to "Cite Evidence," you must provide a detail that comes directly from here.
What is the text?
What connects the hook to the thesis statement?
What is the bridge?
For a high score on the SBAC, your body paragraphs should stay focused on this—not drifting off-topic.
What is Focus (or Cohesion)?
This is the very last sentence of an essay that leaves the reader with a final thought or a "call to action."
What is the Clincher (or Mic Drop)?
When an author includes a "rebuttal" or "counter-argument," they are acknowledging an idea that goes against this specific element of the text.
What is the Claim (or Thesis/Main Central Idea)?
If a main idea is "Plastic pollution is hurting the ocean," this detail—"Recycling bins are usually blue"—is considered _________.
What is irrelevant (or weak/insufficient)?