Academic Vocab: Part 1

Claim A statement essentially arguable but used as a primary point to support or prove an argument is called a claim. If somebody gives an argument to support his position, it is called making a claim. Different reasons are usually presented to prove why a certain point should be accepted as logical.

Argument A form of writing that presents a particular opinion or idea and supports it with evidence.

Counter Claim a claim made to offset another claim A position taken by someone with an opposing viewpoint.

Refutation The reasoning used to disprove an opposing point. Note the difference from counterclaim

Concession An admission in an argument that the opposing side has valid points.

Conflict A conflict is a literary element that involves a struggle between two opposing forces usually a protagonist and an antagonist. Internal Conflicts External Conflicts

Culture The shared set of arts, ideas, skills, customs, attitudes, and values that characterize a group of people, are passed on or taught to succeeding generations. Age, music, language, ethnicity, history, art, etc.

Perspective A way of looking at the world or a mental concept about things or events. Different people or characters may have a different perspective of the world or events.

Tone Tone, in written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is generally conveyed through the choice of words or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject. Every written piece comprises a central theme or subject matter. The manner in which a writer approaches this theme and subject is the tone. The tone can be formal, informal, serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, and cheerful or it may be any other existing attitudes.

Voice The way a writer or speaker uses words and tone to express ideas as well as his or her personas.

In groups of 3… Create a poster to teach your term to the class. You must have: Your term in large writing A definition in your own words An example of your term A visual representation of your term

Academic Vocab Part #2

Allusion an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.

Anaphora The deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect.

Diction style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer. Formal or informal diction can change the effectiveness of any piece of writing. Word choice

Imagery Imagery makes use of particular words that create visual representation of ideas in our minds. Evokes the 5 senses.

Metaphor a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance. Comparison of 2 unlike things

Simile a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid Using like or as.

Synthesis Combining a number of different parts or ideas to come up with a new idea or theory. An example of synthesis is when you read several books and use all of the information to come up with a thesis on the subject.

Symbol The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Generally, it is an object representing another to give it an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant.

Syntax The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

Theme Main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly.