10th ELA

Essential Vocabulary

Argument: Discourse intended to persuade another for or against something. Complex character: A character with multiple conficting motivations. These characters are usually realistic and multifaceted. Precise claim: A specifc position on a debatable or controversial topic that includes the reasons why. Clause: A part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb. Repeating a clause is one way to connect ideas in an essay. Counterclaim: A claim that negates or disagrees with the thesis/claim. Concluding statement: Discussion wrap-up by pulling back into more general information that restates the main points of the argument, and possibly calls for action or addresses counterclaims. Evidence: Proof (facts, fgures, details, quotations, or other sources of data and information) used to back up the argument claim. Evidence should be fair, objective, and complete. Fear: A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Intolerance: Lacking respect for practices and beliefs other than one's own. Phrase: A group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence. These are phrases commonly used as transitions: for example, in fact, in addition, not only, in contrast, on the other hand. Reason (warrant): Explanation of why or how the data supports the claim, the underlying assumption that connects your data to your claim. Refutation: The part of an argument in which a speaker or writer counters opposing points of view. Text structure: Organization of a text for a purpose. For example, parallel plots (two or more stories linked by character or theme), pacing (speed or tempo of an author’s writing), and fashbacks (interruption of chronological sequence to describe a past incident) create mystery, tension, or surprise. PLANNING NOTES:

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