This reference has 10 original entries. Use the examples to practice explaining each idea.
Study with flashcards Term / pattern Meaning / method Example Sentence boundary A complete sentence needs an independent clause. Because the road flooded, the bus was delayed. Relevant detail Keep details that support the paragraph’s purpose. A paragraph on bridge maintenance needs inspection evidence, not a tourist anecdote. Inference strength An inference must remain within the evidence. Two late deliveries suggest a recent problem, not that every delivery is late. Transition logic Choose a transition for the real relationship. The first trial failed; therefore, the team revised the procedure. Evidence check Match both the subject and claim in an answer. Evidence about one character’s fear does not prove every character is afraid. Modifier attachment An introductory participial phrase should describe the subject that follows it. Carrying the samples, the researcher entered the room. The researcher carries them. Contrast and concession Contrast distinguishes ideas; concession acknowledges an obstacle before a claim. Although the path was steep, the team reached the shelter. The clause acknowledges difficulty. Evidence scope The answer must be supported in every part; a supported opening does not excuse an unsupported conclusion. A narrator notices one repaired chair; that detail does not show that every room was renovated. Poetry speaker A poem’s speaker is the voice in the poem; do not assume that voice is the author’s biography. A speaker describing a harbor can express uncertainty without telling us where the poet lived. Author’s purpose Connect what the text does to its arrangement and evidence, not merely its topic. An account that compares two competing explanations aims to evaluate them, not simply name the topic.
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