Academic Vocabulary
What is an
expository essay?
A type of writing where the
purpose is to inform,
describe, explain, or define
the author’s subject to the
reader.
What is a thesis
statement?
The main idea or point of an essay
or article; in an argumentative
essay the thesis is the writer’s
position on an issue.
What is a topic sentence?
A sentence that states
the main idea of a
paragraph; in an
essay, it also makes a
point that supports
the thesis statement.
What are concrete
details?
Specific details that are most often
what we see and hear. In literature
essays, concrete detail means
examples or quotations from the
text.
What are transitions?
A word, phrase, sentence, or series
of sentences connecting one part
of a discourse to another.
What is a hook?
An interesting quotation,
anecdote, or example at the
beginning of writing that
grabs readers’ attention.
What is a
conclusion?
The last paragraph in your essay. It
should do one or more of the
following: a)sum up your ideas;
b)reflect on what you said in your
essay; c) say more commentary about
your subject; d)give a personal
statement about the subject; e) make
predictions. It gives a finished feeling
to your whole essay. It does not
include concrete details.
What are facts?
Knowledge of
information based
on real occurrences.
What are opinions?
An opinion is a subjective
belief, and it is the result
of emotion or
interpretation of facts.
What is an
introduction?
An introduction is the first
paragraph in your essay.
It should capture the
readers’ attention, and
identify the topic and
purpose.
What are
commentary
sentences?
Sentences that show your opinions
about something.
Interpretation
Personal Response
Analysis
Insight
Reflection
What is a
concluding
sentence?
It is the sentence at the
end of a paragraph
which summarizes the
information that has
been presented.
What are body
paragraphs?
Body paragraphs have the concrete
details and commentary that will
prove your thesis statement.
TS: Topic Sentence
CD: Concrete Detail
CM: Commentary Sentence
CM: Commentary Sentence
CS: Concluding Sentence