Writing Terminology
Thesis
sentence with subject and
opinion; in introductory paragraph
Prewriting
getting ideas and concrete details
down on paper before you begin
organizing; options include
bubble clusters, spider diagrams,
line clustering, etc.
Note break to explore options. 
Concrete detail (CD)
(evidence/support)
specific details -- usually what we
see and hear; in literature
essays, concrete detail means
examples or quotations from the
story
Commentary
(opinion)
your opinion about something;
not a concrete detail
Topic sentence
first sentence in a body
paragraph; must include
commentary to guide the whole
paragraph
Outline
(shaping your essay)
final stage of prewriting; will
include the following: 1) thesis; 2)
topic sentence for each body
paragraph; 3) first sentence of
conclusion
Conclusion
final paragraph; it should do one
or more of the following: 1) sum
up your ideas; 2) reflect on what
you said in your essay; 3)
provide more commentary about
your subject; 4) give a personal
statement about the subject; 5)
make predictions
Peer response
written responses and reactions
to a partner’s paper