Unit 2: The Essay

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. essay
    an analytic or interpretive literary composition
    An essay is a short nonfiction work that presents a single main idea, or thesis, about a particular topic.
  2. purpose
    an anticipated outcome that guides your planned actions
    The type of essay is determined by what the author hopes to accomplish through the essay, or the writer’s purpose.
  3. abstract
    existing only in the mind
    Such essays are often weighted with abstract language, words or phrases that cannot be directly perceived by the senses: government, power, conscience.
  4. introduction
    the first section of a communication
    Whether an essay is formal or informal, it includes an introduction.
  5. thesis
    an unproved statement advanced as a premise in an argument
    The thesis is the main idea that is supported in a work of nonfiction.
  6. argument
    a discussion for and against some proposition or proposal
    An argument is a form of persuasion that makes a case to the audience for accepting or rejecting a proposition or course of action.
  7. persuasion
    communication intended to induce belief or action
    An argument is a form of persuasion that makes a case to the audience for accepting or rejecting a proposition or course of action.
  8. rhetorical
    relating to using language effectively
    The author may also employ a rhetorical device, a technique used by a speaker or writer to achieve a particular effect, especially to persuade or influence.
  9. parallelism
    similarity by virtue of corresponding
    Common rhetorical devices include parallelism, repetition, and rhetorical questions.
  10. repetition
    the continued use of the same word or word pattern
    Common rhetorical devices include parallelism, repetition, and rhetorical questions.
  11. rhetorical question
    an inquiry that is not supposed to be answered
    Common rhetorical devices include parallelism, repetition, and rhetorical questions.
  12. conclusion
    the last section of a communication
    The conclusion of the essay returns to the thesis.
  13. fact
    a concept whose truth can be proved
    A fact is a statement that can be proven either true or false.
  14. opinion
    a personal belief or judgment
    An opinion expresses an attitude or desire.
  15. bias
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
    Bias is a personal judgment about something, a mental leaning in one direction or the other.
Created on Wed Mar 03 08:51:23 EST 2021 (updated Fri Mar 12 12:02:16 EST 2021)

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