Requirement This paper asks you to identify an argument’s claim and reason. You will also need to explain the general context for the argument, the author’s purpose and audience and how you have been
Ways authors organize information in texts
Analysis | Break the subject (an object, event, or concept) down into parts and explain the various parts. “Why?” “How?” “So what?” “What if?” | What it might mean is, how it relates to what is known, the implications it offers, in other words, my point is, to put it another way, |
Cause and Effect | Explain both events and ideas. The cause is the stimulus or reason for an event or idea. The effect is the result or consequence of the even or idea. | So, because, cause, comes from, due to, if, on account of, reasons, since, stems from, accordingly, according to affect, as a result, consequence, consequently, creates, effect, hence, leads to, result, then, therefore, thus |
Compare and contrast | Compare two or more items by describing how they are similar; contrast two or more items by explaining their differences; or, provide both the similarities and the differences for a number of items. | Comparison: alike, as well as, both, similarly, likewise, in the same way, analogous to, correspondingly, identical, equivalent Contrast: alternatively, although, but, contrast, conversely, despite, differs from, however, in contrast, less, more, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, unlike, -er suffix (e.g., higher, better, newer) |
Concession/refutation | Offer the opposition’s viewpoint and then tell why it is incorrect/inadequate/unimportant | Author states . . .; however, . . . . Author believes . . ., but . . . . |
Critique | Point out both the good and bad points of something. | |
Definition | Give an accurate meaning of a term with enough detail to allow the reader to understand your intention when you use the term. | Means, is, refers to, is called, can be defined |
Description | Write about the subject so the reader can easily visualize it; tell how it looks or happened, including how, who, where, why. | |
Diagram | Make a drawing of something and label its parts. | |
Discussion | Give a complete and detailed answer, including important characteristics and main points. | |
Division and classification | Divide a whole into parts or sort related items into categories. | Class, classified, category, divided into, group, kind, parts, type |
Evaluation | Give your opinion of the value of the subject; discuss its good and bad points, strengths and weaknesses. | |
Exemplification | Provide examples or cases in points: facts, statistics, cases in point, personal experiences, interview quotations. | Such as, for example, for instance |
Explanation | Give the meaning of something; give facts and details that make the idea easy to understand. | |
Illustration | Make the point or idea clear by giving examples. | |
Interpretation | Tell about the importance of the subject. Explain the results or the effects of something. | |
Justification | Give good reasons that support a decision, action, or event. | |
List | Make an organized listing of the important points of a subject. | Also, another, besides, equally important is, finally, further, furthermore, first, second, in addition, last, moreover, several |
Narration | Recount an event; tell a story. | |
Overview | Describe the issue, including the various viewpoints | |
Process order | Explain how to do something or how something happens. | After, afterward, as finally, first, second, last, next, then, when, while |
Question and Answer | Ask a question to focus the writing on a specific topic and then answer the question. | |
Report | Write a detailed account of activities or events such as research or a conversation. | |
Summary | Briefly cover the main points. | Article, book, concluded, found, in conclusion, in short, investigation, then, therefore, to review, to summarize, research, study subjects |
Trace | Tell about an event or process in chronological order. | After, afterward, as finally, first, second, last, next, then, when, while |
Definitions taken from Kate Kinsella, “Instructions Used in Academic Reading and Writing”; Laura Ellen Shulman, “Rhetorical Strategies for Essay Writing”; Linda A. Lee, Empowered College Reading.