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This glossary defines key terms and concepts.
Please note that words set in small capital letters are
themselves defined in the glossary.
A
abstract A genre of writing that summarizes a
book, an article, or a paper, usually in 100–200 words.
Authors in some academic fields must provide, at the
top of a report submitted for publication, an abstract
of its content. The abstract may then appear in a journal
of abstracts, such as Psychological Abstracts. An
informative abstract summarizes a complete report; a
briefer descriptive abstract works more as a teaser; a
standalone proposal abstract (also called a topic proposal)
requests permission to conduct research, write
on a topic, or present a report at a scholarly conference.
Key Features: summary of basic information
objective description brevity
ad hominem A logical fallacy that attacks someone's
character rather than addresses the issues.
analysis A genre of writing that methodically
examines a topic or text by breaking it into its parts
and noting how they work in relation to one another.
See literary analysis and textual analysis.
anecdote A brief narrative (see narrate) used to
illustrate a point.
annotated bibliography A genre of writing that
gives an overview of published research and scholarship
on a topic. Each entry includes complete publication
information and a summary or an abstract
for each source. A descriptive annotation summarizes
the content of a source without commenting on its
value; an evaluative annotation gives an opinion
about the source along with a description of it. Key
Features: statement of the scope complete bibliographic
information relevant commentary consistent
presentation
APA style A system of documenting sources in
the social sciences. apa stands for the American
Psychological Association. See also documentation.
appendix A section at the end of a written work
for supplementary material that would be distracting
in the main part of the text.
application letter A letter written to apply for a
job or other position. See also résumé. Key Features: succinct indication of qualifications reasonable and pleasing tone conventional, businesslike format
argument A genre of writing that uses reasons
and evidence to support a claim or position and,
sometimes, to persuade an audience to accept that
position. Key Features: clear and arguable position
necessary background good reason convincing
support for each reason appeal to readers' values
trustworthy tone careful consideration of
other positions
audience Those to whom a text is directedthe
people who read, listen to, or view the text. Audience
is a key part of every text's rhetorical situation.
authority People or texts that are cited as support
for a writer's argument. A structural engineer may
be quoted as an authority on bridge construction,
for example. Authority also refers to a quality conveyed
by a writer who is knowledgeable about his
or her subject.
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