Glossary (vocabulary)

a specific type of text summary which includes the author's thesis and central ideas but removes supporting details. An academic summary often will be completely paraphrased (no quotes from the author) to show the reader's understanding of the text.

a short story (real or pretend) offered to explain or support an idea

adding your notes to specific points on a text; annotating might include symbols, highlights, or underlining.

the writer of the text; the author may also refer to a speaker if the text is an audio recording or a video

the focus of a group of paragraphs (or a key single paragraph); central ideas work together to support the thesis

a short list of information about a source, including author, title, date, and where it was published

understanding of a text

the pieces of a text before and after a word, phrase, or sentence that helps the reader understand what the author is trying to say

a point in the text used to support an idea; a detail is often an example, quote, or statistic that helps the reader understand what the author is trying to say

a list of references to a specific text, often created in two columns. The left column gives a specific quote from a text, and the right column gives your own thoughts about that quote.

refers to examples or statistics the author uses to support their ideas or thesis

a short explanation or story (real or pretend) that shows what the author is trying to explain

ideas that are not stated by the author but are suggested through their use of supporting details

the focus of a paragraph (or small group of paragraphs); main ideas support central ideas

to put a piece of a text in your own words while keeping the length, meaning, and tone similar to the original text

what the reader already knows about the topic of a text

a short practice quiz (often made digitally) to help you review information as you study

a series of steps that help you read more effectively, including pre-reading, active reading, and after reading

factual information given as a number or percentage to support an idea

a plan of action to help one reach a goal

giving a shortened version of a text, focusing on the key points and removing specific details

when the reader actively engages with the author's ideas by marking notes on the text, recording their thoughts, and discussing the text with others

a message communicated through written or spoken words, which may include some images

the author’s overall opinion about the topic of the text, also known as their claim or controlling idea

the general subject of a text

a sentence that communicates the main idea of a paragraph, often at the start or end of a paragraph, but it might be implied (rather than stated)

a message communicated primarily through an image (or images)