Unit 5 · Reasoning and Organization – Reading

Body paragraphs ● (core concept) — Each one makes a claim, supports it with evidence, and adds commentary explaining how the paragraph advances the argument's reasoning.

Coherence ● (core concept) — The logical linking of ideas at every level — clause to clause, sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph — reflecting the line of reasoning.

Cohesion devices ● (core concept) — Repetition, synonyms, pronoun references, and parallel structure that signal or develop relationships between parts of a text.

Parallel structure ● (core concept) — Using the same grammatical pattern for related ideas, which links them and makes the relationship clear. (Example: “to inform, to persuade, to entertain.”)

Transitional elements ● (core concept) — Words, phrases, clauses, sentences, or paragraphs that create coherence by showing relationships among ideas — including introducing evidence and showing how it relates to the rest.

Connotation ● (core concept) — The emotions, associations, or values a word carries beyond its literal meaning. (“Home” feels warm; “house” is neutral.)

Denotation ● (core concept) — A word's literal, dictionary definition.

Descriptive language ● (core concept) — Adjectives and adverbs that not only modify what they describe but also reveal the writer's perspective toward it.

Precise word choice ● (core concept) — Choosing exact words to reduce confusion and help the audience perceive the writer's perspective.