SAT Reading & Writing Flashcards

Main Idea

The central point or primary message that an author conveys in a passage. It answers the question: What is this text primarily about?

Inference

A logical conclusion drawn from evidence in the text, even though it is not directly stated. Requires reading between the lines.

Context Clues

Words or phrases surrounding an unfamiliar word that help reveal its meaning without using a dictionary.

Tone

The author's attitude or emotional perspective toward the subject matter, such as critical, optimistic, sarcastic, or neutral.

Diction

The specific words and phrases an author chooses to use. Word choice affects meaning and tone.

Syntax

The arrangement and structure of words and sentences in a text. Changes in sentence length and complexity can emphasize ideas.

Rhetorical Strategy

Techniques a writer uses to persuade, inform, or engage the reader, such as appeals to emotion, logic, or credibility.

Analogy

A comparison between two different things to explain or clarify one of them by showing how they are similar.

Evidence

Facts, quotes, examples, or data from the text that support a claim or answer a question.

Author's Purpose

The reason why an author wrote the text, such as to inform, entertain, persuade, or explain.

Bias

A prejudice or preference that affects how an author presents information or arguments in a text.

Transition Words

Words or phrases that connect ideas and show relationships between sentences, such as 'however,' 'therefore,' and 'meanwhile.'

Subject-Verb Agreement

The grammatical rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number (singular or plural).

Pronoun Reference

The noun that a pronoun (he, she, it, they) refers to. The reference must be clear and grammatically correct.

Modifier

A word or phrase that describes or limits another word. Misplaced modifiers can create confusion or awkward sentences.

Parallel Structure

Using the same grammatical form for elements that serve the same function in a sentence or list for clarity and balance.

Comma Splice

An error where two independent clauses are joined with only a comma. Requires a conjunction or stronger punctuation.

Fragment

An incomplete sentence that lacks a subject, verb, or complete thought and cannot stand alone.

Run-on Sentence

Two or more independent clauses joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions, creating a rambling sentence.

Tense Consistency

Using the same verb tense throughout a passage unless there is a clear reason to shift to a different time frame.

Active vs. Passive Voice

Active voice: subject performs the action. Passive voice: subject receives the action. Active is usually clearer and more direct.

Subordinate Clause

A clause that contains a subject and verb but cannot stand alone as a sentence; it depends on a main clause for meaning.

Relative Clause

A subordinate clause introduced by 'who,' 'which,' 'that,' or 'where' that provides additional information about a noun.

Dangling Modifier

A modifier that does not clearly attach to the word it is meant to describe, creating confusion or absurdity.

Idiom

A phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal meaning of the individual words, like 'raining cats and dogs.'

Allusion

An indirect reference to another text, historical event, person, or work of art that adds depth and meaning to the passage.

Connotation

The emotional or cultural associations and feelings that a word carries beyond its dictionary definition.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word without any emotional or cultural associations.

Sentence Combining

Merging short, choppy sentences into longer, more sophisticated sentences for better flow and emphasis.

Transitions Between Ideas

Connecting sentences and paragraphs logically to show how ideas relate, build, and support one another.