Academic Literacy Flashcards

In an academic text, a 'thesis statement' most commonly refers to:

Answer: The central argument or claim the author intends to prove

A thesis statement presents the central argument or claim that the entire paper or essay will develop and support.

Which of the following best describes a 'counterargument' in academic writing?

Answer: An opposing view that challenges the author's position

A counterargument presents an opposing perspective that the author then typically addresses or refutes to strengthen their own position.

When an author uses the phrase 'in contrast to previous studies,' this signals:

Answer: A comparison that highlights a difference from prior work

'In contrast to' is a discourse marker that signals the author is about to highlight a difference or disagreement with what came before.

An academic text states: 'The correlation between sleep deprivation and reduced cognitive performance is well-documented.' What does 'well-documented' imply?

Answer: Multiple credible studies support this relationship

'Well-documented' implies substantial evidence from credible sources supports the stated relationship.

Which reading strategy is most useful when you need to locate a specific fact in a long article?

Answer: Scanning for keywords related to the fact

Scanning involves moving your eyes quickly over the text to locate specific keywords or information without reading every word.

The word 'paradigm' in the sentence 'This discovery shifted the entire scientific paradigm' most nearly means:

Answer: Accepted framework or model

A paradigm is an accepted framework, model, or set of assumptions within a discipline that guides research and interpretation.

In academic writing, a 'literature review' serves primarily to:

Answer: Summarize and evaluate existing research on a topic

A literature review surveys, synthesizes, and evaluates existing scholarship on a topic to establish context for new research.