Vocabulary+Words+to+Remember

This page gives basic definitions for some important terms that can help you learn about using Fact Monster.


 * __Task 5__**
 * Cite**: Refer to a source of information, usually in a formal way.

**Credible**: A source you can trust to provide true information.

**Database**: A collection of information organized and stored on a computer so it can be quickly and easily searched and sorted.

**Hit**: A successful match between keywords and Web sites returned by a search engine or directory.

**Keyword**: A word that is related to a topic in an important way and helps you find more information about the topic.

**Paraphrase**: Restate an author’s ideas using different words.

**Plagiarism**: Copying or making slight changes in a written or created work and presenting it as a new or original work.

**Research**: Study a topic carefully using credible sources.

**Search Directory**: A Web site that categorizes Web pages by subject to make searching easier.

**Search Engine**: A program that scans the Internet and creates a database of the words contained in Web sites so users can find Web pages containing specified keywords.

**Source**: Anything or anyone providing information about a topic.

**Summarize**: Explain the main points and important details of an author’s ideas.

__**Task 4**__
 * Brainstorm**: Think of many possibilities as quickly as you can.


 * Controversy**: Disagreement or argument about an issue among people or groups.

**Convergent**: Moving toward one direction or having a limited number of answers.

**Divergent**: Moving in many directions or having many answers.

**Evaluative**: Requiring judgment to decide among various opinions or answers.

**Peer**: A person who is similar to another, as in age, grade, or career.

__ **Task 3** __

**Concept** (or Idea): A thought that combines specific information into a general statement.

**Critical**: Careful to evaluate information and draw correct conclusions.

**Emotion**: Personal feelings that occur naturally without thought.


 * Ethics**: Standards or criteria for acceptable thought and action by an individual or group.

**Fallacy**: A logical error leading to an incorrect conclusion; also a misleading or deceptive statement or idea.

**Interpret**: Understand or explain meaning.

**Reason**: Logical use of objective information to form concepts and draw conclusions.

**Subjective**: Based on personal feelings and opinions.


 * __ Task 2 __ **


 * Deception**: Influencing the thoughts or actions of people with false statements or dishonest practices.

**E-mail**: Electronic messages sent through a computer network; can be sent with other files attached.

**Encryption**: Coding information so that it can only be understood by an authorized recipient.

**Fraud**: Deception intended to obtain an unfair or illegal financial or other personal gain.

**HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)**: A set of rules that controls how computers on the Internet exchange hypertext.

**HTTPS** **(Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)**: A set of rules that controls how computers on the Internet exchange encrypted information.Hypertext: A method of storing documents on a computer so that related information is connected by links.

**Internet**: A network that connects millions of computers in more than 100 countries around the world.

**Network**: A system of computers connected either by wires and cables or wirelessly by antennas and towers.

**Password**: A secret series of letters, numbers, and symbols used to prove that a person hasthe right to use a computer or access information.

**Phish**: Attempt to trick computer users into revealing personal information, such as passwords.

**Program**: A set of instructions for a computer to perform.

**Software**: Any computer program and any information included with the program.

**Spyware**: A software program that secretly retrieves information from a computer.

**Virus**: A software program that can make copies of itself and execute when triggered by some event; usually embedded in another program and intended to damage a computer or network.

**Worm**: A software program that can make copies of itself and spread over a network without being triggered by an event; usually intended to damage a computer or network.

**Argument**: A logical explanation intended to convince an audience to agree with a particular point of view on an issue.
 * __ Task 1 __ **

**Audience**: The people who read a publication or view a work of art, performance, or presentation.

**Conclusion**: A judgment, decision, or solution reached for specific reasons.

**Data**: Information collected by observation or measurement.

**Essay**: A short written work that makes an important point about a particular topic.

**Evidence**: Objective information supporting an argument, such as facts, data, and statistics.

**Expository**: A type of writing that explains a topic or informs an audience.

**Fact**: Information widely believed to be true and supported by objective data.

**First Person**: A type of writing that tells a story by using pronouns that refer to the author of the story, such as I and we.

**Information**: Anything that can be used to create knowledge. For example, words, numbers, images, audio, and video can all contain information.

**Issue**: An idea or action on which people with different points of view have strong opinions.

**Logical**: Capable of thinking in a clear and consistent way to draw correct conclusions.

**Nonfiction**: Any creative work that describes or comments on actual events, such as a newspaper article or biography.

**Objective**: Able to put aside personal feelings and opinions.

**Opinion**: Beliefs that may or may not be supported by facts.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">**Persuasive**: A type of writing intended to influence the thoughts or actions of an audience.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">**Point of View**: The way a person tends to think about people, places, and events based on individual experiences.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">**Quote**: Use another person’s exact words.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">**Statistics**: Facts and data that can be represented by numbers; also the study of numerical facts and data.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">**Third Person**: A type of writing that tells a story by using pronouns that refer to a character in the story, such as he, she, or they.