Glossary
Additional Info
A function of supplements where they provide extra details, clarification, or visual aids beyond the main text.
Example:
A historical article might use a sidebar to offer additional info about a lesser-known figure mentioned in the main narrative.
Appendices
Sections at the end of a document containing supplementary material such as tables, graphs, raw data, or lengthy texts that would disrupt the main flow.
Example:
A business report might include an appendix with detailed market research data that supports its conclusions.
Balance
The careful integration of supplements to ensure they support the main text without disrupting its flow or overshadowing its primary message.
Example:
Achieving balance in a document means supplements are helpful additions, not distracting interruptions.
Boost Understanding
A function of supplements where they offer extra context, examples, or explanations to make complex information easier to grasp.
Example:
A complex scientific passage might include an illustration to boost understanding of a cellular process.
Charts and Graphs
Visual representations of data that simplify complex ideas, trends, or relationships, making them easier to understand.
Example:
A passage discussing population growth might include a chart and graph illustrating demographic changes over decades.
Clear Connections
The principle that there must be an obvious and relevant link between a supplement and the specific part of the main text it supports or clarifies.
Example:
For a supplement to be effective, it must have clear connections to the argument being made in the main paragraph.
Credibility Boost
A function of supplements where they back up claims with evidence such as data, statistics, or citations, enhancing the trustworthiness of the text.
Example:
A research paper on economic trends might include a chart to provide a credibility boost for its financial projections.
Critical Thinking
A function of supplements where they present different views or counterarguments, encouraging the reader to analyze information from multiple perspectives.
Example:
A debate on renewable energy might include a sidebar with opposing viewpoints to stimulate critical thinking.
Details and Examples
Specific information or instances provided by supplements that would otherwise disrupt the flow if included directly in the main text.
Example:
A sidebar might offer fascinating details and examples of how a historical event impacted daily life, without interrupting the main narrative.
Direct Support
The function of supplements to directly back up the arguments, claims, or explanations presented in the main text.
Example:
A graph showing declining sales provides direct support for the author's claim about a company's financial struggles.
Endnotes
Similar to footnotes, but compiled at the end of a chapter or an entire document, often used for citations or supplementary comments.
Example:
A lengthy research paper often lists all its sources as endnotes at the very end of the document.
Enhance Comprehension
The primary goal of supplements, which is to make the main text easier to understand by providing additional context, examples, or visual aids.
Example:
A well-placed diagram can significantly enhance comprehension of a difficult scientific process.
Expand, Don't Introduce
A guideline for supplements, meaning they should elaborate on or clarify existing ideas in the main text rather than bringing in entirely new, unrelated topics.
Example:
The appendix should expand, don't introduce new arguments; its purpose is to provide supporting data for what's already discussed.
Focus
Maintaining the primary content as the central point of attention, with supplements serving only to enhance it.
Example:
When analyzing a passage, always keep the main argument in focus, using supplements only to clarify or support it.
Footnotes
Brief notes placed at the bottom of a page, typically marked with superscript numbers, providing additional information or citations.
Example:
When reading a literary analysis, you might find a footnote explaining an obscure historical reference.
Glossaries
Alphabetical lists of key terms and their definitions, typically found at the end of a text, acting as a specialized dictionary.
Example:
Before tackling a complex philosophy text, a student might consult the glossary to understand unfamiliar concepts.
Illustrations
Visuals such as diagrams, drawings, or photographs that help clarify or enhance understanding of concepts described in the text.
Example:
A biology textbook often uses detailed illustrations to show the anatomy of an organism.
Indicators
Superscript numbers, symbols, or direct references used within the main text to link to specific supplementary information.
Example:
The small number '¹' next to a word in a passage serves as an indicator pointing to a footnote at the bottom of the page.
Judicious Use
The careful and balanced application of supplements to avoid overwhelming or distracting the reader from the main point of the text.
Example:
Effective writers demonstrate judicious use of footnotes, ensuring they enhance rather than interrupt the reading experience.
Sidebars
Blocks of important facts or related information presented alongside the main text, often visually distinct.
Example:
A magazine article about space exploration might feature a sidebar with quick facts about famous astronauts.
Supplements
Extra pieces of information that accompany the main text to provide clarity, deeper understanding, or additional context.
Example:
On the SAT, a passage about climate change might include a supplement in the form of a graph showing global temperature trends.
Visual Aids
Any graphic elements like charts, graphs, or illustrations used to simplify complex data or concepts for easier understanding.
Example:
Using visual aids like infographics can make complex statistical information much more accessible to readers.