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3380225486allusionA reference to an artistic work, person, place, event about which readers are assumed to already know0
3380225487analogyAn extended comparison. An analogy explains features of one things by reference to features shared with something more commonly known and understood1
3380225488argumentWriting the attempts to prove a point through reasoning. Argument presses it case by using logic and by supporting its logic with examples and evidence. Making a claim.2
3380225489audienceAs actors audiences who can see and hear them, writers have readers. Having a sense of audience is important in writing because we write differently depending on who we think will be reading our work. If our audience is specific we write in such a way that will appeal to a small group. If it is general we write in such a way that will appeal to as many people as possible.3
3380225490Cause and EffectAnalysis of events and situations in which reasons are sought and effects are considered. Writers tracing the chain of events leading to a present situation or arguing the consequences of a future decision are doing cause and effect.4
3380225491ClaimWhat an argument tries to prove. Often called a thesis. An unarguable statement.5
3380225492Classification and DivisionThe sorting out of elements into classes or groups, or the separation of something into its parts. Classifications and Division are used when a writer wants to break something down into it elements or groups.6
3380225493ClicheAn old tired expression that writers should avoid like the plague. "Like the plague" is an example of a cliche7
3380225494Comparison and ContrastExamination of similarities and differences. One usually but not always appears with the other.8
3380225495ConclusionThe ending of an essay, which should bring the writer's point home in a few sentences or even a paragraph or two. Good conclusions do more than repeat the thesis, and they can even sometimes point the way to extensions, but they should not introduce new thoughts.9
3380225496DefinitionExplanation of the nature of a word, thing, or idea. Essays that define may use many other kinds of writing, such as description, exposition, and narration.10
3380225497DescriptionDepiction through sensory evidence. Description is not just visual, It can use details of touch, smell, taste, and hearing. These concrete details can support a specific argument.11
3380225498DictionWord choice. Can be characterized in terms of level of formality, concreteness, and other choices that reflect a level appropriate to the writer's subject and audience.12
3380225499DraftAn unfinished essay. A draft may have a conclusion but it has not been completely revised, edited, and proofread.13
3380225500EssayA short nonfiction piece of writing. A writer should present on main idea in an essay.14
3380225501EvidenceThe facts that support an argument15
3380225502exemplificationProviding specific instances in support of general ideas.16
3380225503ExpositionWriting that explains. Rather than showing, as in narrative, exposition tells. A majority of essays contain some exposition because they need to convey information.17
3380225504FallacyA logical error. Fallacies weaken an argument.18
3380225505IntroductionThe beginning of an essay; it should generally state a writer's main point. Can include a thesis statement or development of a thesis.19
3380225506IronyVerbal irony is writing that say one thing while it means something else, often the opposite of what it says (sarcasm is one form of verbal irony).20
3380225507MetaphorMetaphor can be understood as a figure of speech (a non-literal use of language) that says on thing is another or, in the form of simile as a figure of speech that says one thing is like another.21
3380225508NarrationTelling a story, or giving an account of an event. Narration is a part of many different kinds of writing. Essays are mostly narration. Often tell an anecdote.22
3380225509RhetoricThe effective use of a language; also the study of effective language use. Term can be used negatively23
3380225510StoryA narrative. The term is used in a number of different senses-to indicate a narrative within a nonfiction pieces, to label a news article in a newspaper or magazine, or to name the genre of short fiction.24
3380225511StyleThe way a writer writes. Any of the choice writers make while writing-about diction, sentence length, structure, rhythm, and figures of speech- that make their work sound like them.25
3380225512SummaryA condensation, in one's own words, of a work. Summaries consist of the main points of the work; supporting points, examples, and other kinds of support that are left out.26
3380225513SynthesisThe use of outside sources to gather information and opinions, in order to develop ideas, amass evidence, and support evidence.27
3380225514ThesisThe main idea in the piece of writing, which the work is trying to argue or explore. Also sometime knows as the claim, a term which also has a more specific meaning related to augmentation.28
3380225515Thesis statementA sentence or group of sentences, usually appearing early in a piece of writing, that announce the thesis.29
3380225516ToneAttitude toward subject, readers and even the writer and work itself; also sometime mood of atmosphere more generally.30
3380225517Topic sentenceThe sentence in which the writer state's a paragraph's main idea. The topic sentence often appears at or near the beginning of the paragraph.31
3380225518TransitionThe connective tissue among sentences, ideas, and paragraphs. Transition help readers follow writers through their ideas and see the connections among parts of an argument or the relation between the scenes of a narrative.32
3380225519ExigenceAn issue, problem, or situation that cause or prompt someone writes or speak.33
3380225520WarrantThe claim's underlying, commonly held belief.34
3380225521LogosThe logic used to support a claim (induction and deduction) - can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument. Internal consistency of the message- the clarity of a claim.35
3380225522PathosThe emotional or motivational appeals-vivid language, emotional language, and numerous sensory details.36
3380225523EthosThe source's credibility and the speaker's/author's authority.37
3380225524ArrangementRefers to the structure of a text-the organization of thoughts-how the paragraphs "move".`38
3380225525FormBeginning, middle, end39
3380225526Functionhow one paragraph "moves" to the next paragraph to the next paragraph and so forth40
3380225527DiscourseThe use of spoken or written language in a social context41
3380225528Modes of DiscourseThe four traditional categories of written texts: narration, description, exposition, and argument. Also may include these ways of writing about a topic: definition, comparison, and/or contrast, division, and/or classification, cause and/or effect the steps in a process, exemplification (giving examples of something) and expert authority.42
3380225529ToneThe writer's attitude toward a subject, audience, and self. Tone is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language.43
3380225530Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or in formalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give a work a conversational, familiar tone.44
3380225531PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is in scholarly, academic, or bookish (show offish language)45
3380225532SarcasticFrom the Greek meaning "to tear flesh" sarcasm involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.46
3380225533Deductive ReasoningThe valid form of proof. It is in fact, the way in which geometric proofs are written. It is the process by which a person make conclusions based on previously know facts.47
3380225534Inductive ReasoningThis is the process of arriving at a conclusion based on a set of observations. In itself, it is not a valid method of proof.48
3380225535Selection of DetailThe authors choice of specific events and which the words and sensory images and incidents, which are used together to make and create a narrative, descriptive, argumentative, or expositive piece of writing.49
3380225536AestheticConcerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty50
3380225537AnecdoteA short story about an interesting or funny event or occurrence that supports the author's argument51
3380225538Rhetorical QuestionThe form of a question that is asked in order to make a point and without the expectation of a reply. Question for the sake of encouraging its listener or reader to consider a message or viewpoint52
3380225539Rhetorical FragmentAn incomplete sentence used to emphasize a particularly importantly idea that the author wants to get across to the audience by eliminating most words except the ones that carry the most essential meaning and to slow down the pace of writing by creating additional pausing with punctuation53
3380225540DictionThe choice and use of words in speech or writing54
3380225541ImageryThe vivid descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the senses.55
3380225542Figurative LanguageWriting that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid56
3380225543TropeThe use of a word, phrase, and image in a way not intended by its normal signification57
3380225544AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.58
3380225545MetaphorA trope in which a word and phrase is transferred from its literal meaning to stand for something else. not like simile like or is. it is something else.59
3380225546SimileA trope in which one states a comparison between two things that are not alike but have similarities.60
3380225547PersonificationA troupe in which human abilities hare assigned to abstractions or inanimate objects.61
3380225548ParadoxA troupe that makes a seemingly self-contradictory statement.62
3380225549PunA play on words in which a homophone is used for humor.63
3380225550OxymoronA troupe that connects two contradictory terms.64
3380225551HyperboleA troupe composed of exaggerated words or ideals used for emphasis and not to be taken literally.65
3380225552UnderstatementA troupe that presents something as less significant than it is66
3380225553LitotesA troupe that is a form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite.67
3380225554AnatanaclasisA troupe that repeats a word of phrase whereby the meaning changes the second instance.68
3380225555AnthimeraA troupe in which substitution of one part of speech is made into another.69
3380225556PeriphrasisA troupe in which one substitutes a descriptive word or phrase for a proper noun70
3380225557MetonymyA troupe that substitute an associated word for one that is meant.71
3380225558SynecdocheA troupe in which a part of something stands for a whole.72
3380225559ZeugmaA troupe in which one verb governs several words, or clauses each in a different sense.73
3380225560SyntaxThe study of rules that govern the ways words combine to form phrases, clauses and sentences- the arrangement of words in a sentences74
3380225561AntecendentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.75
3380225562ClauseA grammatical unit that contains both a subject or a verb.76
3380225563Subordinate ClauseLike all clauses, this word group contains both subject and a verb, but unlike the independent clause, the subordinate clause cannot stand alone, it doesn't express a complete thought.77
3380225564Loose Sentence or Cumulative SentenceA type of sentence in which the main idea come first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases or clauses.78
3380225565Periodic SentenceThe opposite of loose sentence, a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.79
3380225566Simple SentenceExperienced writers use a variety of sentences to make their writing interested and lively.80
3380225567Compound SentenceA compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator.81
3380225568Complex SentenceA complex sentence has an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses.82
3380225569Compound-Complex SentencesA compound-complex sentence is made of a compound sentence and a complex sentence.83
3380225570ParallelismAlso referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this term comes from Greek roots meaning beside one another.84
3380225571RepetitionThe duplication, either exact, or approximate, of any element of language, such as sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.85
3380225572SchemeA way that something is arranged or organized--sometimes in an unusual way or order. Think about the way words are arranged in a sentence.86
3380225573AnaphoraA scheme in which the same word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or sentences.87
3380225574EpanalepisA scheme that repeats the beginning word or phrase.88
3380225575EpistropheA scheme that repeats a word or phrase for emphasis, usually with no words in between.89
3380225576EpizeuxisA scheme that repeats a word or phrase for emphasis, usually with no words in between.90
3380225577PolyptotonA scheme that repeats words derived from the same root but with different endings.91
3380225578TricolonA scheme in which three parallel elements of the same length occur together in a series.92
3380225579ClimaxA scheme that arranges words, phrases, and clauses in increasing order of importance.93
3380225580AntithesisA scheme that makes use of contrasting words, phrases, sentences, or ideas for emphasis.94
3380225581AnadiplosisA scheme that repeats the last word or phrase from the previous line or sentence at the beginning of the next line or sentence.95
3380225582BrachylogiaA scheme that omits conjunctions between single words.96
3380225583AsyndetonA scheme that omits cconjunctions between phrases or clauses.97
3380225584PolysyndetonA scheme that places a conjuctions after every term in the list.98
3380225585AnastropheA scheme in which a normal order is changed for emphasis;.99
3380225586ChiasmusA scheme in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed.100
3380225587AntimetaboleA scheme in which an inverted order of repeated words in adjacent phrase or clauses.101
3380225588AppositionA scheme in which an additional explanatory element is added.102
3380225589ApostropheA scheme in which a person or an abstract quality is directly addressed whether present or not.103
3380225590EllipsisA scheme that omits some words that would be necessary for a complete constrution104
3380225591PunctuationPay attention to the punctuation. Does that author ask a bunch of questions.105
3380225592AphorismA terse statement of know authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principal106
3380225593DigressionThe inclusion of material unrelated to the actual subject of work.107
3380225594ElegyA poem that praises the dead.108
3380225595EuphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech" more aggressive or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept109
3380225596JaragonThe specialized language of a profession or group110
3380225597JuxtapositionThe act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side for emphasis111
3380225598Inference/InferTo draw a reasonable conclusion for the information presented.112
3380225599LyricalSonglike, expressing the writer's emotions in an imaginative and beautiful way.113
3380225600MoodThe prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.114
3380225601ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule115
3380225602PersonaA individual social facade or front that reflects the role in life the individual is playing.116
3380225603SatireA work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions or conventions for reform or ridicule117
3380225604SyllogismFrom the Greek for "reckoning together118
3380225605SynesthesiaA device by which one sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experiences of another.119

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