Jan 05 2009
Terms for your writing test
Essay Writing Terms
(You need the term, definition, and an example for full credit)
1. concrete images:
an object or thing that can be experienced with the senses
1. figurative language:
speech or writing that departs from literal meaning in order to achieve a special effect or meaning, speech or writing employing figures of speech
2. characterization:
the explicit presentation by the author of the character through direct exposition, either in an introductory block or more often piecemeal throughout the work, illustrated by action; the presentation of the character in action, with little or no explicit comment by the author, in the expectation that the reader can deduce the attributes of the actor from the actions;
(3) the representation from within a character, without comment by the author, of the impact of actions and emotions on the character’s inner self.
3. irony : the discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, what is said and what is done, what is expected or intended and what happens, what is meant or said and what others understand.
4. dialogue: conversation between two or more persons.
.the conversation between characters in a novel, drama, etc.
an exchange of ideas or opinions on a particular issue
5. clarity: clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity.
6. aesthetic effect: an effect regarding the philosophy of beauty or the pleasing qualities of something.
7. syllogisms: a form of reasoning in which two statements or premises are made and a logical conclusion is drawn from them; a form of deductive reasoning.
8. logical: Logos-following Aristotle, persuasion that uses an appeal to logical arguments that requires one to draw one’s own conclusion based upon the argument presented
9. ethical: Ethos-The distinguishing character, beliefs or moral nature of a person, group, or institution.
10. emotional:
Pathos-In its rhetorical sense, pathos is a writer or speaker’s attempt to inspire an emotional reaction in an audience–usually a deep feeling of suffering, but sometimes joy, pride, anger, humor, patriotism, or any of a dozen other emotions.
11. tone:
the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
12. purpose:
13. diction: style of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words.
14. syntax: the grammatical arrangement of words in sentences
15. fallacies: Things that are untrue.
16. basic types of persuasive speech: (i.e., propositions of fact, value, problem,
or policy)
• Speeches of Fact: Here, you try to prove that something is or is not so, or that something did or did not happen. “Our candidate has always supported more money for education” would be a thesis for a persuasive speech of fact.
• Speeches of Value:In this type of persuasive speech, you try to prove good or bad, better or worse. “This movie is superior to its sequel” would be a thesis for a persuasive speech of value.
• Speeches of Policy: In this case, you try to prove that something should or should not be done. “You should buy only American-made goods” would be a suitable thesis for a speech of policy.
17. narration: the act or process or an instance of telling in detail
18. exposition: Writing or speech primarily intended to convey information or to explain; a detailed statement or explanation; explanatory treatise(in a play, novel, etc.) dialogue, description, etc., that gives the audience or reader the background of the characters and the present situation.
19. persuasion: The type of speaking or writing that is intended to make its audience adopt a certain opinion or pursue an action or do both.
20. rhetorical devices: is a technique that an author or speaker uses to evoke an emotional response in his audience (his reader(s) or listener(s))
21. parallelism: In grammar, parallelism is a balance of two or more similar words, phrases, or clauses.
Compare the following examples:
Lacking parallelism: She likes cooking, jogging, and to read.
Parallel: She likes cooking, jogging, and reading.
22. repetition: Repetition of a sound, syllable, word, phrase, line, stanza, or metrical pattern is a basic unifying device in all poetry.
23. analogy: a similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based
