English Final
There is a difference between the connotation of a word and the denotation. Two words may have the exact same denotation (dictionary definition) and completely different connotation. One have more meaning or feeling attached to it than the other.
"Wild" has more connotation than "Untamed." "Home" has more connotation than "House." "Steamrolling" has more connotation than "Pushing."
What should you remember about extended definitions?
-An extended definition focuses on a specific term and discusses it in detail. -An extended definition makes a point. -An extended definition may include classifying a term or dividing it into its parts. -An extended definition may need to address popular misconceptions about the term being defined. -An extended definition may use negation and explain what a term is not. -An extended definition may argue in favor of a particular definition of a term.
What are some important things to remember about definitions?
-Definition is a way of explaining what a term means or which meaning is intended when a word has a number of different meanings. -Definitions are an important part of daily communication.
what is analogy
A form of comparison in which one thing (something that is familiar or easily understood) is compared to another thing that is more difficult to understand. - Explaining the details of a war by comparing it to a neighborhood squabble. - Comparing relationships in a business setting to relationships within a family.
difference between simile and metaphor
A simile is a direct comparison using like or as, while a metaphor is indirect, describing one thing as if it is another. Simile - His smile is like a new day. Metaphor - He is my sunshine.
How is written illustration used within an essay?
As a means of explaining a topic by describing situations that reveal the essential characteristics of the topic. -As a means of supporting a thesis by describing specific situations that reinforce the thesis. -By using example to make ideas concrete.
what is the difference between comparison and contrast
Comparison tells how things are alike and contrast tells how they are different.
Examples should be carefully selected. What does that mean?
Examples should have a direct and clear relationship to your thesis. They should be relevant. -An example should show a typical or real life, not a rare or unusual one - it should be representative. -Examples should be striking and dramatic and make a strong, lasting impression on your readers. In other words, an example should be relevant, representative, accurate, and striking.
How might you use description or comparison/contrast to explain a concept.
In explaining what something is or does, you invariably will need to tell what it looks like and what it sounds like, and maybe what it tastes, smell, or feels like. -It is often easier to explain one unfamiliar thing by comparing it to another, more familiar thing. -People can always understand things better if they can picture it in their own minds and if they can see how it is similar or different from something they understand very well.
what are good sources for essay topics?
Incidents at work Lyrics to songs you hear on the radio Issues that came up in classes Anything that happens on a day-to-day basis
What is a correct guideline for writing standard definitions?
Include enough distinguishing characteristics so that your readers will not mistake the term for something similar within the class.
Certain kinds of terms within all types of essays will need to be defined before your readers will understand the point you are making. What are some kinds of these terms?
Judgmental terms or controversial terms Technical terms used in a particular field or discipline Abstract terms referring to ideas or concepts rather than physical objects
where is the best place for your thesis statement?
Last sentence in your introduction
How might other patterns of development be used in an extended definition?
Narrate a term's history or offer examples of how a term is used. -Describe the item a term stands for or compare or contrast it to similar terms. -Explain how something works or examine the causes or effects of it.
what is a cliche
Overused expressions that have become predictable and therefore have lost their effectiveness - hot as fire, warm as toast, sharp as a tack.
How may comparison/contrast essays be organized?
Point by point (category by category) Subject by subject (topic by topic)
what does descriptive writing try to do
Present information that appeals to one or more of the five senses. Make your writing more lively and interesting, indicating your attitude toward your subject. Create an overall impression or feeling.
what is the one prewriting technique suggested by your textbook that we won't use until next semester?
Research
.What does it mean to define its distinguishing characteristics?
Tells how it differs from others within its class
What are the three parts of a standard definition?
Term, Class, Distinguishing characteristics
How many examples should you use to explain a concept?
The number varies, depending upon your audience and your purpose.
what is personification
To endow inanimate objects or abstract ideas with human (or sometimes animal) attributes - The lawn mower spat at me as I attempted to start the motor.
what are some facts about description
We do not have as many adjectives for smells as we do for sights and sounds. Active verbs are more effective than adverbs in creating striking and lasting impressions. "He zoomed into the parking lot and screeched to a halt" is more effective than "He drove real fast into the parking lot and stopped quickly." It is good to use lots of detail in description - clear, concise observations.
What are some things to remember about comparison/contrast essays.
When making a comparison, a writer needs to choose a basis of comparison - a common characteristic on which to base the essay. -The essay should make a main point about its subjects rather than bore its readers with a mechanical listing of similarities and differences. -Although the number of details can vary by topic, usually three or four significant characteristics of comparison are needed to support a thesis. -A writer may use sensory detail, dialogue, examples, expert testimony, and other kinds of detail in a comparison/contrast essay.
Under what situation are examples particularly useful to explain or clarify?
When your audience has little or no knowledge of your topic.
Before you begin developing ideas for writing your draft essay, what critical questions should you ask yourself?
Why am i writing this essay? -Purpose Who will be reading this essay? - Audience
what is a generalization
a broad statement about a topic an assertion about an entire group or category
what is a flashback
a complication in the sequence of events by presentation of events that happened earlier- going back in time to earlier events
all of the following are true about a narrative
a narrative may not have an explicit thesis sentence. it may be implied a narrative presents a detailed account of an event or series of events narratives can involve readers through dialogue and description
what is alliteration
a repetition of consinant sounds at the beginning of the words
which of the following is true about topic sentences?
a topic sentence is to paragraph what a thesis statement is to an essay
a well developed paragraph supports your thesis, contributes to the overall effectiveness of your essay and contains what?
a well focused topic sentence unified, specific supporting details transitions and repetitions to show how the ideas are related
what is an onimatopieia
a word spelled correctly to the sound that it makes
what is a thesis statement??
an assertion around which you can build an essay- the main point about the subject. it often gives clues about how the essay will develop
what is an epiphany
an experience that caused you to learn something about yourself an experience that caused you to understand about people or life in general an experience that caused you to mature in some way aha! experience
what is a concep
an idea, a mental picture, an opinion or impression of a thing
what are some suggestions to help write an effective title?
ask a question that your essay answers use alliteration use a play on words do not use broad titles that sound like labels
An effective description leaves the reader with a dominant impression - an overall attitude, mood, or feeling about the subject. In describing a place, we call this:
atmosphere
what are some good suggestions for using narration effectively in the essays you write
be sure that your story illustrates your point accurately and well introduce the story with a transitional sentence rather than just abruptly begin the story
what is brainstorming?
brainstorming is quickly listing everything you can think about your topic- impressions, emotions, reactions, and facts
what are the strengthening elements of a good narrative?
characterization, conflict, and crisis description and dialogue
in what order are narratives usually written
chronological or the order in which it happened
which of the following would make a strong introduction?
cite a little known or shocking fact or statistic begin with a story or antecdote
how do you analyze your organization to see if it holds together as a unified piece of writing?
decide whether your introduction interests your reader and provides needed background information decide whether your conclusion draws your essay to a satisfactory close and reinforces your thesis statement decide whether your title accurately reflects the content of your essay
how can concepts be explained
definition, description, illustration, comparison and contrast, classification and division, narrative, cause and effect, and process
in what two types of essays is spatial order commonly used?
description and classification and division
which of the following are key questions for revision?
do you have enough reasons and evidence to support your thesis does your essay seem to drift or lack structure is each paragraph well developed
what can you do to make your sentences concise?
eliminate wordy expressions that contribute nothing to the essay eliminate the repetition of words and ideas eliminate sentence openings that sound indirect or tentative eliminate unnecessary adverbs
what are some types of evidence that would support your thesis statement?
examples, facts, statistics, expert opinions, and narrative stories or antecdotes
what points of view are narratives written in?
first person and third person
where in the paragraph is the topic sentence located?
first sentence of paragraph early in the paragraph last sentence in the paragraph
what are some prewriting techniques for generating ideas?
freewriting and brainstorming mapping and clustering diagraming and outlining asserting and questioning interviewing and researching
how can you select the best types of evidence?
gather your information from reliable sources that can be verified make sure your evidence is valid and relivent to your thesis offer a variety of different types of evidence
What is the richest source of information any writer has?
his own mind, ideas, and experiences
where is the thesis statement usually found in the essay?
in the introduction and in the conclusion
what are the three main parts of an essay?
introduction, body, conclusion
what is the purpose of a peer review?
it allows you to see your paper through another persons eyes for a fresh perception you may improve your own writing skills by seeing errors in another persons writing when you might not notice the same errors in your own work
what is the function of the introduction?
it captures your readers interest, provides background information, and presents your thesis
what does a strong introduction contribute to your paper?
it creates a first, and often lasting, impression it focuses your readers on your narrowed topic it establishes the tone of your essay
what are proper uses of the thesis statement?
it does not state the topic in general and save the specifics for the developing paragraphs. it is not a broad, general statement. it does not make an announcement or tell what you plan to do it does offer an original perspective on your narrowed topic and make a point about it
how does dialogue help a narrative
it dramatizes the action and emphasizes the conflict it reveals the personality and nature of the characters it moves the action along
a thesis statement makes an assertion. what's an assertion?
it is not a statement of fact. it is an idea that the remainder of the essay explains or supports. it is a statement that takes a position or expresses a viewpoint about your topic
what might it mean if, during revision, you are unable to write a sentence stating what your paper is supposed to accomplish?
it lacks a clear purpose
what does the title contribute to the essay?
it sparks readers interest and it may announce your subject
what are the three types of conflict in a narrative?
man against man, man against nature, man against himself
what is mapping?
mapping is a form of prewriting that is called that because you can follow the directions of your thoughts mapping is the same as clustering, where your ideas are clustered around your center topic mapping is a visual way of discovering ideas and relationships
which organization method should you use in the body of your essay?
most to least or least to most important, chronological or spatial
what are some positive facts about the narrative?
narratives provide human interest, spark our curiosity, and draw us close to the storyteller narratives create a sense of shared history, linking people together narratives provide entertainment, instruction, psychological healing, and insight
which of the following are your peers?
people your own age whether they're students or not other students in your class regardless of age people in the same situation as you, whether it is at school at work or the internet
what are the three stages of the writing process?
prewriting, writing, rewriting
how could you find out whether each topic sentence logically connects to and supports the thesis?
read the thesis and then read each topic sentence
what are some ways to write a solid conclusion
restate your thesis but not directly in the same words you used before conclude with a fact, a quotation, or an anecdote summarize, emphasizing the main points look to the future urge action offer recommendations discuss broader implications of your thesis remind readers of the relevance of the issue do not introduce new points do not apologize for whatever mistakes you have made in your paper do not soften your stance so that you may end without being threatened
what do we mean by "revision"?
rethinking your ideas checking the thesis, introduction, body, and conclusion checking the logic and clarity
in analyzing your paragraph development, if you discover a paragraph that is weak or loosely structured, what should you do?
rework it or reorganize it move it to a more important part of the essay do not just leave it alone
the five senses are
sight, hear, taste, feel, smell
what would be good to include in the introductin of a narrative
something to catch readers attention useful background information description of the situation which sets up the sequence of events
what can you do in the conclusion of a narrative
suggest a new, but related, direction of thought reveal a surprising piece of information refer back to the beginning
what should you NOT do in the conclusion of a narrative?
summarize the story you've told
which of the following should the body of your narrative NOT include
switching between verb tenses
the highest point of tension where the conflict is the most focused and explicit is called what?
the climax
in descriptions of places, what should be included besides physical description?
the mood or atmosphere, the way it makes you feel when you are there
what does point of view mean in focusing ideas?
the perspective from which you write an essay the person you become as you write
what is a good way to add description to your narrative
think about what you saw, heard, smelled, tasted, and felt when the incident occured sit back and close your eyes and imagine the incident or experience taking place
what kind of statement should you avoid in writing introductions?
those that may create negative attitudes
what are the purposes of writing?
to entertain, to inform, to persuade.
.What might be the purpose of a comparison/contrast essay?.What might be the purpose of a comparison/contrast essay?
to express ideas, to inform, and to persuade
what is the purpose of a concept paper
to inform
why would you want to integrate a narrative into an essay
to support your thesis effectively with a story that makes the same point
what can you do to include good characterization in narrative?
use description and dialogue to reveal the characters personalities make your characters three dimensional- capable of surprising us because they are not predictable
what are some good suggestions for proofreading your paper?
use the spell check and grammar check functions of the computer, but don't trust them completely. They will not catch your spelling errors if you have used the wrong word read your essay backward from the last sentence to the first ask a classmate or friend to proofread read your essay aloud slowly and deliberately
what questions should you ask to analyze your audience?
what does your audience know or not know about your topic what is the education, background, and experience of your audience what attitudes, beliefs, opinions, or biases is your audience likely to have
when do you start a new paragraph in dialogue
when the speaker changes
what are some useful techniques for revision?
when you have completed your essay, wait for at least 24 hours before you begin the revision process read your draft aloud work from a typed copy so that you can see the whole work ask a classmate or a friend to read your essay and offer constructive criticism
what changes according to audience?
word choice and sentence structure the type of information provided the tone- whether it is casual or serious
what are transitions?
words or phrases that lead your reader from one idea to another- links what is to come with what has gone before
what are the rules covering freewriting?
write fast so you can keep up with your thoughts don't stop to read over what you have written. just keep writing don't worry about grammar, spelling, or punctuation in other words, there are no rules. just write nonstop
what are the two directions to take when considering a thesis?
you may concentrate on generating facts and details about your topic, and then decide what your thesis statement may be or begin with a large idea, focus it into a thesis statement and then generate details to support the thesis
what should you analyze about your paper during the revision process?
your purpose, audience, and thesis your topic sentences your organization
you must use very good descriptions because...
your readers cannot see what you can
what is true about the thesis of an epiphany narrative
your thesis involves your actual epiphany your thesis may be stated or implied