A
Compendium of Writers’ Techniques
Introductions:
“Openers,” “Leads,” “Attention-Grabbers”
Conclusions:
“Closers,” “Clinchers”
Focus:
Thesis Statements, Forecast Statements, Topic Sentences
Structure:
Organization (Chronological, Spatial, Progressive, Logical)
Coherence:
Transition Strategies
Forms
or Genres:
Argument, Proposal, Problem-Solution, Review, Comparison-Contrast, Cause-Effect,
Narration, Process, Character Sketch, Explanation Report, etc.
Paragraphs:
Long versus Short, Variety, Transition Paragraphs,
Support:
Evidence, Development—e.g. Personal Experience, Personal Observations, Shared
Values or Beliefs, Examples, Anecdotes, Scenarios, Cases, Facts, Statistics,
Testimony of Experts, Explanations, Comparisons, Analogies, etc.
Style:
Sentences (Short versus Long), Sentences (Simple versus Complex),
Declarative/Statements, Imperatives/Commands, Interrogatives/Questions,
Exclamations
Style:
Sentences, Repeated Grammatical Structures, Parallelism
Style:
Figurative Language—Metaphors, Similes, Symbolism, etc.
Style:
Word Choice, Vocabulary, Diction, Informal, Formal, Common, Slang,
Sophisticated, Technical, Jargon
Style:
Unique Punctuation Usage
Tone:
(The Writer’s Attitude) Formal, Informal, Conversational, etc. --
Examples = Angry, Sarcastic, Serious, Preachy, Argumentative, Conciliatory,
Hurtful, Earnest, Scornful, Hostile, Enthusiastic, Neutral, etc.
Point of View: Personal -- first-person pronoun (“I”) or (“We”), Personal -- second-person pronoun (“You”), Impersonal -- third-person pronoun (“Them”) or (“One”)