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”)