Writing Skills and Techniques

These flashcards cover key concepts in writing skills and techniques, focusing on clarity, organization, voice, and logical reasoning.

Good writing

Reflects the writer's unique perspective, ideas, and voice. It's clear, well-organized, and supported with strong, specific examples.

Starting point for great writing

Strong ideas developed through brainstorming and choosing an original or compelling point of view.

Originality in writing

Original ideas stand out to readers and graders, making the writing more engaging and memorable.

Specific examples

Important for supporting arguments, making writing stronger, and keeping it focused and convincing.

Role of organization in writing

Ensures points flow logically and clearly from the thesis to the conclusion.

Well-structured essay components

Includes a clear introduction, body paragraphs with strong examples, and a conclusion that ties everything together.

Style and voice in writing

Make writing personal and compelling. A confident, consistent voice builds credibility.

Tips for strong voice in writing

Use active verbs, vary sentence length, avoid unnecessary passive voice, and write like you speak—then revise.

Handling informal thoughts in academic writing

Translate conversational thoughts into a more formal, confident tone while keeping the original idea intact.

Importance of grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Errors distract readers and weaken your credibility, especially in persuasive writing.

Diction

Means word choice. Good diction means choosing the right words for clarity, tone, and style.

Replacing boring words

To make writing more vivid, specific, and interesting for the reader.

Vague vs. specific details

Always choose specific details; they paint a clearer picture for the reader.

Avoiding repetition in writing

Repetition makes writing dull; use synonyms and rephrase to keep it fresh.

Connotations of words

Help build tone—the feeling or mood the writing gives the reader.

Homophones

Words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings (e.g., accept vs. except).

Active voice

In active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., 'Luke's dad threw the Emperor').

Passive voice

In passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g., 'The Emperor was thrown by Luke's dad').

Identifying passive voice

Look for a form of 'to be' + a past participle, often followed by 'by…'.

Importance of active voice

It is more direct, clear, and engaging; it puts the subject and action up front.

Point of view in writing

The perspective from which a work is written.

Types of point of view

First person, second person, and third person.

Pronouns used in first person

I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours.

When to use first person point of view

In fiction, memoirs, personal essays, and autobiographies.

Pronouns in second person

You, your, yours.

Common uses of second person point of view

In how-to guides, advice columns, and some children’s books.

Pronouns used in third person

He, she, it, they, him, her, them, his, hers, theirs.

When does third person point of view occur

In fiction, biographies, and academic writing.

What is a comparison in writing?

A way to show preference or describe one thing in relation to another.

What is an illogical comparison?

A comparison between two things that aren't truly comparable.

What is the comparative form?

Used when comparing two things.

What is the superlative form?

Used when comparing three or more things or something to all others.

What is a logical fallacy?

A flaw or error in reasoning that undermines the validity of an argument.

What is a hasty generalization?

A fallacy where a conclusion is made about a large group based on insufficient or limited evidence.

What is circular reasoning?

When a statement uses itself as proof, providing no actual evidence.

What is a false cause fallacy?

When it is assumed that one event causes another simply because they happen together.

Why avoid logical fallacies?

To ensure your argument is credible, logical, and persuasive.