Writing Process and Paragraph Development Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the techniques for prewriting, developing, structuring, and organizing paragraphs.

Brainstorming

A technique where you write down words or phrases that come to mind without worrying about grammar or spelling, then choose one idea to develop further through focused brainstorming.

Questioning

A topic development method based on the 5 W's and 1 H where you ask questions and answer them to develop your topic.

Clustering

A visual brainstorming technique where you put the main topic in the center, add related ideas around it, and connect related ideas with lines to form groups.

Writing Portfolio

A folder that keeps your writing and drafts.

Developing

The second stage of the writing process, which means turning your ideas into a clear, organized piece of writing.

Narrowing a Topic

Making a broad topic more specific so you can focus on one main idea.

Paragraph Structure

The organization of a paragraph that develops one central idea using a topic sentence, body sentences, and a concluding sentence.

Topic Sentence

A sentence that introduces the topic, gives the main idea, and is supported by other sentences in the paragraph.

Supporting Ideas

Facts and examples that explain and support the topic sentence.

Unity

A quality created in a paragraph by removing ideas that do not support the topic sentence.

Time Order

A method of organizing ideas in the order things happen, using signal words like first, next, then, and finally.

Empathic Order

A method of organizing ideas from least important to most important, using transition terms like first, more importantly, and most importantly.

Space Order

A method of organizing ideas that describes location or position, using words such as above, below, beside, and behind.

Paragraph Plan

An outline that organizes your writing into a topic sentence, supporting ideas, details, and a concluding sentence.

Concluding Sentence

The final sentence of a paragraph that restates the main idea, gives a final thought, and can give a suggestion or prediction.

First Draft

The first version of your paragraph that includes the topic sentence, supporting details, and concluding sentence.