Fundamentals of Writing: Principles of Effective Writing

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the principles of effective writing, including definitions and essential concepts crucial for understanding essay structure and the writing process.

What is Writing?

A medium of human communication that involves the representation of a language with written symbols.

Effective Essay

A group of paragraphs organized around a thesis, containing an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph.

Topic Sentence

Contains the main idea of the paragraph, may present a stand, a question, or a statement.

Supporting Sentences

Provide additional information or details that prove or explain the main idea.

Cohesive Devices

Words such as pronouns, conjunctions, and other transitional devices that show how the parts of the text are connected.

Closing Sentence

Concludes the information or arguments presented in the text.

Lead or Attention-getter

Aims to hook the readers, using a provocative rhetorical question, statistics, a startling statement, or an anecdote.

Thesis Statement

States the central idea or argument of the essay.

Unity

Achieved when a composition contains one focused idea and all supporting ideas are relevant to the main thought.

Coherence and Cohesion

Achieved when ideas are logically, clearly, and smoothly linked to one another.

Organization

Achieved when ideas are logically and accurately arranged according to the parts of a composition.

Language Use

Enables the writer to effectively communicate ideas without confusing the reader.

Mechanics

Technical aspect of writing characterized as a set of conventions on how to spell, abbreviate, punctuate, and capitalize a composition.

Redundancy

Something that is repeated unnecessarily or something that is not useful because there is already a more advanced version.

Cliché

A phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.

Hifalutin

Expressed in or marked by the use of language that is elaborated or heightened by artificial or empty means.