Process of Writing Flashcards
Report
an account given on a particular subject in the form of an official document. ex- “The Mueller Report”
Meter (when reading)
the repetition or the stressing of words or phrases
Dactyl
indicates a stressed, unstressed, unstressed syllable pattern. ex- Delaware
Play (Writing)
a dramatic work for stage or broadcast. ex- Hamlet
Article
a nonfictional prose composition usually forming an independent part of a publication. ex- “Why does Amelia Earhart still fascinate us?” in National Geographic
Informative / Explanatory Writing
a writing style which demonstrates comprehension of a topic or process. ex- In a science class, students write about a procedure that they performed and the results that they achieved.
Iambic
indicates a unstressed, stressed syllable pattern. ex- befriend, about, intense
Antagonist
the main enemy of the protagonist. ex- Iago from Othello
Stanza
lines chunked together in a poem, similar to a paragraph in prose
Couplet
two lines that rhyme. ex- Double, double, toil and trouble/ Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Drama
serious and thought-provoking dramatic literature. ex- Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Writing Process - Publishing
The final step in the writing process where the writer ensures the neatness and understanding of the final product
Modeling
an instructional strategy in which the teacher demonstrates a concept or skill and students learn by observing. ex- When a teacher encounters a difficult word in a text, she thinks aloud to model how she can use the context clues to discover the meaning.
Essay
a short piece of writing on a particular subject. ex-
“Notes of a Native Son” by James Baldwin
Dramatic Irony
When the audience/reader knows something the character does not. ex- When the audience sees the Road Runner paint a hole in the side of a cliff, but Wile E Coyote continues to run ahead at full speed towards the “hole.”
Resume
a document written by an individual to highlight their professional accomplishments and experience
Protagonist
the main character in a narrative. ex- Othello from Othello
Argumentative Writing
writing meant to persuade the reader to agree with the conclusions of the author
Writing Process - Drafting
The second step in the writing process where the writer brings together similar ideas and organizes them into paragraphs
Writing Process - Prewriting
The first step in the writing process when the writer decides on a central idea/topic for writing and formulates a thesis or main idea statement
Blank Verse
unrhymed poetic lines in an unstressed, stressed syllable pattern
Sonnet
a fourteen line stanza with a specific rhyme scheme. ex- Shakespeare’s sonnets
Dialogue Tag
followed or preceded by a comma or punctuation mark, with quotation marks around the quotation. ex- As Mark exited the highway, he thought, “I hope this is the right way.”
Quatrain
Four-line stanzas with a set rhyme scheme
Memorandum
a written message in business or diplomacy. ex- A memo from a school principal telling everyone not to use her parking space.
Rubric
A scoring guide based on several criteria rather than a single numerical score
Trochaic
indicates a stressed, unstressed syllable pattern. ex- planet
Flashback
moment in the narrative when the story reflects back on an earlier moment in time. ex- Holden Caulfield in a rest home telling the events that led him there in The Catcher in the Rye
Text Message
an electronic communication sent and received by mobile phone. ex- “Do you want to go to lunch?”
Newspaper Column
a recurring opinion piece or article in a newspaper, magazine or other publication. ex- Maureen Dowd’s column in the New York Times
Letter
a direct or personal message addressed to a specific person or organization
Descriptive Writing
Used to create detailed descriptions of people, places, and things. Descriptive writing is also develops the mood and atmosphere of the text.
Theatre of the Absurd
theatrical works that focus on the absurdity of the human journey through life. ex- Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Audience
The intended recipient of a written or verbal communication. ex- When writing lesson plans, your students are your audience. A student writing a research presentation would have both his classmates and the teacher as an audience
Short Story
a story with a fully developed theme that is shorter than a novel. ex- “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
Task
the writing assignment. ex-
“Write a three paragraph story about a boy and his dog. Use sensory language.”
Writing Process - Revising
Reviewing the draft and making necessary corrections for sentence usage, organization, coherence, and audience
Deus ex machina
narrative technique in which the problem in the story all of a sudden is solved. ex- a passing ship appears and rescues the boys in The Lord of the Flies
Writing Conference
an individual meeting with students to discuss their drafts to help them revise their work before submitting a final product, and to help the teacher assess student understanding and modify instruction as needed
Ballad
ABCB or ABAB rhyming stanzas as part of a longer poem. ex- The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Speech
a formal address or discourse spoken to an audience. ex- “The Gettysburg Address”
Formative Assessments
Assessment for learning. Usually mid-instruction assessment with the purpose of assessing student progress and informing the teacher so instruction can be altered as needed. ex- graphic organizers, games
Anapest
indicates a unstressed, unstressed, stressed syllable pattern. ex- engineer
Writing Feedback
comments and assessments given to students to improve their writing
Comedy
funny, amusing, and light-hearted dramatic literature. ex- Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Author’s Purpose
The author’s intention for writing. Could be persuasive, narrative, expository, or informative. Organization and style choices should reflect the purpose for writing.
Transition Words
Phrases and words used to link sentences, paragraphs, and ideas together. ex- First, next, last, on the other hand
Rhyme Scheme
the pattern of end rhyme in a stanza or poem
Editorial
an article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue. ex- “The Post’s endorsements for Fairfax County’s school board” in the Washington Post
Blog
A website where writers post entries and readers can make comments
Journal
a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use. ex- Diary
Foreshadowing
the narrator or character hints at a future plot point
Writing Process
The steps a writer goes through to compose a finished, polished text. ex- Prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing
Foot
a metrical unit composed of both stressed and unstressed syllables
Sensory Details
Sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste descriptions. ex- The aroma of roasted chicken burst out of the oven and drifted temptingly towards my nostrils.
Writing Process - Editing
Reviewing the draft for corrections in grammar, mechanics, and spelling
Monologue
a lengthy speech by a character in a drama. ex- “To be or not to be?” speech in Hamlet
Abstracts
summaries of published scientific investigations, usually included at the beginning of the publication
Quintet
A five-line stanza. ex- Limericks
