Prose, Types of Essays, and Coherence

Question 1

explains a particular subject to its readers. It focuses on specific topics and includes relevant facts, figures, and descriptions. It usually describes a process, and information is ordered logically and sequentially. It usually does not include the writer’s opinions or any effort to convince the reader of a certain position on the information.

Answer 1

Expository Essay

Question 2

contains the biases and opinions of the writer. It also includes justifications, reasons, and arguments in an effort to convince the reader to agree with the writer’s opinion, accept an idea, or take an action.

Answer 2

Persuasive/Argumentative Essay

Question 3

similar to expository. It explains something to the reader, but it does so with very descriptive language that uses all five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell) to create a vivid image for the reader. This type of writing is often personal and subjective while expository writing is typically impersonal or distant.

Answer 3

Descriptive Essay

Question 3

used when telling a story, which can be fact or fiction. This is one of the most versatile styles because it allows writers to create from imagination. In this type of writing the story is central, not the facts. This type of essay usually includes characters and dialogue, tells a story, and has a logical beginning, middle, and end.

Answer 3

Narrative Essay

Question 4

reflects the writer’s personal style. For instance, is the writing ornate with long, complex sentences? Is it packed with metaphors and imagery? Is it straightforward, with sparse prose and simple sentences? Perhaps it’s conversational rather than formal? Emotional or logical? Serious rather than humorous? Are grammar rules applied rigidly or does the writer play fast and loose with dashes and dots, slang, emoticons, and one-sentence paragraphs?

Answer 4

Tone

Question 5

the perspective in which the information is shared. It is how readers hear the words. Do they hear a formal, objective voice (i.e. the authority of a university or corporate leader) or do they hear the more personal voice of the writer? This can also refer to perspective, such as writing in the first or third person.

Answer 5

Voice

Question 6

A pronoun is used to take the place of a noun that has preceded it. It must be clear which noun the pronoun refers to. Examples of Pronouns include: I, you, he, she, we, you, they, it

Answer 6

Pronoun Reference

Question 7

Writing sentences in such a way that a series of grammatical elements are of the same type, rather than awkwardly or unintentionally varied. It helps express a series of ideas of equal importance and helps give sentences rhythm, balance, impact and clarity of expression.

Answer 7

Parallel Structure

Question 8

Words, ideas, or phrases may be repeated in order to stress their importance. In this way, it also serves as an emphatic device.

Answer 8

Repetition of Key Words

Question 9

Words that help make the transition (or “jump”) between ideas in a sentence or paragraphs. These connect sections of text to clearly show how ideas are connected with one another. They are also referred to as connectives.

Answer 9

Transnational Devices

Question 10

The people who the author wrote the essay for.
For instance, the selection/visual may be created for a very specific audience such as teenagers, consumers or it may be created for a general audience.

Answer 10

Audience

Question 11

the quality which makes it easy for reader to follow a writer’s train of thought as it moves from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph.

Answer 11

Coherence

Question 12

• quality of oneness or togetherness.
• When a piece of writing is unified, no part of the work is irrelevant.
• All information in an essay is relevant to the thesis and the topic sentence.
• It is coherent, easy to follow, and each paragraph relates to the main thesis.

Answer 12

Unity

Question 13

emphatic devices can help specific elements (example: key ideas) stand out to the reader.
- listing (numerical order, bullets, sequencing)
- font (bold, unusual capitalization, italics, underline)
Ex. Hello. Hello! HELLO!
- punctuation (colon, dash, exclamation mark, ellipsis, brackets)
Shows breaks in thought

Answer 13

Emphasis

Question 14

• listing (numerical order, bullets, sequencing)
• font (bold, unusual capitalization, italics, underline)
  Ex. Hello. Hello! HELLO!
• punctuation (colon, dash, exclamation mark, ellipsis, brackets)
• Shows breaks in thought
  repetition, parallel structure
  Ex. Be sure to eat your supper, complete your homework, and study your notes before going to sleep tonight.
• sentence fragments
  Ex. So, like, there we were!
• short sentences
  Ex. I froze.

Answer 14

Emphatic Devices