Structure Techniques Flashcards
Asyndetic listing
Meaning: Items listed with punctuation not conjuntions
Effect:
- Increase the pace of a text thru the way in
which listed items quickly accumulate.
Conclusion
Effect:
- Summarises the points of a persuasive text.
- Remind the reader of the arguments
- Finish with a final judgement
- Key to a successful persuasive text.
Cyclical structure
Effect:
- Forces a reader to consider what has happened over the course of the text,
- How it has changed the characters or the outcome.
Dialogue
Effect:
- Drives the plot of a text and responsible for
progressing the storyline,
- Helps readers become acquainted with the
characters (esp thru their internal thoughts).
- Simultaneously makes readers more
emotionally invested in the characters and build
their connection with the character by
understanding thought processes
Focus
makes clear the imp…
progresses
emotional attachment..
Meaning:
- What the writer focuses their writing on as the text progresses.
- Focus can shift through the text and as different characters or themes gain importance.
- Focus shifts can be done subtly, or through changing the point of view of the writer.
Effect:
- It makes clear the more important characters and themes in a text
**- Focus shifts are key for progressing the narrative of a text.
**- Shifting the narrative (e.g POV) allows readers to become acquainted with different characters or themes, increasing their emotional engagement in the text.
Endings
Effect:
- The effect varies based on ending
- Cliff- hanger = anticipation of another text to
follow = reader excited for more.
- Neat and tidy, reader = satistaction.
Headings and subheadings
Effect:
- Break up a longer piece of text
- Give it some direction.
- Manageable chunks, easier to read and
understand.
Introduction
Meaning:
- The beginning section of a formal text
- Explains the purpose of the text
- Introduces the arguments that will be made.
Effect:
- Useful for informing audience about the text they are about to read.
- Vague outline of the text = knows exactly what to expect.
Example:
While none of the GCSE set texts have formal introductions so to speak, many of them make use of the main components of an introduction, using the first chapter to introduce key themes that will be explored throughout. For example, in ‘Pride and Prejudice’, the opening chapter introduces key themes of marriage, love, and courtship in Mrs Bennet’s excitement surrounding Mr Bingley moving in nearby.
Narrative pace
T & M
Deeply understand..
more imp..
Meaning:
- The speed at which a text progresses and the story is told.
- This isn’t necessarily the same as the speed with which the story itself takes place.
Effect:
- Alter the tone and mood of a story
- Allows readers to more deeply understand characters and their personalities.
- More important scenes = slower, writer add more detail, reader to become fully immersed.
- Syndetic listing maintains a steady narrative
pace.
Order of events
helps to intoduce and prioritise…
Meaning:
- The order in which the events of a text take place.
- This can be chronological, or it can include Flashbacks or flash forwards.
- Temporal references (references to time) are particularly significant in establishing an order of events.
Effect:
- Helps to introduce and prioritise key ideas and events.
e.g opening = flash forward, the reader would understand that this event is the reason why the text was written.
Rhetorical questions
Effect:
- Subtly influence the reader.
- Persuade them of the argument at hand.
- Not meant to be answered, prompt deeper
thought
Sentence structure
Meaning: The way in which words and punctuation are arranged in a sentence as well as the sentence length
Effect:
- Shorter sentences make arguments explicitly clear to the reader, helping them to understand the point at hand
- Longer sentences can become confusing and overwhelming.
- A sentence with lots of punctuation can come across frustrating, which can help a writer further develop a tone in their writing.
Tricolon
Meaning:
- The technical term for ‘rule of three’
- when a writer lists three words, phrases, or
ideas in quick succession.
Effect:
- Increases the impact of a writer’s statement by creating a clear rhythm to a sentence due to listing in a quick succession
