Writing Techniques

Question 1

Exaggeration / hyperbole

Answer 1

To emphasise viewpoint:

I’m dead if I get caught.

Question 2

Exclamations

Answer 2

To communicate emotion:

The view was unbelievable!

Question 3

Humour

Answer 3

To make the writing more lively and appealing

Question 4

Sarcasm

Answer 4

To mock the subject under discussion

Question 5

Rhetorical questions

Answer 5

To make the reader think and reflect:

Can we continue to support this cause?

Question 6

Repetition

Answer 6

To emphasise a point:

Dull! Dull! Dull! - That sums him up.

Question 7

Connectives

Answer 7

To help the writing to flow by connecting the sentences and paragraphs

Question 8

Variety of sentences used - simple, compound and complex

Answer 8

To engage the reader’s interest:

• Short sentences are punchy, provide a dramatic effect (particularly engaging at the start, end or when following a longer sentence as they really stand out)
• Longer sentences provide detail are are useful for descriptions

Question 9

Use of punctuation

Answer 9

To control how you read the piece:

*remember the impact of full stops, commas, colons and semi-colons

Question 10

Variety in paragraphing

Answer 10

To add interest for the reader

Question 11

Descriptive terms

Answer 11

To paint a positive or negative picture of something

Question 12

Superlatives

Answer 12

To suggest that something is the best

Question 13

Shock tactics

Answer 13

To frighten the reader:

It’s an accident waiting to happen.

Question 14

Assertive language

Answer 14

To exude confidence:

Everybody knows / Without question / It’s undeniable that…

Question 15

Imagery: similes and metaphors

Answer 15

To create vivid images which help the reader to visualise and understand the writer’s point of view

Question 16

Alliteration

Answer 16

To make certain words stand out and make the writing memorable:

The phenomenal footballer forayed into the opposition’s box

Question 17

Onomatopoeia

Answer 17

To evoke sounds through the use of words:

Crash / sludge / crunch

Question 18

Emotive language

Answer 18

To evoke strong feelings on a subject, plays with your emotions:

The strain and stress of weeks of turmoil was etched on his hollow, pallid face as the breaking daylight illuminated the teardrop trickling down his cheek

Question 19

Puns and jokes

Answer 19

To provide humour

Question 20

Statistics or facts

Answer 20

Used to reinforce opinion and add authenticity to the writing:

There has been a 50% increase in the number of chocolate bars sold over the past year.

Question 21

Expert opinion

Answer 21

To support what the writer is saying which makes it more convincing:

Doctor Jones stated that studies have shown that…

Question 22

Reference to satisfied customers

Answer 22

To support the writer’s viewpoint:

I don’t know how I survived before I bought this. It has transformed my life!

Question 23

Irony

Answer 23

To provide humour:

Verbal, situational, and dramatic irony

Question 24

Use of ‘i’

Answer 24

To communicate the writer’s point of view directly

Question 25

Personal anecdote

Answer 25

To interest the audience through recounting a personal experience:

Last year when I was on holiday with my family…

Question 26

Conversational tone

Answer 26

To add a personal quality to the writing and to create a positive rapport between the writer and the reader

Question 27

Inclusive pronoun ‘we’

Answer 27

To persuade the reader to agree with the writer

Question 28

Personal pronoun

Answer 28

To make the reader feel that the writer is talking directly to them therefore it is highly personal and effective

Question 29

Alypsis (…)

Answer 29

Creates suspense

Question 30

Sensory appeal

Answer 30

Touch
Sight
Smell
Taste