Written Communication Flashcards
Present Tense
describes what is happening right now
(I am studying for an exam.)
Appositive Phrase
restates a preceding term by expanding upon it or explaining it in a qualifying statement between two commas
(New York City, the largest city in the United States, has a population of around 8.6 million people.)
Interjection
A very short sentence that conveys strong emotions
(Wow!)
Interrogative Sentence
A sentence that asks a question.
(How long will it take to get there?)
Subordinating Conjunction
a conjunction used at the beginning of a subordinate clause
(because, although, even though, since)
Past Tense
describes things that have already happened
(I visited my parents last weekend.)
Verb Phrase
a type of appositional phrase that modifies a verb
(The baby was crawling on the floor.)
Prepositional Phrase
a phrase that describes the relationship between a noun and a pronoun or another word in the sentence
(She sat in the seat in the middle.)
Descriptive Grammar
grammatical rules and structures as they are spoken or written by everyday speakers
(“I seen him yesterday.”)
Future Tense
describes things that have not yet happened
(I am going to meet some friends after work. I will call you later.)
Prescriptive Grammar
grammar that follows the rules set forth by tradition and formal language
Compound-Complex Sentence
Two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause
(While we are in town, we should stop at the hardware store, and you can buy a new hammer.)
Modeling
an instructional strategy in which the teacher demonstrates a concept or skill and students learn by observing
(When a teacher encounters a difficult word in a text, she thinks aloud to _________ how she can use the context clues to discover the meaning.)
Present Perfect Tense
describes things that began in the past and continue to the present
(I haven’t seen you in such a long time! I have been working a lot.)
Independent/Main Clause
clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence
(I went shopping last weekend.)
Future Perfect Tense
describes something that will be completed at some point in the future
(By the end of the year, I will have saved enough money to buy a car!)
Noun Phrase
a group of words that act as a noun in a sentence; includes a noun and words that modify the noun
(The red car is parked in the driveway.)
Think-Aloud
a teaching strategy in which a teacher states his/her thoughts aloud to demonstrate how the students should go about solving a problem or understanding a text
(Math teachers model thinking by reading a problem aloud and verbalizing figuring out what it is asking what needs to be done. Language arts teachers ask themselves questions about the text as they read aloud.)
Misplaced Modifiers
a grammatical error that occurs when the modifying word or phrase is not placed next to the word it is describing
Infinitive Phrase
Includes that infinitive (to + verb) and the additional words that serve as the object of modifiers in the phrase
(I want to eat the candy.)
Past Perfect Tense
describes things that were completed before some point in the past
(I couldn’t see because I had lost my glasses.)
Exclamatory Sentence
A sentence that expresses emotion.
(Surprise! We won the game!)
Dangling Modifiers
a grammatical error that occurs when the modifying phrase is missing the word it intends to describe
Participle Phrase
a phrase that modifies a participle – a term with a verb ending in “-ed” or “-ing” – to serve as an adjective
(Tired after a long walk, the dog slept in the corner.)
Simple Sentence
A sentence containing one subject and one verb, or one independent clause
(The dolphin lives in the ocean.)
Coordinating Conjunction
connects two clauses
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
Complex Sentence
An independent clause and a dependent clause
(Since you’re going to the store, can you buy some milk?)
Gerund Phrase
a type of appositional phrase that modifies a gerund (or verb+ing) and behaves like a noun
(Drinking water when it’s hot outside can prevent you from becoming dehydrated.)
Compound Sentence
Two independent clauses joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction
(Dogs are mammals, but lizards are reptiles.)
Dependent/Subordinate Clause
clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction but cannot stand alone as a sentence even though it contains a subject and verb
(While we were shopping, she spent her whole paycheck.)
Declarative Sentence
A sentence that makes a statement or gives an opinion.
(I love my job.)
Phrase
a term of two or more words that convey an idea when used together
(We were waiting for you.)
Transition Words
Phrases and words used to link sentences, paragraphs, and ideas together.
(First, next, last, on the other hand)
URL Extension
the notation at the end of a web address that categorizes the website type
(.edu (extension for websites certified to be managed by an educational institution))
APA Citation Style
the citation style most commonly used in the social sciences
Turabian Citation Style
a variation on the Chicago citation style designed exclusively for students who are writing papers not intended for publication
Reliable Source/Credible Source
Information presented in a professional way, with a formal tone, includes source documentation, and author and/or publisher information.
(a textbook)
Primary Source
the “first hand” eye-witness accounts of an event
(a letter written by George Washington about a battle he fought in)
Attribution
acknowledging the owner of a work
Paraphrase
Putting something that was read, heard, or viewed into your own words.
(The principal told me we might be getting raises this year.)
Open Source
work meant to be shared freely with the world
Copyright
the exclusive rights to an item given to the creator
Secondary Source
These resources are used to interpret the primary sources in order to determine their validity. They are written about the primary sources.
(a textbook explaining a battle)
Fair Use
an exception to general copyright restrictions that allows for the use of some material for educational purposes in the classroom
Chicago Citation Style
the citation style most commonly used in history and journalism
Liability
the state of being legally responsible for something
Paraphrased Quotation
the author is conveying the meaning of what was said without necessarily repeating the exact words of the speaker
(The president said he would pay teachers more.)
Unreliable Source
Information presented in an informal way without documentation, and no author/publisher information.
(anonymous blog article)
MLA Citation Style
the citation style most commonly used in the humanities
Peer-Reviewed Journal
a high quality source of information which uses experts to screen each article submitted to the publication
(The New England Journal of Medicine)
Domain Address
the official name of a website
(www.si.edu is the domain address for the Smithsonian Institute)
Licenses
ways in which people can use copyrighted material
Citation Style
a set of guidelines for citing the basic information required to identify and locate a specific publication within a written work
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.
(graphic organizers, games)
Speech
a formal address or discourse spoken to an audience
(“The Gettysburg Address”)
Sonnet
a fourteen line stanza with a specific rhyme scheme
(Shakespeare’s __________)
Descriptive Writing
Used to create detailed descriptions of people, places, and things. Descriptive writing is also develops the mood and atmosphere of the text.
Writing Process - Editing
Reviewing the draft for corrections in grammar, mechanics, and spelling
Stanza
lines chunked together in a poem, similar to a paragraph in prose
Report
an account given on a particular subject in the form of an official document
(“The Mueller ________”)
Audience
The intended recipient of a written or verbal communication.
(When writing lesson plans, your students are your ___________. A student writing a research presentation would have both his classmates and the teacher as an ____________)
Sensory Details
Sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste descriptions
(The aroma of roasted chicken burst out of the oven and drifted temptingly towards my nostrils.)
Writing Process - Publishing
The final step in the writing process where the writer ensures the neatness and understanding of the final product
Memorandum
a written message in business or diplomacy
(A __________ from a school principal telling everyone not to use her parking space.)
Resume
a document written by an individual to highlight their professional accomplishments and experience
Couplet
two lines that rhyme
(Double, double, toil and trouble/Fire burn and cauldron bubble.)
Abstracts
summaries of published scientific investigations, usually included at the beginning of the publication
Writing Process
The steps a writer goes through to compose a finished, polished text.
(Prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing)
Rhyme Scheme
the pattern of end rhyme in a stanza or poem
Play (Writing)
a dramatic work for stage or broadcast
(Hamlet)
Informative/Explanatory Writing
a writing style which demonstrates comprehension of a topic or process
(In a science class, students write about a procedure that they performed and the results that they achieved.)
Deus ex machina
narrative technique in which the problem in the story all of a sudden is solved
(a passing ship appears and rescues the boys in The Lord of the Flies)
Quatrain
Four-line stanzas with a set rhyme scheme
Text Message
an electronic communication sent and received by mobile phone
(“Do you want to go to lunch?”)
Anapest
indicates a unstressed, unstressed, stressed syllable pattern
(engineer)
Flashback
moment in the narrative when the story reflects back on an earlier moment in time
(Holden Caulfield in a rest home telling the events that led him there in The Catcher in the Rye)
Modeling
an instructional strategy in which the teacher demonstrates a concept or skill and students learn by observing
(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.)
Comedy
funny, amusing, and light-hearted dramatic literature
(Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare)
Transition Words
Phrases and words used to link sentences, paragraphs, and ideas together.
(First, next, last, on the other hand)
Rubric
A scoring guide based on several criteria rather than a single numerical score
Iambic
indicates a unstressed, stressed syllable pattern
(befriend, about, intense)
Theatre of the Absurd
theatrical works that focus on the absurdity of the human journey through life
(Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett)
Trochaic
indicates a stressed, unstressed syllable pattern
(planet)
Foreshadowing
the narrator or character hints at a future plot point
Argumentative Writing
writing meant to persuade the reader to agree with the conclusions of the author
Essay
a short piece of writing on a particular subject
(“Notes of a Native Son” by James Baldwin)
Blank Verse
unrhymed poetic lines in an unstressed, stressed syllable pattern
Antagonist
the main enemy of the protagonist
(Iago from Othello)
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
Drama
serious and thought-provoking dramatic literature
(Hamlet by William Shakespeare)
Protagonist
the main character in a narrative
(Othello from Othello)
Ballad
ABCB or ABAB rhyming stanzas as part of a longer poem
(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner)
Newspaper Column
a recurring opinion piece or article in a newspaper, magazine or other publication
(Maureen Dowd’s column in the New York Times)
Writing Process - Revising
Reviewing the draft and making necessary corrections for sentence usage, organization, coherence, and audience
Task
the writing assignment
(“Write a three paragraph story about a boy and his dog. Use sensory language.”)
Dialogue Tag
followed or preceded by a comma or punctuation mark, with quotation marks around the quotation
(As Mark exited the highway, he thought, “I hope this is the right way.”)
Writing Feedback
comments and assessments given to students to improve their writing
Foot
a metrical unit composed of both stressed and unstressed syllables
Dactyl
indicates a stressed, unstressed, unstressed syllable pattern
(Delaware)
Letter
a direct or personal message addressed to a specific person or organization
Article
a nonfictional prose composition usually forming an independent part of a publication
(“Why does Amelia Earhart still fascinate us?” in National Geographic)
Dramatic Irony
When the audience/reader knows something the character does not
(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.”)
Meter (when reading)
the repetition or the stressing of words or phrases
Quintet
A five-line stanza
(Limericks)
Short Story
a story with a fully developed theme that is shorter than a novel
(“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe)
Journal
a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use
(Diary)
Editorial
an article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue
(“The Post’s endorsements for Fairfax County’s school board” in the Washington Post)
Monologue
a lengthy speech by a character in a drama
(“To be or not to be?” speech in Hamlet)
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
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.
Writing Process - Drafting
The second step in the writing process where the writer brings together similar ideas and organizes them into paragraphs
Blog
A website where writers post entries and readers can make comments
Organizational Structure
Text structure can include cause/effect, problem/solution, main idea/details, and/or sequence
(Students often find problem/solution text structure as more interesting.)
Voice (Writing)
the unique outlook and expressed personality of an author
(Hemingway had a macho sensibility that infused his writing _______.)
Blog
A website where writers post entries and readers can make comments
Metacognition
the ability to think about one’s own thought process
Semicolon
a punctuation mark indicating a a more pronounced pause than the one indicated by a comma, and that joins two clauses
(I’m going home; it’s just too late.)
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.
Situational Irony
discrepancy between what happens and what the reader expects to happen
Symbolism
When an item stands for an idea or larger meaning. Usually used throughout a piece of literature.
(dove = peace, red rose = love and romance)
Hypotheses
an assumption made to verify itself
(Drinking soda makes you fat. (An experiment would then follow to prove or disprove the idea.))
Writing Conventions
The basic rules of written language, including grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
(proper grammar)
Recurring Theme
the repetition of a _________/image throughout the story to symbolize meaning.
Dramatic Irony
When the audience/reader knows something the character does not
(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.”)
Foreshadowing
the narrator or character hints at a future plot point
Satire
the use of humor or exaggeration to critique human nature or a character
Analogies
are used to compare two things that are usually thought of as different but have something in common
(hand is to glove as foot is to sock)
Clarity/Word Choice
Use of vocabulary or other organizational choices to ensure the intended meaning comes through.
Connotation
the implied meaning of a word; the feeling a word conveys
(Describing a person as “shrewd” may make them feel negatively, even though the definition (sharp-witted, intelligent) is positive.)
Explicit Teaching
the process of teaching by communicating clear expectations and giving specific feedback to students
Audience
The intended recipient of a written or verbal communication.
(When writing lesson plans, your students are your __________. A student writing a research presentation would have both his classmates and the teacher as an _________)
Writing Feedback
comments and assessments given to students to improve their writing
Exit Slips
A short formative assessment given by a teacher after completing a lesson to determine the degree to which students have learned the material taught in the lesson.
Understatement
when the author minimizes a significant point for effect
Portfolio
A collection of student’s work and achievements that is used to assess past accomplishments and future potential; can include finished work in a variety of media and can contain materials from several courses over time
Argumentative Writing
writing meant to persuade the reader to agree with the conclusions of the author
Descriptive Writing
Used to create detailed descriptions of people, places, and things. _______________ is also develops the mood and atmosphere of the text.
Thesis Statement
a statement included in the introduction of a paper which makes a specific claim and provides a preview as to what will follow in the paper
(A science student writes the following _____________ in response to the question, “Is global warming a problem?” “Environmentalists agree that global climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately.”)
Style (Writing)
the technical preferences of an author’s writing
(Hemingway wrote prose in short sentences that distinguished his writing _______.)
Precise (Writing)
in writing, a sentence that contains specific details and avoids wordy descriptions
(turquoise instead of light bluish green)
Recursive
repeated application of a process, such as writing
Colon
a punctuation mark placed before a list of items, a quotation, expansion, or explanation
(I’ve been to every town in Pennsylania: Piitsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Scranton, Lancaster.)
Rubric
A scoring guide based on several criteria rather than a single numerical score
Compare and Contrast
An organizational approach where the author provides similarities and differences about two ideas
Cause and Effect
a writing method in which the author explains reasons why something happened or the effects of something that has happened
(A politician’s speech in which all of the bad actions of an opponent are listed to argue that the politician should be elected instead.)
Chronological Order
An organizational approach that follows an orderly progression of events based in time.
Transition Words
Phrases and words used to link sentences, paragraphs, and ideas together.
(First, next, last, on the other hand)
Concise (Writing)
in writing, a sentence that is brief but still contains all necessary information
Writing Process
The steps a writer goes through to compose a finished, polished text.
(Prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing)
Verbal Irony
contrast between what is said and what is meant
Denotative Meaning
a literal, dictionary meaning of a word
Explicit Teaching
the process of teaching by communicating clear expectations and giving specific feedback to students
Mentor Text
Books or other pieces of literature that are revisited throughout the school year for different purposes in literacy instruction
(Due to its unique narrative and abundance of figurative language, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen is a popular _______________ to use in a language arts classroom.)
Irony
an incongruity between what the reader expects the author to mean and what they actually mean
