Study Guide For The
Exam
By: Elise Candies
Writing Process Definitions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pre- Writing: brainstorming
Attention Getter: the first sentence in the introduction
Thesis Statement: the last sentence in the intro. Paragraph
Intro: the first paragraph introducing the 3 main topics
Body: paragraphs describing and identifying your 3 main points
Conclusion: last paragraph restate thesis, summarizes, and
clinches/projects
Essay Structure: the formation of the essay
Clincher: last sentence in the final paragraph proving your main point
Transition: links main body paragraphs to the next one
Preview: gives the reader an idea showing what the essay will be about
Revising: checking for grammar mistakes
Publishing: submitting your final work or turning your final work in
6+1 Definitions
• Ideas: the heart of the message, the content of the piece of writing,
the main theme, together with details that enrich and develop that
theme.
• Organization: the internal structure of the piece, the thread of
central meaning, the logical pattern of ideas in the piece.
• Voice: feelings and convictions of the individual writer coming
out through the words.
• Word Choice: the use of rich, colorful, precise, language that moves
and enlightens the reader.
• Sentence Fluency: the rhythm and flow of the language how the
writing sounds
• Convections: the mechanical correctness of a piece of writing
• Presentation: focuses on the form and layout of your writing;
this includes MLA format, neatness, and any graphics.
6+1 Questions
• What involves essay structure? Organization
• Pre-writing falls under? Ideas
• What do you check spelling and punctuation for?
Conventions
• What involves precise nouns? Word Choice
• To check for this, you should read your writing
aloud? Sentence Fluency
• Shows the writer’s personality and writing style? Voice
• For this you must have correct MLA format?
Presentation
True and False
• Using a graphic organizer is a pre-writing strategy. True
• You should really worry about spelling and grammar in the
drafting phase. False
• Publishing involves sharing your writing with others. True
• The sentences in a paragraph that tells the main idea is the
supporting sentence. False
• Your thesis statement should include three main points.
True
• Each body paragraph in your essay should explain one of
your main points. True
• Your conclusion should restate your thesis. True
• You should always have at least two peer-editors. True
Formal or Informal Writing
•
•
•
•
•
•
B.B.Q. informal
Emails informal
Text messages informal
Wedding invitation formal
Business letter formal
Essays formal
Linking Verbs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Is
Am
Are
Was
Were
Be
Being
Been
Subject-Verb Agreement
• On the sidewalk are many little lizards sunning
themselves on the hot concrete.
• Not only the Smiths but also Tonya has agreed
to try one of the world-famous chocolatebroccoli muffins.
• The Smiths, along with Tonya, hope avoid
indigestion after eating these weird muffins.
• Grandpa claims that Martian measles causes
green and purple spots to erupt all over a
person’s body.
Steps of an Essay
Sentences, Fragment, or Run-ons
• Discovering what the wilderness is all about.
Fragment
• Mary loves reaching out to other people,
which is why she volunteers. Sentence
• Readers love the new book by this famous
author the author writes books that they
love to read. Run-On
• To find a resolution to the problem that
satisfies everyone. Fragment
Passive and Active Sentences
• The banana is bright. Passive
• The bright yellow banana shined in the sun.
Active
• The boy was crying. Passive
• The boy burst into tears when he dropped his
ice cream. Active
• The breeze is cold. Passive
• The cold winter breeze blew by. Active
Expository Writing
•
•
•
•
Inform
Explain
Explore
This is what Expository Writing is used
for.
• It also helps readers figure out the main
point!
Persuasive Writing
• It tends to involve the types of appeal.
• Logical Appeal- appeal to reason, clear thinking, why
something is the right thing to do
• Emotional Appeal- appeals to people’s hearts, their emotions,
and feelings about an issue
• Ethical Appeal- shows your credibility and character, shows
the reader can trust you
• Expert Testimony- statements by people who are recognized
authorities on the issue
• Call to Action- challenge your reader to take action to help
your cause
• It provides evidence behind your appeals
• Also provides opposing arguments
Narrative Writing
•
•
•
•
•
•
To recount a personal experience or original story
Examples- Novels, short stories, journals, plays
Also includes:
Setting – where and when the story takes place
Characters – participants in the story
Plot – events that happen in the story, including:
– Conflict – struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces in
a story
– Rising Action – where most of the action takes place; conflict begins
to develop; events that lead up to the climax
– Climax – the moment in a story when a conflict reaches its highest
point of tension
– Resolution – wraps up the story, resolves conflict
• Other Literary Elements (flashbacks, foreshadowing, irony,
symbolism, themes)
Narrative Writing Continued
• Do Not Forget:
• Create authentic characters with real feelings and
interesting things to say
• Identify where and how the story begins
• Center the story around an unusual conflict,
problem, or question
• Order the events of the plot to keep the reader wanting
to know what will happen next
• Include a resolution to the conflict, problem, or
question
• Include a story ending that’s satisfying to the reader