FOUR: PARAGRAPH FORM & POLISHING Flashcards
(120 cards)
1
Q
The three features - recognized & stressed by all critics of writing include what?
A
They include:
- unity
- coherence
- order
2
Q
What is unity?
A
Unity is what holds a paragraph together.
3
Q
What are the three main aspects of unity?
A
- Unity of thought
- Unity of POV
- Unity of mood & voice
4
Q
What does unity of thought mean?
A
All sentences within paragraphs should contribute directly or indirectly to the promise made in the topic sentence.
5
Q
Disrupting unity within a paragraph means doing what?
A
discussing a different subject than what you promised in the topic sentence.
6
Q
This is an example of what?
A
An instance about the delights of autumn in which unity is disrupted.
7
Q
In this sentence about autumn, what is the way in which unity has been disrupted?
A
Instead of writing about autumn as the topic sentence demands, this student has used the word “spring” in the next sentence to “spring” into a completely new subject & has thus broken the paragraph’s unity.
8
Q
What are two ways to re-establish unity within the paragraph in which the topic sentence is about autumn?
A
By either staying on the subject of autumn or by changing the topic sentence to reflect what all the seasons will be written about. (“Each season has its own special beauty,” for example.)
9
Q
What does unity of point of view mean?
A
It is the writer’s authorial relationship to the subject.
10
Q
In this paragraph what are all the different POVs that are mentioned?
A
11
Q
How is mood and voice unity maintained?
A
By being consistent.
12
Q
A
The first sentence is in the imperative mood, just as all writing that gives instructions should be…But sentence two is indicative.
Sentence #3 shifts from active to passive voice & from the indicative mood to the imperative mood.
Sentence #6, the worker who until this point has been addressed in the second person, is now referred to in the third person.
13
Q
When applying the meaning of coherence to sentences in a paragraph - what is a writer trying to do?
A
They’re trying to ensure that all the sentences in a paragraph stick together logically & smoothly & they’re using transitions to avoid any random or jerky issues.
14
Q
Transitional expressions in a paragraph appear where?
A
They occur first in a sentence or clause.
15
Q
What do transitional expressions help do in between sentences?
A
They help smooth the way from one sentence to the next.
16
Q
A
17
Q
How would the effect that these sentences have become lost?
A
The effect would be lost if you ran the sentences together into a compound and/ or complex sentences.
18
Q
Overall, what are two things that short simple sentences are doing?
A
Overall, short sentences are first lending an air of excitement. Second, each short sentence encapsulates a different observation.
19
Q
By using short simple sentences for the above scene, what two effects is the reader able to perceive?
A
The reader is perceiving movement first of all. Second, there is an almost overwhelming bombardment of individual images.
20
Q
What are the two other ways with which to achieve coherence?
A
- repetition
- parallelism
*These two terms overlap a bit in meaning.
21
Q
To achieve coherence through repetition - this involves doing what?
A
It involves having words or phrases that are repeated to lend a sense of rhythm or add emphasis.
22
Q
To achieve coherence through parallelism - this involves doing what?
A
Having repetition (not of words), but of sentence patterns.
23
Q
When it comes to the periodic order of a sentence, this involves doing what?
A
Putting the most important thought closest to the period.
24
Q
Generally speaking, when applying periodic order to that of paragraphs, what happens?
A
Generally speaking, paragraphs should follow the same pattern: The most important sentence of a paragraph should come last, the second most important should usually come first, and everything else falls in between.
25
Why is it advantageous to apply periodic order to that of a paragraph - particularly when it comes to capturing the attention of your reader?
The periodic order of a paragraph "hooks" the reader, arranges things in climaxing order, but still leaves the most important info. at the end.
26
In this paragraph about Ann Boleyn, how does the writer apply periodic order to paragraph order?
The important info. - that Ann was pregnant with a son is something that appears last. (It is also implied that the miscarriage was Henry's fault - not that he'd admit it!)
27
How does the rule of sentence variety also apply to different paragraph lengths?
The rule of sentence variety also applies to different paragraph lengths - in which it is appropriate to have a variety of long and short paragraphs.
28
In terms of style, short paragraphs, like short sentences do what?
The short paragraphs help to speed up the pace of your narrative.
29
Longer paragraphs - while they may be necessary to impart info. that needs to be kept together - will end up having the effect of doing what?
Longer paragraphs will slow the pace and bog readers down.
30
The only "rule" that is more or less standard involving paragraph length involves what?
That every printed page should have at least one new paragraph.
31
If it becomes difficult to make a logical paragraph break, what is a potential alternative?
"Fracturing" your paragraph is a potential alternative.
32
"Fracturing" paragraphs involves doing what?
It involves beginning each break with a sentence similar to the others, as John Steinbeck does in: Winter of Discontent.
33
The first step in polishing your prose involves doing what?
Cutting out all the deadwood.
34
When grammarians speak about cutting out all the deadwood - what do they mean?
They mean to cut out all the verbiage or unnecessary words.
35
Some of the most common deadwood is not just unnecessary, but it is also what?
It is also grammatically incorrect.
36
What is it that's grammatically incorrect when it comes to deadwood?
The modification of absolute expressions.
37
What are the three common deadwood expressions which are the incorrect modification of absolute expressions?
1. "really dead" (something is either dead or not)
2. "more unique" (something is either unique or not)
3. "true facts" (A fact isn't a fact unless it's true)
38
Most deadwood isn't incorrect, it's just what?
It's just clutter.
39
To avoid deadwood - what are the five dependable guidelines which will keep your prose clean and efficient?
40
What is the definition of a compound sentence?
Two independent clauses that are joined by a comma, plus a coordinating conjunction.
41
The following is an example of what?
A compound sentence that wastes words.
42
Why does this sentence waste words?
It wastes words because there is nothing gained by announcing the presence of a teacher twice.
43
How might this sentence be corrected?
By getting rid of the unnecessary verbiage through using a compound predicate instead.
44
By using a compound predicate - that only works in what particular cases?
It only works if the subject is the same in both clauses.
45
The following sentence is a situations involving what?
46
In this sentence what are the two subjects that prevent the sentence from being reduced?
The two subjects are "teacher" in clause one, and "class secretary" is the subject of the second, which also can't be reduced.
47
What beginnings of certain sentences are often needless?
Those that begin with "it is" or "there are."
48
The following is an example of what?
There was snow covering everything in sight.
A sentence that has dead wood and can be reduced.
49
How can deadwood be eliminated in this sentence - in order to allow for reduction?
There was snow covering everything in sight.
By beginning the sentence with "Snow," and eliminating "there was." Also, the present progressive can be eliminated & past tense "ed" can be used for "cover."
Snow covered everything in sight.
50
The following is an example of what?
It was 1929 that the Great Depression began.
A sentence that has deadwood & can be reduced.
51
How can deadwood be eliminated in this sentence - in order to allow for reduction?
It was 1929 that the Great Depression began.
52
The problem of redundancy in writing involves what?
It involves making some point and then immediately restating the same information in a different manner.
53
Redundancy also applies to what?
It also applies to individual words and phrases.
54
These phrases are what?
Redundant.
55
In what way are these two phrases redundant?
How can the redundancy be corrected?
They're redundant because of the pronouns. Also, they're redundant because by both shrugging and blinking - the nonverbal physicality does not need to be mentioned because it's implied (by mentioning it, this is just something that is redundant for the reader.)
56
What is the definition of a homonym?
The homonym is two or more words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings & origins.
57
What are two other things to look for when you're polishing?
Confused homonyms and misused words.
58
What are the words/homonyms that teachers will drill their students on, primarily b/c of their rampant misuse:
59
According to general function, what are the four basic types of paragraphs?
60
Descriptive paragraphs should do what for the reader?
They should create a dominant impression for the reader.
61
What are the three ways in which writers create a dominant impression through description?
1. Appealing to the five senses.
2. Showing the actions of characters.
3. Relations of items to other items.
62
When detailing descriptions in a "Z" pattern; why is this something that would be advantageous for writers?
It allows for breadth & depth of focus.
63
The "Z" pattern allows you to describe what when it comes to breadth & depth of focus?
This pattern allows you to describe the far-away stuff (depth), and then travel diagonally across the setting (breadth) to bring the reader to the items of interest in the foreground-or the other way around.
64
This scene that has just been described reads like what?
But you could also describe the same setting & create an impression of what?
It reads like a happy scene, where people are having fun and interacting peacefully.
But you could also describe the same setting & create an impression of loss & loneliness, perhaps even fear.
65
Why is it important to not use too much description in any one place?
Description stops the action, or forward motion of a piece in order to establish setting.
66
What info. is conveyed to readers when it comes to narrative paragraphs?
Narrative paragraphs tell the reader about events, usually in the order in which they occurred.
67
In fiction, what is the nomenclature for passages that show versus passages that tell?
Passages that show require scenes and passages that tell require summary.
68
Passages that show and have scenes are trying to convey what? (in fiction)
They're trying to convey a dramatic representation of events.
69
Passages that tell in fiction & have summaries are trying to convey what?
They're trying to convey a recounting of events in an abbreviated way.
70
In fiction, what are the moments that require scenes?
These moments largely have to do with dramatic scenes - which are the most important events in your piece.
71
In fiction, the objective of a summary involves doing what?
It involves having a summary which provides the necessary info. to get the reader from one major event to the next.
72
Exposition is useful for doing what?
It is useful for explaining what is going on.
73
While an expository paragraph is quite likely to contain elements of description and narrative, its main goal is to do what?
Its main goal is to explain the significance of that narration and description.
74
What is the sole purpose of the argumentative paragraph?
The sole purpose of the argumentative paragraph is to persuade the reader to accept your POV.
75
Yes, every paragraph we've discussed essentially asks the reader to accept the dominant impression you've created, to make connections based on the narrative you've provided, and to understand the deeper meaning after reading your exposition, but the argumentative paragraph does what?
The argumentative paragraph takes it one step further, urging the reader to accept or even act upon what has been presented, and persuading the reader to accept your POV.
76
When it comes to an argumentative paragraph, what is always important to keep in mind?
It is important to keep in mind that readers will always insert their own experiences & impressions in the reading process, whether or not you want them to, and they may not agree with you, no matter how strong your argument is.
77
Paragraphs can be said to be the following what four types?
1. Beginning or opening
2. Anecdotal
3. Transitional
4. Ending or closing
78
The beginning or opening of a paragraph contains what three possible types of sentences?
1. shocking statement
2. rhetorical question
3. interesting quotation.
79
What does an anecdotal sentence contain?
An anecdotal sentence contains brief stories, often used in openings and closings.
80
A transitional sentence involves what?
Containing and linking two ideas.
81
What does the ending or closing part of the paragraph provide?
A resolution & returning in some way to the opening.
82
However you choose to begin or open a paragraph, the primary, and often only goal of your opening paragraph is to do what two things?
1. Grab the reader's attention.
2. Give readers a preview of what they'll be reading.
83
The most popular way to begin a paragraph involves doing what?
It involves beginning with a shocking statement or fact.
84
This opening paragraph is an example of what?
It is an opening of a paragraph that begins with a shocking statement/fact.
85
What is this opener doing? Where is this opener from?
This is a shocking opening that is from the opening to A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens).
86
The shocking or fact/statement driven opening works in what kinds of written works?
This type of opening works in fiction, drama, nonfiction, memos-almost anything you want to write.
87
By beginning a paragraph with a rhetorical question what are you effectively trying to do with your readers?
You're effectively trying to get your readers to think about your topic right off the bat - thus letting readers form their own responses before you hit them with your brilliant answer(s).
88
Even if readers don't agree with you, you've still managed to do what?
You've still manages to get readers to find out what your answer is.
89
When beginning with a rhetorical question what two kinds of criteria needs to be met?
1. Right question needs to be asked- one that goes along with the rest of the composition
2. The question has to be answered or at the very least provide some possibility of a definitive answer.
90
This following question is an example of what?
It is "The asking of a rhetorical question"
91
With this quotation, what two aspects about it make it into a strong opening paragraph?
The quotation captures the reader's attention even though it doesn't say what the composition is about.
92
Even though a quote is being used in an introduction, it is still the job of the writer to do what?
It is still the job of the writer to introduce the topic.
93
The quotation provides the writer with what?
It provides the writer with a good lead-in and starting point.
94
As a recap, the three best ways to open a paragraph include what?
1. Begin with a shocking statement or fact.
2. Begin with a rhetorical question.
3. Borrow someone else's work to start your own.
95
An anecdote entails providing insight into the nature of a subject within a paragraph in what way?
By applying a brief narrative that makes a point about your subject.
96
What is the best way to think about an anecdote - which is applied to a paragraph subject?
As a mini-story, or dramatization of your topic.
97
The following is an example of what?
A short anecdote that is being applied to a paragraph.
98
While this paragraph is not about Damerji, but rather the problems Iraq faces in the aftermath of Desert Storm....the above little anecdote about Damerji serves what purpose?
The anecdote serves as a lead-in to the subject by showing the problems on an individual level.
99
Besides the beginning of a paragraph, where is there another place to have an anecdote occur?
At the end of a paragraph.
100
Why is the ending of a paragraph a good place for an anecdote?
Having an anecdote at the end is a nice way to tie all the info. you've written together.
101
Are transitional paragraphs short or long?
Transitional paragraph are best kept brief.
102
Why are transitional paragraphs best kept brief?
Because they are not meat of your composition.
103
Structurally, often transitional paragraph appear as what?
They often appear as one sentence set off in paragraph form.
104
A paragraph transition should contain what two ideas?
1. A reference to what has gone before.
2. A reference to what is yet to come.
105
The following sentences are an example of what?
These are two short sentences that are loaded with info. - which serves as a transitional paragraph.
106
In this example, and through the means of transitional paragraphs - what are the two ideas/references that are occurring?
The author mentions tooth decay, and lets the reader know that the topic about the causes of tooth decay will be discussed later on. Right now, though, he wants to discuss toothbrushes.
107
What is the second sentence acting as & what is it announcing?
The second sentence is acting as the division sentence, announcing what will be discussed next.
108
Besides using a transitional sentence to serve as a point of reference, what is the other way in which transitional sentences can be used in a paragraph?
The other way involves using a transitional sentence to briefly sum up what has come before, and then move on to the next topic with a division sentence.
109
When is it useful to use a transitional sentence to briefly sum up what has come before, and then move on to the next topic with a division sentence?
It is especially useful following opening paragraphs (it gives you the opportunity to comment on your introduction & show how it relates to what comes next.)
110
In what other paragraphs is this kind of transitional sentence useful?
This transition is useful in the paragraph which precedes the closing paragraph. (you can sum up your entire composition in a sentence or two, and then end with a bang).
111
The four ways to end with a bang include what?
1. Use an anecdote or "mini-story" on your topic.
2. Choose to shift your tone.
3. You could ask a final question.
4. In a short paragraph provide a summary.
112
The following is an example of what?
A short paragraph that sums up everything in an essay.
113
When it comes to persuasion, how might you choose to shift your tone?
You could shift your tone by changing your attitude from high-pressure persuasion to a final, soothing plea.
114
What might the shift in tone involve?
The shift might involve tense, moving from past to present or from present to future.
115
The following is an example of what?
A closing paragraph in which a shift in tone involves a shift in tense.
116
The following is an example of what?
This is an example of parallelism.
117
What should be noticed about this excerpt which involves parallelism?
It is noticed that the author does not use transition words or phrases in between sentences. Instead, the repetition of "Due to his" binds everything together.
118
What should be noticed about this excerpt involving the use of parallelism?
Parallelism through the use of "are not the problem" is used which binds the paragraph together - not to mention, also creates suspense with what the problem is.
119
Deadwood is the result of what?
It is the result of unnecessary words being used.
120
When using deadwood, what is the outcome?
Unnecessary & cluttered/wordy language is the outcome.
