‘Writing’ Archives
Expository Writing
Expository Writing Exposition refers to prose whose primary purpose is giving information. Some familiar examples of expository writing include encyclopedias, dictionaries, news magazines, and textbooks. In addition, much of your own college work may be classified as exposition: book reports, political analyses, laboratory and business reports, [...]
Connotation and Denotation
Connotation and Denotation A word’s denotation refers to its literal meaning, the meaning defined by the dictionary; a word’s connotation refers to the emotional associations surrounding its meaning. For example, “home” and “residence” both may be defined as the place where one lives, but “home” carries connotations of warmth, [...]
Irony
Irony Irony is a figure of speech whereby the writer or speaker says the opposite of what is meant; for the irony to be successful, however, the audience must understand the writer’s true intent. For example, if you have slopped to school in a rainstorm and your drenched teacher enters the classroom saying, “Ah, nothing like this beautiful, [...]
Critical Thinking
What is Critical Thinking? Critical thinking means the ability to analyze and evaluate our own ideas and those of others. Because we are constantly bombarded today with all kinds of information and differing points of view, we need skills to examine ideas carefully before we accept or reject them. Here’s a common situation in which critical [...]
Revision
What is Revision? Revision is a thinking process that occurs any time you are working on a writing project. It means looking at your writing with a “fresh eye”—that is, reseeing your writing in ways that will enable you to make more effective choices throughout your essay. Revision often entails rethinking what you have written and asking [...]
Thesis
What is a thesis? The thesis statement declares the main point or controlling idea of your entire essay. Frequently located near the beginning of a short essay, the thesis answers these questions: “What is the subject of this essay?” “What is the writer’s opinion on this subject?” “What is the writer’s purpose in this essay?” [...]
Keeping a Journal
Keeping a Journal (Talking to yourself does help) Many professional writers carry small notebooks with them so they can jot down ideas and impressions for future use. Other people have kept daily logs or diaries for years to record their thoughts for their own enjoyment. In your composition class, you may find it useful to keep a journal that [...]
Looping
Looping Looping is a variation on freewriting that works amazingly well for many people, including those who are frustrated rather than helped by freewriting. Let’s assume you’ve been assigned that old standby “My Summer Vacation.” Obviously you must find a focus, something specific and important to say. Again, take out several sheets [...]
