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- Allegory. Allegory is a literary device used to express large, complex ideas in an approachable manner. Allegory allows writers to create some distance between themselves and the issues they are discussing, especially when those issues are strong critiques of political or societal realities.
- Allusion. An allusion is a popular literary device used to develop characters, frame storylines, and help create associations to well-known works. Allusions can reference anything from Victorian fairy tales and popular culture to the Bible and the Bard.
- Anachronism. Imagine reading a story about a caveman who microwaves his dinner, or watching a film adaptation of a Jane Austen novel in which the characters text each other instead of writing letters.
- Cliffhanger. It’s a familiar feeling: You’re on minute 59 of an hour-long television episode, and the protagonist is about to face the villain—and then episode cuts to black.
- Allegory. An allegory is a story that is used to represent a more general message about real-life (historical) issues and/or events. It is typically an entire book, novel, play, etc.
- Alliteration. Alliteration is a series of words or phrases that all (or almost all) start with the same sound. These sounds are typically consonants to give more stress to that syllable.
- Allusion. Allusion is when an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from outside the text. Many allusions make reference to previous works of literature or art.
- Anachronism. An anachronism occurs when there is an (intentional) error in the chronology or timeline of a text. This could be a character who appears in a different time period than when he actually lived, or a technology that appears before it was invented.
These techniques are crucial in enhancing reader engagement, fostering emotional connection, and creating a sense of realism and immediacy in the storytelling. Some common dialogue writing techniques include: Character voice. Developing distinctive and authentic voices for each character through unique speech patterns, vocabulary, tone, and ...
- Writing to Encourage Active Thinking and Learning
- Writing to Explore
- Writing to Explain
- Support
Critical thinking problems are designed to convert students from passive to active learners who use course concepts to confront problems, gather and analyze data, prepare hypotheses, and formulate arguments. Most writing activities aim to promote the use of active critical thinking strategies on the part of students. To best obtain this goal, try a...
The main goals for exploratory writing exercises are to clarify thinking, explore ideas, ask questions, reflect on learning, and search for connections between theory and practice. These exercises are not meant to refine and polish writing skills (at least, not directly). Rather, exploratory writing exercises value process over product. Make clear ...
These activities encourage critical thinking while, at the same time, they promote a thorough understanding of concepts through review and analysis. Exercises like these ask students to take on the role of instructor, making them search for ways to present course concepts so that they are clear and accessible. Not only do writing to explain exercis...
If you would like support applying these tips to your own teaching, CTE staff members are here to help. View the CTE Supportpage to find the most relevant staff member to contact.
- Review grammar and spelling basics. Grammar and spelling form the foundation of good writing. Writing with proper grammar and spelling communicates your professionality and attention to detail to your reader.
- Read what you want to write. Knowing what a finished piece of writing can look like can guide your own. If you’re trying to write a humorous short story, read humorous short stories.
- Proofread. While it’s tempting to submit work as soon as you’re done with it, build in some time to revisit what you’ve written to catch errors big and small.
- Get feedback. Whether you’re writing emails or essays, asking for feedback is a great way to see how somebody besides yourself will interpret your text.
Use techniques like the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes work, 5 minutes break). Engage in relaxing activities during breaks. Overcoming Common Writing Challenges . Dealing with Writer’s Block. Tip: Change your environment or approach when feeling stuck. Explanation: New stimuli can spark inspiration. Action Steps: Try writing in a different ...
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The four types of writing techniques: 1. Descriptive. Descriptive writing is most commonly used in short, creative writing, like poems and song lyrics. Some authors insert descriptive segments in their stories. The purpose of the descriptive writing style is to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind.