The Regents ELA Exam: Terms for Writing

anecdote A brief story or account of a single experience, often biographical, that illustrates something typical or striking about a person. Anecdotes, like parables, are effective as vivid, specific examples of a general observation or quality.
 

argument The development of reasons and examples to support a thesis; narrowly, to outline a position on an issue or problem with the intent to clarify or persuade. Argument is also used in a broad sense to refer to the way a writer develops any topic. 

audience For the writer, this term refers to the intended reader. Awareness of an audience determines, for example, what the writer may assume a reader already knows, the level of diction, and the tone.

coherence A piece of writing has coherence when the logical relationship of ideas is evident and convincing. In a coherent discussion, statements and sections follow one another in a natural, even inevitable way. A coherent discussion hangs together; an incoherent one is scattered and disorganized.

description The expression in words of what is experienced by the senses. Good description recreates what is felt, seen, heard—sensed in any way. We also use the term describe to mean identify, classify, characterize, even for abstract ideas. Description permits readers to re-create the subject in their own imaginations.

diction Refers to word choice. Diction may be formal or informal, complex or simple, or elegant or modest, depending on the occasion and the audience. The language used in casual conversation is different from the language used in formal writing. The good writer uses language that is varied, precise, and vivid. The good writer has resources of language to suit a wide range of purposes. In the rubrics for the ELA Exam, diction is evaluated as use of “formal style and precise language.”

exposition The development of a topic through examples, reasons, and details that explain, clarify, show, and instruct—the primary purpose of exposition is to convey information. Much of the writing assigned to students is referred to as expository writing. Through exposition, you can demonstrate what you have learned, discovered, understood, appreciated. The task for Part 3 of the Regents ELA Exam is a good example of what is meant by expository writing.

focus Refers to the way a writer concentrates and directs all the information, examples, ideas, and reasons in an essay on the specific topic.

narrative Because it tells a story, a narrative has chronological order. The narrative method is commonly used in exposition when examples are offered in a chronological development.

prompt A set of directions for a writing task; may also be a quote or passage meant to stimulate a piece of writing.

tone Refers to the attitude of the writer toward the subject and/or toward the reader. Tone may range from harsh and insistent to gentle and reflective. There is as much variety of tone in writing as there is in human feeling. Some pieces, essays of opinion for example, usually have a very distinct tone. Other works, especially in fiction or personal expression, may be more subtle and indirect in tone.

transition Words or phrases used to link ideas and sections in a piece of writing. Common transitions include first, second . . . in addition . . . finally; on the other hand, moreover, consequently, therefore. Transitions make the development of an argument clear.

unity In the narrowest sense, unity refers to focus: the ideas and examples are clearly related to the topic and to one another. In the largest sense, unity refers to a feature of our best writing. All elements—ideas, form, language, and tone—work together to achieve the effect of a complete and well-made piece.