APLANG Vocab Packet: D-E

Deduction - process of reasoning from a stated premise to a necessary conclusion. this form of reasoning moves from the general to the specific.

Definition - one of the types of exposition. It is the statement of the meaning of a word. May be either brief or extended, part of an essay, or the entire essay.

Description - one of the four basic types of prose. TElls how a person, place or thing is perceived by the five senses. Objective description reports these sensory qualities factually, while subjective description gives the writer's interpretation of them.

Dialogue - the talking in a piece of writing. helps to reveal aspects of characters' personalities as well as plot events.

Diction - a writer's choice of words. "That guy was really mad!" vs. "The gentleman was considerably irritated." Also contributes to tone.

Division - opposite of classification. breaking down a single large unit into smaller subunits.

Dominant expression - single mood, atmosphere, or quality a writer emphasizes in a piece of descriptive writing.

Draft - I don't think you need this, but if you do, message me.

Editing - see above.

Elegiac - an elegy is a work of music, literature, dance or art that expresses sorrow. It mourns the loss of something, such as the death of a loved one.

Emphasis - the placement of important ideas and words within sentences and longer units of writing so that they have the greatest impact. End = greatest impact. Beginning = close second. Middle = not so much.

Essay - relatively short piece of nonfiction.

Ethos - characteristic spirit or ideal that informs a work. In "The Country of the Pointed Firs" (a.k.a. Maine) by Sarah Orne Jewett, the ethos of the work is derived from the qualities of the inhabitants who are described as both noble and caring.
Ethos also refers more generally to ethics or values of an arguer: honesty, trustworthiness, even morals. In rhetorical writing, authors often attempt to persuade readers by appealing to their sense of ethos, or ethical principles.

Euphemism - mild or pleasant sounding expression that substitutes for a harsh, indelicate or simply less pleasant idea. Often used to soften the impact of what is being discussed e.g. departed vs. dead, in the family way vs. pregnant

Evaluation - assessment of the effectiveness or merit of a piece of writing. basically reading actively/Why is the author telling me this now?/Soapstone

Evidence - proof/support. usually empirical data, examples, illustrations or opinions of authorities.

Examples - illustrate a larger idea or represent something of which they are a part. A basic means of developing or clarifying ideas. Showing, not telling.

Exemplification - the use of examples. type of exposition.

Exposition - one of the four basic types of prose. Its purpose is to clarify, explain and inform.
Writing or speech that is organized to explain.