Dialogue         Vocal exchange between two or more characters. One of the ways in which plot, character, action, etc. are developed.  

Flashback       Rhetorical device used in narrative involving shifts in time.

Setting            Setting involves the location, historical period and socio-political context of when the story occurs.

Characters      The author's expression of a character's personality through the use of action, dialogue, thought, or commentary by the author or     
                        another character.

Description     Using vivid details shows the reader what someone or something is really like. Often description relates someone or something to one or
                         more of the five senses so that the reader can relate more clearly.

Explanation/Example     To support your points, illustrate them by providing clear examples and discussing the relationship between your ideas and
                        your examples.

Process Analysis    Explains how to do something or how something happens.

Comparison/Contrast   Analyzing a subject by putting it next to another and investigating similarities through comparison and differences through
                          contrast

Cause/Effect    By looking at causes, we investigate reasons why something has happened. By looking at effects we investigate and analyze what will
                          or potentially will happen.

Definition         A formal definition is based upon a concise, logical pattern that includes as much information as it can within a minimum amount of
                         space. It consists of three parts: The term (word or phrase) to be defined; the class of object or concept to which the term belong; the
                         differentiating characteristics that distinguish it from  all others of its class.

Persuasion/Argument   In an argument you are making a claim about a topic and justifying this claim with reasons and evidence. This claim could be
                        an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation.

Irony               A rhetorical device a writer uses by stating the opposite of what he or she really means. Often irony is associated with sarcasm and is
                        used for effect.

Audience         Knowing who your are writing for determines the tone of your message, the specificity of your language and the development of your
                         supporting details.

Point of View   The vantage point from which the author presents action of the story. Who is telling the story? An all-knowing author? A voice limited
                        to the views of one character? The voice and thoughts of one character? Does the author change point of view in the story? Why? Point
                        of view is often considered the technical aspect of fiction which leads the critic most readily into the problems and meanings of the story.

Opposing View/Refutation    In a good argument paper, you should anticipate opposing viewpoints, address them directly and counter them in a
                        reasonable fashion in order to convince your reader of the validity of your argument.

Thesis statement/purpose of narration     A thesis statement is a very specific statement.  It should cover only what you  want to discuss in your
                    paper, and be supported with specific evidence. The scope of your paper will be determined by the length of your paper and any other
                    requirements that might be in place. The kind of thesis that your paper will have will depend on the purpose of your writing. For example,
                    narratives often contain only an implied thesis statement.

Thesis development/purpose of narration    You can think of your thesis development as a map or a  guide both for yourself and your audience to
                    make sure your paper argues your thesis well.

Introduction     An introduction should get the attention of your audience and introduce your topic with a strong thesis.

Conclusion        The conclusion should bring your essay to a natural closure. Several “concluding” techniques include highlighting the most important
                    issue in new light; asking a question of your audience; or calling readers to action

Evidence/Supporting Details     Evidence includes appropriate examples, concrete evidence from outside sources and offering strong explanation and
                    details of your main points.

Topic Sentence     A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in a general way what idea or thesis the paragraph is going to deal with. Although not
                    all paragraphs have clear-cut topic sentences, and despite the fact that topic sentences can occur anywhere in the paragraph (as the first
                    sentence, the last sentence, or somewhere in the middle), an easy way to make sure your reader understands the topic of the paragraph is
                    to put your topic sentence near the beginning of the paragraph. (This is a good general rule for less experienced writers, although it is not
                    the only way to do it).

Organization     Organization and coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. You can help create coherence in
                    your paragraphs by creating logical bridges: The same idea of a topic is carried over from sentence to sentence.

Transitions/Unity     Transitional devices are like bridges between parts of your paper. They are cues that help the reader to interpret ideas in the way
                    that you, as a writer, want them to understand. Transitional devices help you carry over a thought from one sentence to another, from one
                    idea to another, or from one paragraph to another with words or phrases. And finally, transitional devices link your sentences and
                    paragraphs together smoothly so that there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas.

 Paraphrase      Paraphrase involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original
                    source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing
                     it slightly.

Summary          Summary involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute
                    summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source
                    material.

Analysis     Analyzing means breaking down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluating the issue or idea, and presenting this breakdown
                    and evaluation to your audience. An analytical thesis statement will explain:

Mechanics    Correct use of punctuation helps makes sure meaning will not get lost.

Quotation/MLA style Quotations     Quotes must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source
                    document word for word. In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done in two ways. When you make reference to
                    someone else's idea, either through paraphrasing or quoting them directly, you: provide the author's name (or the title of the work) and the
                    page (or paragraph) number of the work in a parenthetical citation. You also must provide full citation information for the work in your
                    Works Cited list.

 MLA Works Cited     The works cited list should appear at the end of your essay. It provides the information necessary for a reader to locate and be
                    able to read any sources you cite in the essay. Each source you cite in the essay must appear in your works-cited list; likewise, each entry
                    in the works-cited list must be cited in your text.

Word Choice    Choose words that clearly and concisely express your meaning. Don’t rely on vague language or clichés with no meaning

Sentence Variety    Put clauses and phrases with dependent markers at the beginning of some sentences instead of starting each sentence with the
                    subject. Vary the rhythm by adding transitional words at the beginning of some sentences. Vary the rhythm by alternating short and long
                    sentences.

Active Voice/Passive     Voice In sentences written in active voice, the subject performs the action expressed in the verb; the subject acts. For
                    example, the iguana played with the cat. In sentences written in passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed in the verb; the
                    subject is acted upon. The agent performing the action may appear in a "by the . . ." phrase or may be omitted. For example, the game was
                     lost by the team.

Parallelism    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can
                    happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as
                    "and" or "or."

Coordination    Combining two equal (independent) sentences with conjunctions such as and, but, or; nor; for; yet, so. The point is to make clear that
                    the value of each idea is equal.

Subordination    Combining two unequal sentences such as a dependent clause with an independent clause with conjunctions such as after,
                    although, before, unless, whenever and many others. Because, the value of each idea is not equal, one idea supports or adds to another.

Repetition        A writer uses a particular word or phrase more than once to make a particular point in order to impact or persuade the reader.

Figures of Speech     Writers often use common figures of speech such as similes and metaphors  to connect with the reader.

Fragment    Fragments are incomplete sentences. Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main
                    clause. One of the easiest ways to correct them is to remove the period between the fragment and the main clause. Other kinds of
                    punctuation may be needed for the newly combined sentence.

Run-On       Run-on is a  term describing two independent clauses, which are joined together with no connecting word or punctuation to separate the
                    clauses. For example, “They weren’t dangerous criminals they were detectives in disguise” is incorrect. But, “They weren't dangerous
                    criminals; they were detectives in disguise” is correct.

Comma Splice     A comma splice is the use of a comma between two independent clauses. You can usually fix the error by changing the comma to a
                    period and therefore making the two clauses into two separate sentences, by changing the comma to a semicolon, or by making one clause
                     dependent by inserting a dependent marker word in front of it.

Pronoun antecedent     Pronouns should agree in number: If the pronoun takes the place of a singular noun, you have to use a singular pronoun.
                    Pronouns also need to Agree in Person. If you are writing in the "first person" ( I), don't confuse your reader by switching to the "second
                    person" ( you) or "third person" (he, she, they, it, etc.). Finally, pronouns should refer clearly to a specific noun.

Subject/Verb Agreement      Subject and Verbs must agree in number, i.e., plural noun needs a plural verb.

Verb Tense     Changes in verb tense help readers understand the temporal relationships among various narrated events. But unnecessary or
                    inconsistent shifts in tense can cause confusion. Generally, writers maintain one tense for the main discourse and indicate changes in time
                    frame by changing tense relative to that primary tense, which is usually either simple past or simple present. General guideline: Do not shift
                    from one tense to another if the time frame for each action or state is the same.

Spelling       It is important to keep a list of your most frequently misspelled words. Do not rely on spell checkers—they won’t correct homonyms!

Commas     There are four ways to use a comma to clarify meaning: listing, linking, introducing and inserting.

Homonyms   Many words sound alike and are often spelled alike but mean different things.