An adjective is a word in a sentence that gives more information about a noun or a pronoun.
Types of adjectives
Example
An adjective ( young, blue, ancient, new, beautiful) can describe a noun.
We couldn't wait to try out our new Xbox game.
An adjective can describe a pronoun.
She was young and beautiful.
An adjective can be separated from the noun or pronoun it describes by a verb.
The tennis player was tanned and fit.
Adverbs
An adverb is a word in a sentence that tells: how, when, where, frequency or degree.
Types of adverbs
Example
How (manner)
She quickly turned off the light.
When (time)
Yesterday we went to the movies.
Where (place)
I live near my favourite cousin.
Frequency (how often)
We rarely go to the beach.
Degree (how much)
He almost reached the summit of the mountain.
Alliteration
Alliteration is a poetic device. It is the repetition of a consonant at the beginning of words which are in sequence.
Alliteration
Example
Quietly, quickly
He spoke to his men quietly and quickly.
Cause and effect words
Cause and effect words are conjunctions that link ideas in a sentence explaining why something can or cannot occur.
Cause and effect words
Example
Because, because of, consequently, makes, produces, causes, due to
It would be difficult to include extreme sports in the school curriculum because of the risk of injury.
Increasing the temperature caused the water to boil.
Compare and contrast words
Compare and contrast words link ideas in a sentence showing how these ideas are the same or different.
Compare and contrast words
Example
Unlike, on the other hand,
however, as well
equally, also, whereas
Compare
Koalas as well as kangaroos are members of the marsupial family.
Contrast
Darwin has a tropical climate whereas Sydney has a temperate climate.
Defining and classifying words
Defining and classifying words categorise.
Defining and classifying words
Example
Belong to, are comprised of,
consist of, smallest, is made up
of, are bigger than
The nuclear family usually consists of a mother, father and their children, while the extended family is comprised of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
I belong to Goolagong House.
Imperatives
An imperative (command verb) is a word in a sentence that gives an order or an instruction.
Types of command verbs
Example
Verbs which tell or ask what to do
Sit down.
Verbs which offer something
Take a packet of chips.
Verbs which create safety
Drive slowly.
Modality
Modality can be used as a persuasive device.
Modality
Example
Is the use of the words, "could, should and must" for increasing effect.
You could vote for him as the next president.
You should vote for him as the next president.
You must vote for him as the next president.
Nominalisation
Nominalisation is the process of changing verbs into nouns to make the writing more objective.
Nominalisation
Example
Verb
Noun
argued explode develop
argument explosion development
They argued until dawn.
The argument continued until dawn.
Nouns
A noun is a word in a sentence that names a person, a place, an emotion, or a thing.
Types of noun
Example
Proper nouns
Dylan and his mates rushed to Dickson Pool to cool off after a long hot day at school.
Name special places or things. (Canberra, Dylan, Thursday, February, Dickson Pool)
They always start with a capital letter.
Common nouns
The boy rushed to the pool with his mates after a long hot day at school.
Name things that are not special. They do not start with a capital letter. (pool, school, game, dog, month)
Collective nouns
When the team ran onto the field the crowd went wild with excitement.
Name a group of things. (team, crowd, audience, choir, flock)
Abstract nouns
Tiffany's fear of heights prevented her from rock climbing with her friends.
Name ideas or emotions. (love, fear, bravery, discrimination)
Paragraphs
A paragraph is a group of sentences which explores an aspect of a topic.
Paragraph structure
Example
A topic sentence is usually the first sentence. It tells what the paragraph will be about.
At the Year 7 camp there were many different activities.
Developing sentences provide more information about the topic sentence.
The activities included archery, canoeing, bushwalking and swimming. The instructors taught many different skills and the variety of activities kept everyone busy.
A closing sentence concludes a paragraph.
I enjoyed canoeing because I had never been in a canoe before.
Example Paragraph
At the Year 7 camp there were many different activities. The activities included archery, canoeing, bushwalking and swimming. The instructors taught us many different skills and the variety of activities kept everyone busy. I enjoyed canoeing because I had never been in a canoe before.
Personal Pronouns
A personal pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. It can be in the first, second or third person.
Types of pronoun
Example
First person (I, me, mine, us, we, ours, our, my)
"That iPad is ours!" we called out.
Second person (you, yours, your)
" You forgot to vote on Saturday," mum said to dad.
Third person (he, him, his, it, its, she, her, them, theirs, their)
She accepted the award and smiled happily at the crowd.
Personification
Personification is a poetic device. Personification is giving something non-human human characteristics.
Personification
Example
The wind ran…kicking…
The wind ran through the leaves kicking them up towards the sky.
Persuasive Devices
A persuasive device is a technique that is used to sway a person to a point of view.
Modality
You could vote for him as the next president.
You should vote for him as the next president.
You must vote for him as the next president.
The Power of Three
It was stated regularly, loudly and convincingly.
Rhetorical Question
How do I love thee?
Repetition
Some people believe that animals should not be kept in zoos. Some people believe that zoos are outdated. Some people believe that there should be alternative places for animals to be observed than zoos.
Repetition
Repetition can be used as a persuasive device. It is when a word or phrase emphasises an idea.
Repetition
Example
Some people
Some people believe that animals should not be kept in zoos. Some people believe that zoos are outdated. Some people believe that there should be alternative places for animals to be observed than zoos.
Rhetorical question
A rhetorical question can be used as a persuasive device. It is a question which does not need an answer.
Rhetorical question
Example
When will it end?
Simile
A simile is a poetic device. It is the use of the words like or as to compare.
Simile
Example
As blue as
Her eyes were as blue as the ocean.
Technical words
Technical words are words that are specific to a particular subject.
Technical words
Example
Temperature, compass, nocturnal, guards
The two guards, who are usually very quick agile players, have the role of bringing the ball up the court.
The power of three
The power of three can be used as a persuasive device. It is when three points are made in succession.
The power of three
Example
…regularly, loudly and convincingly….
It was stated regularly, loudly and convincingly.
Time words
Time words link ideas and add more details.
Time words
Example
First, now, after a while, at once, finally, before that, in the end,
then next time, firstly
Firstly, the school day should start and finish at later times. This would enable growing teenagers who often go to bed late to sleep longer in the mornings.
Verb tense
A verb's tense tells you when something happens. There are four main tenses.
Types of verb tense
Example
Past tense tells about something that has already happened. ( jumped, laughed, swam, caught)
David bowled the ball to the batsman.
Present tense tells about something that is happening now. ( am laughing,is crying, is dribbling, do play)
Vanessa is dribbling the ball down the court, weaving her way through the players.
Future tense tells about something that will happen. (will read, will go, shall be entering)
I will read this novel before next week.
Timeless Present Tense tells about things that always happen today, yesterday and tomorrow. (gets, plays, loves, goes)
The sun rises in the east.
Verbs
A verb is a word in a sentence that can link information or show that someone or something is:
· thinking
· speaking
· feeling
· doing an action
Types of verb
Example
Linking (is, are, have, was)
I have finished the assignment.
Thinking (think, pondered, wonder, daydreamed)
He wondered if the years of dedication would lead to success.
Speaking (screamed, cried, whispered, called)
"Help me," shouted Harry.
Feeling (agree, believe)
"I want to be remembered as a famous violinist," Hannah said.
Action (jumped, flew, growing, slid)
Ben slid under the fence.
Words that add more information
Words that add more information
Example
and, as well, also,
furthermore, as well,
an example of, not
only
Furthermore, computers are not preventing boys from reading. Boys are still reading, but they are reading computer screens not books. Moreover, not only are boys reading but they are having fun at the same time.
Words that show the author's point of view
Words that show the author's point of view are emotive words that the author uses to make a more convincing argument, thus positioning the reader.