essay language features

The Most Important Language Features That You Should Know

Esl , learn english.

Language features are your functional skills and your proficiency in English depends on them. Unravel the secrets of getting better grades in English and to become an effective communicator.

Have you ever read an English article or read a social media post and said,” Wow, that was such a fantastic piece of writing!” Or wondered why you aren’t scoring well in your English language papers? Chances are, you aren’t employing the language features appropriately. If you do not understand the language features, the text structures and how to engage with them, you have come to the right blog!

What are Language Features in English?

A word or expression that adds meaning to your language, improves its quality or enhances your expression is called a language feature. It can be a noun, an adjective, a figure of speech, a particular word or a sentence structure. The choice of a language expression depends on the type of text you are writing, the audience you are writing it for, the topic, etc. 

There are many language features in the English language; necessary functional skills. But, wait! Before you think you can’t cope with a long list of them, let us assure you that most of these features you are already aware of, and many are easy to use. 

Diving deep into the world of ‘language features examples’ is like unlocking a treasure chest of linguistic gems. Beyond basic grammar and vocabulary lies a universe where words play, dance, and sing! For example , onomatopoeia makes our language echo with sounds, turning ‘buzz’ and ‘bang’ into audible illustrations. Alliteration, another fun example, gives us catchy phrases like ‘Peter Piper picked’, making them roll off the tongue effortlessly. These ‘language features examples’ aren’t mere decorative tools; they breathe life and rhythm into our communications. Whether you’re a student penning an essay or just spinning a yarn with friends, sprinkling these features can make your narrative truly unforgettable.

The List of Language Features

Language is a vast subject. Also, it keeps evolving. The list of language features can be a bit overwhelming, so the most appropriate ones for you have been discussed by Edulyte’s experts here. These include: 

Alliteration

• Dramatic irony

Foreshadowing

Juxtaposition, onomatopoeia, personification, language features, their effects and examples.

When an event or a character in a poem, play or story represents an idea, it is called an allegory. Instead of giving the meaning clearly, the writer uses allegory to describe the thought, and the readers are to interpret it. Such a use of language features adds value to the emotion or thought.

A famous example of allegory in literature is George Orwell’s Animal Farm . A group of farm animals kick out the humans to run the farm themselves. But the underlying story is about the Russian Revolution; the pigs on the farm who take control represent Communist leaders like Stalin, Lenin, and the dogs who help the pigs represent the KGB.

Lady Larson liked lizards!

Interestingly, in the line above, all the words begin with the same sound, the sound of “l” . And this is what alliteration is, words placed together, starting with the same sounds. The poets adore it, and the writers swear by it. Alliteration gives a nice rhythm and emphasis to the writing; the readers cannot deny that it makes reading fun!

Using an indirect reference to an idea, emotion, thought, person or thing is an allusion. A writer will not explain the allusion but expect the reader to spot it and understand it. Wielded in the right way, it polishes your text structures.

I don’t trust his loyalty. He seems to be more of a Macbeth than a Samwise Gamgee.

In the example, the quality of being treacherous is conveyed by the famous Shakespearean character Macbeth and that of loyalty is highlighted by the Lord of the Rings character Samwise. 

If you wish to achieve a good rank, you must work hard every day; Rome wasn’t built in a day!

And that, my friends, is an analogy! A persuasive writing language feature allows the writer to put forward arguments and ideas so that you realise them and even agree with them. It is a way to entice the readers to support your thoughts. 

A tool to make your readers remember what you are saying or stress a point. Anaphora is the repetition of the first part of the sentence. 

• We care for your health. We care for your well being. We care for your life. 
• Here we see a repetition of the first two words in the sentences. 
• This retains a reader’s attention and even gives a rhythm to your writing. 

Dramatic Irony

A feature held dearly in English is the use of irony. Irony makes the reader think. How? Through irony, you use a different set of words so that their meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. Confused? Then read the following examples:

• The top rank holder in the class failed his university entrance exam! 
• People on social media discuss how useless social media is.
• It is the most appropriate feature to use when talking about life and experiences. 

A feature that is in constant use by anyone writing or even speaking in English is a euphemism. For example, we use euphemisms when we employ words to express an embarrassing or unpleasant situation.

• The entire family has been under the weather : here, under the weather was used instead of “sick.”
• After learning how to drive, I bought a pre-owned car : “pre-owned” was used instead of “used” car. 

Words that look or sound alike but carry different meanings are homonyms or homophones. The English language has many such words, and they can improve your writing skills and vocabulary. 

• The dog barks, seeing an insect on the bark of the tree. 
• Here bark has been used twice, but it holds a different meaning each time. 
• The use of homonyms makes writing and reading text captivating. 

As the term hints, it is related to creating an image or visual in your mind when you read a text. You can use abstract thought to talk about a person, an object, a place, an emotion or an idea. Imagination receives a boost while using this language feature. 

• I had a headache due to the intense heat. My head was pounding like a drum. 
• Her perfume smelt like warm melted chocolate. 

Want to exaggerate an event or a character’s reaction in your writing? Hyperbole definitely will help you. As a literary device, it adds emphasis. Rhetoric writing uses it reasonably, and hyperbole also finds its place in comic, serious, and even ironic situations. 

• This plate of pasta is the worst thing I have ever eaten.
• She sings like a banshee.

Sounds like a tongue twister!?! Juxtaposition is placing two or more characters, traits, actions or situations next to each other so that the reader can compare and contrast them. Interest is generated amongst readers when they are made to do so. Readers can have a clear image or illustration of your expression.

In your writing, you can find it handy to create a connection between two different thoughts or people. 

• Acceptance of the social norms isolated her from her ideals.
• The radiance of the child’s smile overcame the darkness in my heart. 

Derived from a Greek word, this language features uses negative terms to express a positive statement. You will come across this feature in non-fiction and rhetoric writing. Clever use of language, litotes is also in our daily conversations:

• I don’t dislike the new song by Ed Sheeran.
• Your analysis is not inaccurate.

You already read about it in school, and it does not just find its use in poetry but also real life. Metaphor uses a person, place, or action as something else. So the readers get a clear description of what you are trying to say when you include a metaphor in your writing. 

• He is a sloth after lunch. 
• 50% discount in H&M was a magnet for shoppers.

We are all addicted to virtual reality. 

You are confused about the subject choices!

‘virtual reality’ are two words brought together with completely different meanings. So is ‘clearly confused.’ Such a use of language is called an oxymoron. It brings out the importance of a concept. And it is also entertaining; that is why many of the famous movies and series titles are examples of an oxymoron: Eyes Wide Shut, You Only Live Twice, Big Little Lies.. you can surely think of many more now.

Aristotle swore by it, as he believed that inspiring emotions among listeners would turn them in your favour. And that is what pathos does. And for that, it finds an honourable place in the advertising world. Movies bank of dialogues with pothos literary devices to sway the audience. Some famous examples are: 

• I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. (The Shawshank Redemption)
• Things change, friends leave. And life doesn’t stop for anybody. (The Perks of Being a Wallflower)

Rhetorical Question

Cambridge dictionary defines it as a question asked in order to make a statement that does not expect an answer. As a writer, you can make the reader pause to think over what you are trying to say. It hooks them to your text.

• Do we have another Earth? Another home? 
• Who wouldn’t want to be rich?

Words can kill, and satire shows you how; it is the use of humour to express your dislike for an ideology, a situation or a person. Many movies, novels, short stories, poems and even stand up comedy are based on satire . As a writer, you can highlight a flaw or an issue and create awareness among your readers with this language feature. 

To let you in on a secret… you have been exposed to it already!

From the famous play “The Importance of Being Earnest” to the series “The Simpsons” , satire makes fun of the societal norms and state. 

Animation movie titles like “ Happy Feet “, a book with the name “The Giving Tree”, or Emily Dickinson writing her famous line…” The heart wants what it wants – or else it does not care” , are all examples of personification. 

• As you might have guessed by now, it presents a thought or object with human emotions or portrays them as having human abilities. 
• You can compel a reader to imagine or understand your concept better using this literary device. 

‘Pun intended,’ we have come across sentences with this phrase. So what does it mean? A pun is a great way of using your vocabulary skills. A pun uses a word to tell something else from its actual meaning. Your writing becomes witty with this language feature. It is a play on words, many times with similar-sounding words. Newspaper headlines sport this feature regularly.

• After waiting for the football match to begin, the ball finally rolled.
• It’s no use lecturing the sheep; they have herd it before.

Another descriptive tool, a simile, compares one person, idea, or thing with another. It differs from metaphor as it sticks to using “ like ” or “ as ” while comparing. 

• Her blueberry cheesecake is as good as The Cheesecake Factory’s cheesecake. 
• The road meandered like a river.

The green traffic light tells you to “go.” A dollar sign symbolises “money.” That is symbolism in your everyday life. The trick is to utilise it in your writing as well. Symbolism allows you to use particular objects to signify emotion, a concept, an idea. 

Your English teacher would have pointed it out: ‘you have deviated from the theme in your writing.’ The theme is the underlying idea or meaning of a writing. As a writer, you develop your writing and characters around the central idea, like “To Kill A Mockingbird ” has a theme of equality and justice, whereas “Kafka On The Shore” has metaphysical as its main theme. 

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This is a language feature where the word imitates the actual sound of what it’s describing.

• Example 1: The clock ticked away the seconds.
• Example 2: Bees buzz around the flowers.
• Example 3: The bacon sizzled in the pan.
• Quote: “The buzzing bee flew away.”

This language feature provides hints or clues for what will happen later in the story.

• Example 1: A gun is shown in the first act of a play, and it goes off in the third.
• Example 2: A character coughs before a serious illness is revealed.
• Example 3: Dark clouds on the horizon suggest an impending storm.
• Quote: “A shadow flits before me, not thou but like to thee.”

A flashback interrupts the normal sequence of events to depict something that happened at an earlier time.

• Example 1: A veteran experiences a flashback to his time at war.
• Example 2: In a story, the protagonist remembers their childhood.
• Example 3: A movie starts with a character as an adult, then flashes back to their youth.
• Quote: “Memories are bullets. Some whiz by and only spook you. Others tear you open and leave you in pieces.”

This is a statement that appears contradictory but can reveal a deeper truth.

• Example 1: “Less is more.”
• Example 2: “You have to be cruel to be kind.”
• Example 3: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
• Quote: “It’s weird not to be weird.”

In language features, tone is the general character or attitude conveyed in writing.

• Example 1: A cheerful tone in a letter of acceptance.
• Example 2: A serious tone in an academic paper.
• Example 3: A suspenseful tone in a mystery novel.
• Quote: “The tone of your voice often conveys more accurately what is in your mind than do your words.”

Mood: Mood is the emotional setting created through language features in a narrative.

• Example 1: A spooky mood in a ghost story.
• Example 2: A romantic mood in a love poem.
• Example 3: A hopeful mood in an inspirational speech.
• Quote: “Mood is at the heart of all literature.”

These are phrases or ideas that have been overused to the point of losing their original meaning.

• Example 1: “Time heals all wounds.”
• Example 2: “Love at first sight.”
• Example 3: “As busy as a bee.”
• Quote: “Avoid clichés like the plague.”

A recurring element that has significance in a story.

Examples of this language feature.

• 1: The colour red appearing in a movie to signify danger.
• 2: The theme of friendship in a novel.
• 3: Recurring flashbacks in a TV series to hint at a character’s past.
• Quote: “A motif is not an image, but the reappearance of an image.”

Saying something but meaning the opposite, often to mock or to convey contempt.

• Example 1: Saying “nice job” when someone makes a mistake.
• Example 2: Saying “I can’t wait to start my diet” while eating a slice of cake.
• Example 3: “You’re as clear as mud.”
• Quote: “Sarcasm: the last refuge of the imaginatively bankrupt.”

How will Language Features help me?

So you think only an English language/literature student should learn about the language features? Well, it is a misconception that you should get rid of immediately. 

• As you have seen from the examples above, language features are applied to our day to day life. So a firm grasp on them improves your communication skills and makes you more confident.
• Language features can effectively deliver information and notions. For example, you can convey what you wish to an audience or a reader and make them understand your thoughts or the information. 
• Language features, once mastered, are excellent support for you. They are your reliable allies in churning out well-written speeches, stories, poems, and every written text. As a result, expressions become refined, your writing becomes persuasive, and your ability to observe and write becomes sharp. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

To find the language features in a text, you must know what they are and how to use them. Certain texts will have specific language features like a speech will have rhetoric , a poem will have metaphors and similies, etc.

That is a good question. It would be best to use them in your written and verbal communication because they make your communication effective. You can express yourself better, put forth your ideas clearly and make others comprehend your thoughts better. Also, they are a great tool to help you score well in your English language exams and tests.

The effect of language features makes the reader want to read more. You feel the impact of language features when immersed in the text and visualise everything the narrator presents. When you can feel the emotions or understand the writer’s point of view, you can clearly say that you are under the effect of the language features used in the text.

Informal language features mean the use of: nonstandard English colloquial vocabulary  shorter sentence structures. less use of personal pronouns

These terms are used interchangeably. Language features enable us to present our ideas in forms: formal, persuasive essays, speech, poems, reports, etc. Language techniques are the words and phrases used in a text to emphasise the topic or a theme.  Language features are the specific language techniques that an author includes to create meaning.

Satire is a term heard often in English classes. It means the use of humour to express your dislike for an ideology, a situation or a person.

 A pun is a great way of using your vocabulary skills. A pun uses a word to tell something else from its actual meaning. Your writing becomes witty with this language feature.

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• How to structure an essay: Templates and tips

How to Structure an Essay | Tips & Templates

Published on September 18, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction , a body , and a conclusion . But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body.

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Table of contents

The basics of essay structure, chronological structure, compare-and-contrast structure, problems-methods-solutions structure, signposting to clarify your structure, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay structure.

There are two main things to keep in mind when working on your essay structure: making sure to include the right information in each part, and deciding how you’ll organize the information within the body.

Parts of an essay

The three parts that make up all essays are described in the table below.

Order of information

You’ll also have to consider how to present information within the body. There are a few general principles that can guide you here.

The first is that your argument should move from the simplest claim to the most complex . The body of a good argumentative essay often begins with simple and widely accepted claims, and then moves towards more complex and contentious ones.

For example, you might begin by describing a generally accepted philosophical concept, and then apply it to a new topic. The grounding in the general concept will allow the reader to understand your unique application of it.

The second principle is that background information should appear towards the beginning of your essay . General background is presented in the introduction. If you have additional background to present, this information will usually come at the start of the body.

The third principle is that everything in your essay should be relevant to the thesis . Ask yourself whether each piece of information advances your argument or provides necessary background. And make sure that the text clearly expresses each piece of information’s relevance.

The sections below present several organizational templates for essays: the chronological approach, the compare-and-contrast approach, and the problems-methods-solutions approach.

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The chronological approach (sometimes called the cause-and-effect approach) is probably the simplest way to structure an essay. It just means discussing events in the order in which they occurred, discussing how they are related (i.e. the cause and effect involved) as you go.

A chronological approach can be useful when your essay is about a series of events. Don’t rule out other approaches, though—even when the chronological approach is the obvious one, you might be able to bring out more with a different structure.

Explore the tabs below to see a general template and a specific example outline from an essay on the invention of the printing press.

• Thesis statement
• Discussion of event/period
• Consequences
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement
• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages
• Background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press
• Thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation
• High levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe
• Literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites
• Consequence: this discouraged political and religious change
• Invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg
• Implications of the new technology for book production
• Consequence: Rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible
• Trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention
• Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation
• Consequence: The large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics
• Summarize the history described
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period

Essays with two or more main subjects are often structured around comparing and contrasting . For example, a literary analysis essay might compare two different texts, and an argumentative essay might compare the strengths of different arguments.

There are two main ways of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay: the alternating method, and the block method.

Alternating

In the alternating method, each paragraph compares your subjects in terms of a specific point of comparison. These points of comparison are therefore what defines each paragraph.

The tabs below show a general template for this structure, and a specific example for an essay comparing and contrasting distance learning with traditional classroom learning.

• Synthesis of arguments
• Topical relevance of distance learning in lockdown
• Increasing prevalence of distance learning over the last decade
• Thesis statement: While distance learning has certain advantages, it introduces multiple new accessibility issues that must be addressed for it to be as effective as classroom learning
• Classroom learning: Ease of identifying difficulties and privately discussing them
• Distance learning: Difficulty of noticing and unobtrusively helping
• Classroom learning: Difficulties accessing the classroom (disability, distance travelled from home)
• Distance learning: Difficulties with online work (lack of tech literacy, unreliable connection, distractions)
• Classroom learning: Tends to encourage personal engagement among students and with teacher, more relaxed social environment
• Distance learning: Greater ability to reach out to teacher privately
• Sum up, emphasize that distance learning introduces more difficulties than it solves
• Stress the importance of addressing issues with distance learning as it becomes increasingly common
• Distance learning may prove to be the future, but it still has a long way to go

In the block method, each subject is covered all in one go, potentially across multiple paragraphs. For example, you might write two paragraphs about your first subject and then two about your second subject, making comparisons back to the first.

The tabs again show a general template, followed by another essay on distance learning, this time with the body structured in blocks.

• Point 1 (compare)
• Point 2 (compare)
• Point 3 (compare)
• Point 4 (compare)
• Advantages: Flexibility, accessibility
• Disadvantages: Discomfort, challenges for those with poor internet or tech literacy
• Advantages: Potential for teacher to discuss issues with a student in a separate private call
• Disadvantages: Difficulty of identifying struggling students and aiding them unobtrusively, lack of personal interaction among students
• Advantages: More accessible to those with low tech literacy, equality of all sharing one learning environment
• Disadvantages: Students must live close enough to attend, commutes may vary, classrooms not always accessible for disabled students
• Advantages: Ease of picking up on signs a student is struggling, more personal interaction among students
• Disadvantages: May be harder for students to approach teacher privately in person to raise issues

An essay that concerns a specific problem (practical or theoretical) may be structured according to the problems-methods-solutions approach.

This is just what it sounds like: You define the problem, characterize a method or theory that may solve it, and finally analyze the problem, using this method or theory to arrive at a solution. If the problem is theoretical, the solution might be the analysis you present in the essay itself; otherwise, you might just present a proposed solution.

The tabs below show a template for this structure and an example outline for an essay about the problem of fake news.

• Introduce the problem
• Provide background
• Describe your approach to solving it
• Define the problem precisely
• Describe why it’s important
• Indicate previous approaches to the problem
• Present your new approach, and why it’s better
• Apply the new method or theory to the problem
• Indicate the solution you arrive at by doing so
• Assess (potential or actual) effectiveness of solution
• Describe the implications
• Problem: The growth of “fake news” online
• Prevalence of polarized/conspiracy-focused news sources online
• Thesis statement: Rather than attempting to stamp out online fake news through social media moderation, an effective approach to combating it must work with educational institutions to improve media literacy
• Definition: Deliberate disinformation designed to spread virally online
• Popularization of the term, growth of the phenomenon
• Previous approaches: Labeling and moderation on social media platforms
• Critique: This approach feeds conspiracies; the real solution is to improve media literacy so users can better identify fake news
• Greater emphasis should be placed on media literacy education in schools
• This allows people to assess news sources independently, rather than just being told which ones to trust
• This is a long-term solution but could be highly effective
• It would require significant organization and investment, but would equip people to judge news sources more effectively
• Rather than trying to contain the spread of fake news, we must teach the next generation not to fall for it

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Signposting means guiding the reader through your essay with language that describes or hints at the structure of what follows.  It can help you clarify your structure for yourself as well as helping your reader follow your ideas.

The essay overview

In longer essays whose body is split into multiple named sections, the introduction often ends with an overview of the rest of the essay. This gives a brief description of the main idea or argument of each section.

The overview allows the reader to immediately understand what will be covered in the essay and in what order. Though it describes what  comes later in the text, it is generally written in the present tense . The following example is from a literary analysis essay on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

Transitions

Transition words and phrases are used throughout all good essays to link together different ideas. They help guide the reader through your text, and an essay that uses them effectively will be much easier to follow.

Various different relationships can be expressed by transition words, as shown in this example.

Because Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany. Although it was an outcome the Allies had hoped to avoid, they were prepared to back up their ultimatum in order to combat the existential threat posed by the Third Reich.

Transition sentences may be included to transition between different paragraphs or sections of an essay. A good transition sentence moves the reader on to the next topic while indicating how it relates to the previous one.

… Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

However , considering the issue of personal interaction among students presents a different picture.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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Narrative Writing: A Complete Guide for Teachers and Students

MASTERING THE CRAFT OF NARRATIVE WRITING

Narratives build on and encourage the development of the fundamentals of writing. They also require developing an additional skill set: the ability to tell a good yarn, and storytelling is as old as humanity.

We see and hear stories everywhere and daily, from having good gossip on the doorstep with a neighbor in the morning to the dramas that fill our screens in the evening.

Good narrative writing skills are hard-won by students even though it is an area of writing that most enjoy due to the creativity and freedom it offers.

Here we will explore some of the main elements of a good story: plot, setting, characters, conflict, climax, and resolution . And we will look too at how best we can help our students understand these elements, both in isolation and how they mesh together as a whole.

WHAT IS A NARRATIVE?

A narrative is a story that shares a sequence of events , characters, and themes. It expresses experiences, ideas, and perspectives that should aspire to engage and inspire an audience.

A narrative can spark emotion, encourage reflection, and convey meaning when done well.

Narratives are a popular genre for students and teachers as they allow the writer to share their imagination, creativity, skill, and understanding of nearly all elements of writing.  We occasionally refer to a narrative as ‘creative writing’ or story writing.

The purpose of a narrative is simple, to tell the audience a story.  It can be written to motivate, educate, or entertain and can be fact or fiction.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING NARRATIVE WRITING

Teach your students to become skilled story writers with this HUGE   NARRATIVE & CREATIVE STORY WRITING UNIT . Offering a  COMPLETE SOLUTION  to teaching students how to craft  CREATIVE CHARACTERS, SUPERB SETTINGS, and PERFECT PLOTS .

Over 192 PAGES of materials, including:

TYPES OF NARRATIVE WRITING

There are many narrative writing genres and sub-genres such as these.

We have a complete guide to writing a personal narrative that differs from the traditional story-based narrative covered in this guide. It includes personal narrative writing prompts, resources, and examples and can be found here.

As we can see, narratives are an open-ended form of writing that allows you to showcase creativity in many directions. However, all narratives share a common set of features and structure known as “Story Elements”, which are briefly covered in this guide.

Don’t overlook the importance of understanding story elements and the value this adds to you as a writer who can dissect and create grand narratives. We also have an in-depth guide to understanding story elements here .

CHARACTERISTICS OF NARRATIVE WRITING

Narrative structure.

ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Set the scene by introducing your characters, setting and time of the story. Establish your who, when and where in this part of your narrative

COMPLICATION AND EVENTS (MIDDLE) In this section activities and events involving your main characters are expanded upon. These events are written in a cohesive and fluent sequence.

RESOLUTION (ENDING) Your complication is resolved in this section. It does not have to be a happy outcome, however.

EXTRAS: Whilst orientation, complication and resolution are the agreed norms for a narrative, there are numerous examples of popular texts that did not explicitly follow this path exactly.

NARRATIVE FEATURES

LANGUAGE: Use descriptive and figurative language to paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read.

PERSPECTIVE Narratives can be written from any perspective but are most commonly written in first or third person.

DIALOGUE Narratives frequently switch from narrator to first-person dialogue. Always use speech marks when writing dialogue.

TENSE If you change tense, make it perfectly clear to your audience what is happening. Flashbacks might work well in your mind but make sure they translate to your audience.

THE PLOT MAP

This graphic is known as a plot map, and nearly all narratives fit this structure in one way or another, whether romance novels, science fiction or otherwise.

It is a simple tool that helps you understand and organise a story’s events. Think of it as a roadmap that outlines the journey of your characters and the events that unfold. It outlines the different stops along the way, such as the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, that help you to see how the story builds and develops.

Using a plot map, you can see how each event fits into the larger picture and how the different parts of the story work together to create meaning. It’s a great way to visualize and analyze a story.

Be sure to refer to a plot map when planning a story, as it has all the essential elements of a great story.

THE 5 KEY STORY ELEMENTS OF A GREAT NARRATIVE (6-MINUTE TUTORIAL VIDEO)

This video we created provides an excellent overview of these elements and demonstrates them in action in stories we all know and love.

HOW TO WRITE A NARRATIVE

Now that we understand the story elements and how they come together to form stories, it’s time to start planning and writing your narrative.

In many cases, the template and guide below will provide enough details on how to craft a great story. However, if you still need assistance with the fundamentals of writing, such as sentence structure, paragraphs and using correct grammar, we have some excellent guides on those here.

USE YOUR WRITING TIME EFFECTIVELY: Maximize your narrative writing sessions by spending approximately 20 per cent of your time planning and preparing.  This ensures greater productivity during your writing time and keeps you focused and on task.

Use tools such as graphic organizers to logically sequence your narrative if you are not a confident story writer.  If you are working with reluctant writers, try using narrative writing prompts to get their creative juices flowing.

Spend most of your writing hour on the task at hand, don’t get too side-tracked editing during this time and leave some time for editing. When editing a  narrative, examine it for these three elements.

• Spelling and grammar ( Is it readable?)
• Story structure and continuity ( Does it make sense, and does it flow? )
• Character and plot analysis. (Are your characters engaging? Does your problem/resolution work? )

1. SETTING THE SCENE: THE WHERE AND THE WHEN

The story’s setting often answers two of the central questions in the story, namely, the where and the when. The answers to these two crucial questions will often be informed by the type of story the student is writing.

The story’s setting can be chosen to quickly orient the reader to the type of story they are reading. For example, a fictional narrative writing piece such as a horror story will often begin with a description of a haunted house on a hill or an abandoned asylum in the middle of the woods. If we start our story on a rocket ship hurtling through the cosmos on its space voyage to the Alpha Centauri star system, we can be reasonably sure that the story we are embarking on is a work of science fiction.

Such conventions are well-worn clichés true, but they can be helpful starting points for our novice novelists to make a start.

Having students choose an appropriate setting for the type of story they wish to write is an excellent exercise for our younger students. It leads naturally onto the next stage of story writing, which is creating suitable characters to populate this fictional world they have created. However, older or more advanced students may wish to play with the expectations of appropriate settings for their story. They may wish to do this for comic effect or in the interest of creating a more original story. For example, opening a story with a children’s birthday party does not usually set up the expectation of a horror story. Indeed, it may even lure the reader into a happy reverie as they remember their own happy birthday parties. This leaves them more vulnerable to the surprise element of the shocking action that lies ahead.

Once the students have chosen a setting for their story, they need to start writing. Little can be more terrifying to English students than the blank page and its bare whiteness stretching before them on the table like a merciless desert they must cross. Give them the kick-start they need by offering support through word banks or writing prompts. If the class is all writing a story based on the same theme, you may wish to compile a common word bank on the whiteboard as a prewriting activity. Write the central theme or genre in the middle of the board. Have students suggest words or phrases related to the theme and list them on the board.

You may wish to provide students with a copy of various writing prompts to get them started. While this may mean that many students’ stories will have the same beginning, they will most likely arrive at dramatically different endings via dramatically different routes.

A bargain is at the centre of the relationship between the writer and the reader. That bargain is that the reader promises to suspend their disbelief as long as the writer creates a consistent and convincing fictional reality. Creating a believable world for the fictional characters to inhabit requires the student to draw on convincing details. The best way of doing this is through writing that appeals to the senses. Have your student reflect deeply on the world that they are creating. What does it look like? Sound like? What does the food taste like there? How does it feel like to walk those imaginary streets, and what aromas beguile the nose as the main character winds their way through that conjured market?

Also, Consider the when; or the time period. Is it a future world where things are cleaner and more antiseptic? Or is it an overcrowded 16th-century London with human waste stinking up the streets? If students can create a multi-sensory installation in the reader’s mind, then they have done this part of their job well.

Popular Settings from Children’s Literature and Storytelling

• Fairytale Kingdom
• Magical Forest
• Village/town
• Underwater world
• Space/Alien planet

2. CASTING THE CHARACTERS: THE WHO

Now that your student has created a believable world, it is time to populate it with believable characters.

In short stories, these worlds mustn’t be overpopulated beyond what the student’s skill level can manage. Short stories usually only require one main character and a few secondary ones. Think of the short story more as a small-scale dramatic production in an intimate local theater than a Hollywood blockbuster on a grand scale. Too many characters will only confuse and become unwieldy with a canvas this size. Keep it simple!

Creating believable characters is often one of the most challenging aspects of narrative writing for students. Fortunately, we can do a few things to help students here. Sometimes it is helpful for students to model their characters on actual people they know. This can make things a little less daunting and taxing on the imagination. However, whether or not this is the case, writing brief background bios or descriptions of characters’ physical personality characteristics can be a beneficial prewriting activity. Students should give some in-depth consideration to the details of who their character is: How do they walk? What do they look like? Do they have any distinguishing features? A crooked nose? A limp? Bad breath? Small details such as these bring life and, therefore, believability to characters. Students can even cut pictures from magazines to put a face to their character and allow their imaginations to fill in the rest of the details.

Younger students will often dictate to the reader the nature of their characters. To improve their writing craft, students must know when to switch from story-telling mode to story-showing mode. This is particularly true when it comes to character. Encourage students to reveal their character’s personality through what they do rather than merely by lecturing the reader on the faults and virtues of the character’s personality. It might be a small relayed detail in the way they walk that reveals a core characteristic. For example, a character who walks with their head hanging low and shoulders hunched while avoiding eye contact has been revealed to be timid without the word once being mentioned. This is a much more artistic and well-crafted way of doing things and is less irritating for the reader. A character who sits down at the family dinner table immediately snatches up his fork and starts stuffing roast potatoes into his mouth before anyone else has even managed to sit down has revealed a tendency towards greed or gluttony.

Understanding Character Traits

Again, there is room here for some fun and profitable prewriting activities. Give students a list of character traits and have them describe a character doing something that reveals that trait without ever employing the word itself.

It is also essential to avoid adjective stuffing here. When looking at students’ early drafts, adjective stuffing is often apparent. To train the student out of this habit, choose an adjective and have the student rewrite the sentence to express this adjective through action rather than telling.

When writing a story, it is vital to consider the character’s traits and how they will impact the story’s events. For example, a character with a strong trait of determination may be more likely to overcome obstacles and persevere. In contrast, a character with a tendency towards laziness may struggle to achieve their goals. In short, character traits add realism, depth, and meaning to a story, making it more engaging and memorable for the reader.

Popular Character Traits in Children’s Stories

• Determination
• Imagination
• Perseverance
• Responsibility

We have an in-depth guide to creating great characters here , but most students should be fine to move on to planning their conflict and resolution.

3. NO PROBLEM? NO STORY! HOW CONFLICT DRIVES A NARRATIVE

This is often the area apprentice writers have the most difficulty with. Students must understand that without a problem or conflict, there is no story. The problem is the driving force of the action. Usually, in a short story, the problem will center around what the primary character wants to happen or, indeed, wants not to happen. It is the hurdle that must be overcome. It is in the struggle to overcome this hurdle that events happen.

Often when a student understands the need for a problem in a story, their completed work will still not be successful. This is because, often in life, problems remain unsolved. Hurdles are not always successfully overcome. Students pick up on this.

We often discuss problems with friends that will never be satisfactorily resolved one way or the other, and we accept this as a part of life. This is not usually the case with writing a story. Whether a character successfully overcomes his or her problem or is decidedly crushed in the process of trying is not as important as the fact that it will finally be resolved one way or the other.

A good practical exercise for students to get to grips with this is to provide copies of stories and have them identify the central problem or conflict in each through discussion. Familiar fables or fairy tales such as Three Little Pigs, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Cinderella, etc., are great for this.

While it is true that stories often have more than one problem or that the hero or heroine is unsuccessful in their first attempt to solve a central problem, for beginning students and intermediate students, it is best to focus on a single problem, especially given the scope of story writing at this level. Over time students will develop their abilities to handle more complex plots and write accordingly.

Popular Conflicts found in Children’s Storytelling.

• Good vs evil
• Individual vs society
• Nature vs nurture
• Self vs others
• Man vs self
• Man vs nature
• Man vs technology
• Individual vs fate
• Self vs destiny

Conflict is the heart and soul of any good story. It’s what makes a story compelling and drives the plot forward. Without conflict, there is no story. Every great story has a struggle or a problem that needs to be solved, and that’s where conflict comes in. Conflict is what makes a story exciting and keeps the reader engaged. It creates tension and suspense and makes the reader care about the outcome.

Like in real life, conflict in a story is an opportunity for a character’s growth and transformation. It’s a chance for them to learn and evolve, making a story great. So next time stories are written in the classroom, remember that conflict is an essential ingredient, and without it, your story will lack the energy, excitement, and meaning that makes it truly memorable.

4. THE NARRATIVE CLIMAX: HOW THINGS COME TO A HEAD!

The climax of the story is the dramatic high point of the action. It is also when the struggles kicked off by the problem come to a head. The climax will ultimately decide whether the story will have a happy or tragic ending. In the climax, two opposing forces duke things out until the bitter (or sweet!) end. One force ultimately emerges triumphant. As the action builds throughout the story, suspense increases as the reader wonders which of these forces will win out. The climax is the release of this suspense.

Much of the success of the climax depends on how well the other elements of the story have been achieved. If the student has created a well-drawn and believable character that the reader can identify with and feel for, then the climax will be more powerful.

The nature of the problem is also essential as it determines what’s at stake in the climax. The problem must matter dearly to the main character if it matters at all to the reader.

Have students engage in discussions about their favorite movies and books. Have them think about the storyline and decide the most exciting parts. What was at stake at these moments? What happened in your body as you read or watched? Did you breathe faster? Or grip the cushion hard? Did your heart rate increase, or did you start to sweat? This is what a good climax does and what our students should strive to do in their stories.

The climax puts it all on the line and rolls the dice. Let the chips fall where the writer may…

Popular Climax themes in Children’s Stories

• A battle between good and evil
• The character’s bravery saves the day
• Character faces their fears and overcomes them
• The character solves a mystery or puzzle.
• The character stands up for what is right.
• Character reaches their goal or dream.
• The character learns a valuable lesson.
• The character makes a selfless sacrifice.
• The character makes a difficult decision.
• The character reunites with loved ones or finds true friendship.

5. RESOLUTION: TYING UP LOOSE ENDS

After the climactic action, a few questions will often remain unresolved for the reader, even if all the conflict has been resolved. The resolution is where those lingering questions will be answered. The resolution in a short story may only be a brief paragraph or two. But, in most cases, it will still be necessary to include an ending immediately after the climax can feel too abrupt and leave the reader feeling unfulfilled.

An easy way to explain resolution to students struggling to grasp the concept is to point to the traditional resolution of fairy tales, the “And they all lived happily ever after” ending. This weather forecast for the future allows the reader to take their leave. Have the student consider the emotions they want to leave the reader with when crafting their resolution.

While the action is usually complete by the end of the climax, it is in the resolution that if there is a twist to be found, it will appear – think of movies such as The Usual Suspects. Pulling this off convincingly usually requires considerable skill from a student writer. Still, it may well form a challenging extension exercise for those more gifted storytellers among your students.

Popular Resolutions in Children’s Stories

• Our hero achieves their goal
• The character learns a valuable lesson
• A character finds happiness or inner peace.
• The character reunites with loved ones.
• Character restores balance to the world.
• The character discovers their true identity.
• Character changes for the better.
• The character gains wisdom or understanding.
• Character makes amends with others.
• The character learns to appreciate what they have.

Once students have completed their story, they can edit for grammar, vocabulary choice, spelling, etc., but not before!

As mentioned, there is a craft to storytelling, as well as an art. When accurate grammar, perfect spelling, and immaculate sentence structures are pushed at the outset, they can cause storytelling paralysis. For this reason, it is essential that when we encourage the students to write a story, we give them license to make mechanical mistakes in their use of language that they can work on and fix later.

Good narrative writing is a very complex skill to develop and will take the student years to become competent. It challenges not only the student’s technical abilities with language but also her creative faculties. Writing frames, word banks, mind maps, and visual prompts can all give valuable support as students develop the wide-ranging and challenging skills required to produce a successful narrative writing piece. But, at the end of it all, as with any craft, practice and more practice is at the heart of the matter.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GREAT NARRATIVE

• Start your story with a clear purpose: If you can determine the theme or message you want to convey in your narrative before starting it will make the writing process so much simpler.
• Choose a compelling storyline and sell it through great characters, setting and plot: Consider a unique or interesting story that captures the reader’s attention, then build the world and characters around it.
• Develop vivid characters that are not all the same: Make your characters relatable and memorable by giving them distinct personalities and traits you can draw upon in the plot.
• Use descriptive language to hook your audience into your story: Use sensory language to paint vivid images and sequences in the reader’s mind.
• Show, don’t tell your audience: Use actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal character motivations and emotions through storytelling.
• Create a vivid setting that is clear to your audience before getting too far into the plot: Describe the time and place of your story to immerse the reader fully.
• Build tension: Refer to the story map earlier in this article and use conflict, obstacles, and suspense to keep the audience engaged and invested in your narrative.
• Use figurative language such as metaphors, similes, and other literary devices to add depth and meaning to your narrative.
• Edit, revise, and refine: Take the time to refine and polish your writing for clarity and impact.
• Stay true to your voice: Maintain your unique perspective and style in your writing to make it your own.

NARRATIVE WRITING EXAMPLES (Student Writing Samples)

Below are a collection of student writing samples of narratives.  Click on the image to enlarge and explore them in greater detail.  Please take a moment to read these creative stories in detail and the teacher and student guides which highlight some of the critical elements of narratives to consider before writing.

Please understand these student writing samples are not intended to be perfect examples for each age or grade level but a piece of writing for students and teachers to explore together to critically analyze to improve student writing skills and deepen their understanding of story writing.

We recommend reading the example either a year above or below, as well as the grade you are currently working with, to gain a broader appreciation of this text type.

NARRATIVE WRITING PROMPTS (Journal Prompts)

When students have a great journal prompt, it can help them focus on the task at hand, so be sure to view our vast collection of visual writing prompts for various text types here or use some of these.

• On a recent European trip, you find your travel group booked into the stunning and mysterious Castle Frankenfurter for a single night…  As night falls, the massive castle of over one hundred rooms seems to creak and groan as a series of unexplained events begin to make you wonder who or what else is spending the evening with you. Write a narrative that tells the story of your evening.
• You are a famous adventurer who has discovered new lands; keep a travel log over a period of time in which you encounter new and exciting adventures and challenges to overcome.  Ensure your travel journal tells a story and has a definite introduction, conflict and resolution.
• You create an incredible piece of technology that has the capacity to change the world.  As you sit back and marvel at your innovation and the endless possibilities ahead of you, it becomes apparent there are a few problems you didn’t really consider. You might not even be able to control them.  Write a narrative in which you ride the highs and lows of your world-changing creation with a clear introduction, conflict and resolution.
• As the final door shuts on the Megamall, you realise you have done it…  You and your best friend have managed to sneak into the largest shopping centre in town and have the entire place to yourselves until 7 am tomorrow.  There is literally everything and anything a child would dream of entertaining themselves for the next 12 hours.  What amazing adventures await you?  What might go wrong?  And how will you get out of there scot-free?
• A stranger walks into town…  Whilst appearing similar to almost all those around you, you get a sense that this person is from another time, space or dimension… Are they friends or foes?  What makes you sense something very strange is going on?   Suddenly they stand up and walk toward you with purpose extending their hand… It’s almost as if they were reading your mind.

NARRATIVE WRITING VIDEO TUTORIAL

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

When teaching narrative writing, it is essential that you have a range of tools, strategies and resources at your disposal to ensure you get the most out of your writing time.  You can find some examples below, which are free and paid premium resources you can use instantly without any preparation.

FREE Narrative Graphic Organizer

THE STORY TELLERS BUNDLE OF TEACHING RESOURCES

A MASSIVE COLLECTION of resources for narratives and story writing in the classroom covering all elements of crafting amazing stories. MONTHS WORTH OF WRITING LESSONS AND RESOURCES, including:

NARRATIVE WRITING CHECKLIST BUNDLE

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES ABOUT NARRATIVE WRITING

Narrative Writing for Kids: Essential Skills and Strategies

7 Great Narrative Lesson Plans Students and Teachers Love

Top 7 Narrative Writing Exercises for Students

How to Write a Scary Story

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What are Language Features And How To Use Them?

Get an overview of Language features

Examples of language features:, language features list, language features techniques, benefits of using language features, how language features techniqueshelp in writing, frequently asked questions.

Language features are so important in transferring information, substance, and purpose that it is critical to employ all of its aspects appropriately, including simile and figurative language. Various language qualities impact discourse. hence, choosing the proper language elements to establish form and produce content is crucial. Language features make it easier to comprehend and write tales or articles.

Language Features Techniques have several characteristics. There is no one correct method to say what you want to convey. When you can access a list of language characteristics, your ability to express yourself expands. These language elements include metaphors, alliteration, similes, and so on.

If you are unaware of these words, you are likely living under a stone. Do not worry; we are here to help. We selected the most significant language features and created a simple guidebook.

So, what are waiting for type   assignment help India  on Google and connect with us to get an overview of this features.

What are Language features?   It is a regular inquiry every writer receives. The language has literary instruments for language assessment. Language Features Techniques make it easy to understand what the author is saying. The writer frequently utilizes language methods to convey his message. In addition, the authors use tactics such as language selection, tone, grammatical structures, and turns of phrase.

Active listening promotes effective and efficient communication skills. It is a form of listening approach. It is effective for guidance, education, and resolving disputes. Furthermore, the listener needs to pay close attention to understand what is being said, reply, and remember it. An adjective is a phrase that describes a noun's properties.

A favourable term is an ordinary word that only highlights the virtues of people, societies, or everyday objects. Expressive adjectives refer to nouns and pronouns. Descriptive adjectives include words like attractive, hilarious, tall, annoying, noisy, and spectacular. Alliterations occur when the same word or letter appears many times at the start of two or more connected words.

Figurative and colloquial language, alliteration, metaphor, simile, consonance, and other language features efficiently communicate content and information.

It is commonly utilized in poetry and music and does not correspond to the ordinary meanings we use in everyday life. It makes the information more engaging. Figurative Language includes similes, metaphors, hyperbole, etc.

• Colloquial Language: Relax, take a chill pill, and other conversational terms are examples of informal Language.
• Dialogue: Communication between two or more persons is essential in theatre and includes remarks and challenges.
• Alliteration: In this language, the first letter of every word is repeated and followed by the following one in a phrase.

Sentence structure, punctuation, nouns, vocabulary, phrases, and so on are examples of language elements that contribute to communication meaning. Different Language Features used in connection impact the debate. Therefore, selecting the proper language characteristics to define shape and create content is crucial.

Some popular Language Features are explained below in the Language Features List:

• Alliteration
• Emotive language
• Dramatic irony
• Mood and tone

Over history, language has been regarded as the most practical form of communication. Language has always been the most critical aspect of communication as it has progressed, and various individuals utilize different styles and tones.

People use language to describe emotions and communicate their ideas. Language allows us to express ourselves in two ways verbally and written. Both methods facilitate communication between two or more persons.

Each language has unique styles, tones, and characteristics. To master the language, you must adhere to certain tones, characteristics, and styles, whether speaking or writing. Therefore, one must have fundamental language skills to talk or write fluently. Furthermore, communication requires the expression of sentiments to another person, and language serves as the means.

Language's principal goal is to assist readers and listeners understand what the writer or speaker is trying to say. A person transmitting his message to the readers utilizes language as a weapon to express his emotions and ideas. To accomplish this, he employs a variety of styles, approaches, and techniques to affect the audience. The language function now allows you to easily distinguish between distinct writing styles and language strategies and understand what the individual is saying.

Currently, people accept two sorts of language characteristics. The l anguage features are as follows:

Persuasive language:

Using this language characteristic, the writer attempts to convince and influence the reader to make particular judgments.

• Evidence:  The writing in this section is often paraphrased to meet audience needs.
• Inclusive language:  This category includes words like "us, we, and they". The author seeks to utilize these statements to excite and inspire his readers. Political leaders frequently utilize this.
• Exclusive language: Words like "them, house, they" are examples of exclusive language. The author uses these phrases to identify a subset of persons outside a group.
• Rhetorical language:  These lines are meant to incite and build excitement among people so that they will perform a specific action. It is like provoking them by claiming they cannot do it.
• Imaginary:  Here, the writer attempts to provide a vivid description of the location so that readers may form a movie image in their thoughts. Repetition is another method of swaying others' ideas.
• Humour:  This is used in a comical tone of voice. Generalization is the process of making generalizations about a group of individuals.

Descriptive language:

This language element helps the writer describe or explain something. This is frequently used to describe an occurrence or product.

• Emotional language: It is intriguing because it helps readers form emotional bonds. The writer here attempts to influence and generate feelings in others.
• Dialogue:  It is a common aspect of dramas. The writer uses the conversation language function to bring fictitious and nonfictional characters to life. Dialogues are usually put in quotations because various individuals say them.
• Figurative language:  When a writer attempts to employ sentences, but the meaning goes beyond the words, we consider it figurative language. It conveys a deeper meaning. This writing is frequently utilized to increase the intensity of the topic.
• Colloquial language:  This pattern is utilized in ordinary conversation and takes an informal tone. The location and surroundings impact this language since each location has a unique dialect, pace, tone, and speaking style.
• Sound devices:  Although few words have comparable meanings, readers can understand them by tone and sound. Whether It is hilarious or provocative.

So, these are some essential language features that students should be aware of while writing for academic purposes. If you want assistance with your academic papers or assignments, please get in touch with our  online assignment writing services  for expert assistance and direction.

Some approaches can help arrange your speech or presentation, while others should be utilized carefully. They should offer delicate flavour without overpowering, similar to how spice does in a dish. Come back to these strategies while planning your next talk or presentation. Replace dull language with these robust language methods once you have defined your target group and clarified your ideas.

Choose sentences that include alliteration:

The alliteration is when a set of words start with the same letter or sound. This creates a lyrical flow in your spoken language and makes essential messages more remembered. Alliteration may also indicate balance; hence, it is frequently used in British budget statements. However, alliteration is accompanied by a health caution. Do not strain it by using long or unfamiliar words to produce alliteration.

Describe a dilemma or problem:

Explain an unresolved puzzle or dilemma. You might include this in your introduction or at the beginning of a new segment of your discussion or presentation. It generates tension in your audience's minds, which they will seek to resolve. If the missing piece or problem is interesting enough, people listening will be tuned in, eager to hear your potential solution.

Group information into groups of three:

Speeches, slogans, and sound bites are replete with sentences with three components. As children, we read about the Three Little Pigs; as teens, we watch trilogies; and as adults, we come up with triads that all the time - in marketing reuse, minimize, and reuse it, mottos 'place, location, setting, and politics’. Life, freedom, and the search for happiness. Listing three items gives significant content while being easy for the audience to understand and remember. We can no longer keep all of the concepts in our minds simultaneously.

Use rhetorical questions:

Rhetorical questions inspire your audience to consider your issue. They may motivate people to reach independent conclusions. This is significantly more engaging than merely telling your audience what to believe.

Researchers discovered that the effectiveness of rhetorical questions differed according to the power of the argument and the significance of the topic to the listener. Rhetorical questions made compelling arguments on issues with little personal significance more persuasive. This was equally true for weak arguments about highly personal matters.

Use rhyme sparingly:

Rhyming may add rhythm to your lectures and presentations while making your content more memorable. According to one study, individuals are more inclined to trust anything rhymes. You might indicate a stronger relationship between two concepts by referring to them using similar-sounding phrases, such as 'Your attitude influences your altitude'. You may also use internal rhyme (rather than after phrases) to produce a more subtle use of rhyme that makes a sentence seem more pleasing to the ears.

Stick to brief words and phrases:

Spoken language is best processed in bite-sized portions. However, our businesses, plans, and communications are often complicated. So, it is too simple to mislead your audience when it comes to giving a discussion or presentation. Minimize as much as possible. Albert Einstein said, "Everything has to be presented as simple as feasible, but not simpler." Break up significant statements into shorter ones and avoid using subclauses or complicated sentence structures. Use short, familiar terms rather than lengthy ones. Although many believe that jargon or uncommon terms can impress others, the opposite has been shown.

Language is one of the most essential communication factors that have evolved throughout history. Each language has its style, tone, linguistic symbols, and characteristics. To increase the quality of the language when writing and speaking, it is necessary to adhere to a specific style, tone, and characteristics of language. Language features are crucial since they help students improve their written and spoken abilities. Other important aspects of employing linguistic characteristics include:

• Language features are essential because they assist authors and readers in comprehending what they read or write.
• It is also crucial for authors since they assist readers in forming opinions and making judgments.
• Language Features are also important since they assist in verifying the specific texts used when writing or speaking.
• The phrase provides an effective means for the writer or speaker to give information about a specific situation, such as an accident, product, or event.

Everyone must understand the linguistic methods required to write a fantastic essay. These approaches can help you write a flawless paper while improving your writing and communication abilities.

• Assonance refers to the sound between two rhyming sentences or words. For instance, "Sally sells seashells beside the seashore." Here is how "e" is repeated and spoken between two words or phrases.
• Imagination is a technique frequently used in stories, poems, and other types of writing that is imaginative. It allows readers to imagine the setting depicted in the text. For example, the booming thunder scared the minor child. The sound is audible to the crowd.
• Imperative strategy is employed when someone issues an order, directive, or warning to others. So, one must promptly follow the directions. For example, do not yell, sit appropriately, or chat in class.
• Idioms are brief sentences that serve as examples for describing anything linked to them. For example: "Killing two birds with one shot." said, "This is not my cup of tea."
• Minor Sentences: Utilizing aphoristic terms or responding to inquiries in the central portion of a sentence constitutes minor sentences. For example, "What the hell, voila, no, not right now, etc."
• Proverbs are brief statements that express information based on the daily interactions of people.

Language features are a complex and broad issue. However, they are crucial in the life of an English assignment writer  because they assist consumers in properly communicating their thoughts and emotions. They also capture and hold the attention of the reader over time. Language features allow for the exact transmission of ideas, sentiments, and emotions. Understanding grammar, vocabulary, and syntax allows people to generate coherent and understandable words, allowing them to communicate effectively with others.

Most essential, as we covered today, Language Features allow the audience to connect with your work and recognize the many emotions it evokes. With today's blog article,  Sample Assignment   has chosen to take a quick look at language elements and understand their relevance.

Language features help to understand the original purpose of sentences, phrases, and words. Individuals who understand semantics and pragmatics may decode connotations, inferred meanings, and context-specific interpretations, leading to improved comprehension.

Recognizing language features, in general, allows people to communicate effectively, assess meaning properly, accept the variety of languages, and navigate the complexity of languages in a range of personal, academic, and professional settings.

Contact us immediately if you do not comprehend a concept or require some essay writing assistance samples to see how these aspects are applied in academic works! Our academic support team is accessible around the clock to assist you. Good luck!

1. What are language features and examples?

A language feature is a term that adds meaning to your phrase or increases the general standard of your work. As a consequence, writers worldwide use these elements to express their opinions in writing. Language characteristics include nouns, structure of sentences, terms of adjectives, and punctuation. Understanding language aspects is also essential since it allows you to construct various sorts of reports, letters, and papers based on your thoughts and conceptions.

2. How do you identify a language feature?

Language features, including films, may be recognized in oral, written, and multimodal texts. Sentence structure, noun group/phrase, vocabulary, punctuation, and figurative language are examples of language features that contribute to meaning. Language characteristics are the prominent or noteworthy ways an author communicates through word choice. Explain how an author can utilize various language elements to assist readers in comprehending. Authors can utilize rhyme, repetition, alliteration, and onomatopoeia.

3. What are the 5 basic features of language?

Five separate characteristics make up its genuine definition. Language is a dynamic system that includes dialects, sociolects, and idiolects. A language system has a variety of language levels.

4. What are language features in a narrative?

The five components that shape a narrative are plot, setting, protagonist, conflict, and theme. These aspects are rarely mentioned in a tale; they are disclosed to the readers throughout the story in subtle or not-so-subtle ways, yet the writer must comprehend the elements to compose her story.

Nick is a multi-faceted individual with diverse interests. I love teaching young students through coaching or writing who always gathered praise for a sharp calculative mind. I own a positive outlook towards life and also give motivational speeches for young kids and college students.

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Narrative Essays: Types, Features, Format, and Writing Tips

A narrative essay is a story told from a personal point of view. Narrative essays test your creativity and ability to tell a story in an interesting manner. You are not merely expected to narrate your experience; rather, you should narrate it in a way that will engage your audience. The aim is to move the audience and arouse their emotions, ensuring that they laugh, empathize, get annoyed, afraid, or happy, among others.

• 1 What is a Narrative Essay?
• 2 Our Sample Narrative Essays
• 3 Why Write a Narrative Essay?
• 4.1 Three Main Sections
• 4.2 Use of Sensory Language
• 4.3 Use of Dialogue
• 4.4 Chronological Order
• 4.5 Historical Present Tense
• 5.1 Autobiographical Narrative Essay
• 5.2 Descriptive Narrative Essay
• 6.1 Choose a topic
• 6.2 Start writing
• 6.3 Edit your essay
• 6.4 Proofread your final essay
• 6.5 Prices Starting At:
• 7.1 Introduction
• 7.3 Conclusion
• 8 Tips for Writing a Good Comparative Essay
• 9 Narrative Essay Topics

What is a Narrative Essay?

A narrative essay is a real or imagined story. Real narrative essays are based on personal experiences. Imagined narrative essays are based on the writer’s thoughts, creativity, and ability to create a lifelike experience. Since this type of essay is based on personal experience, writers are allowed to write in the first person (use of the pronoun ‘I’).

Our Sample Narrative Essays

Before you place your order, you may want to sample some of the example narrative essays written by our experienced narrative essay writers to gauge the quality of our writing.

From Strangers to Lovers  (Format: APA 7)

The End of the World  (Format: MLA)

Why Write a Narrative Essay?

Unlike other essay types, the main idea behind narrative essays is to tell a story. Writers are not required to analyze facts, provide evidence, make critiques, or persuade readers. It is up to the readers to make their own conclusions.

Narrative essays allow writers to exercise their creativity fully. Sometimes, the challenge is compressing an entire story into a few words. Most narrative essays have a word count of approximately 500 words.

Features of a Narrative Essay

Three main sections.

Like other essay types, narrative essays have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. What sets narrative essays apart from other essays is that the body has several parts. The body must have a clear plot, the story’s characters, setting, conflict, and the story’s climax/conflict resolution. The essay must also have the author’s point of view.

Use of Sensory Language

Narrative essay writers aim to create lifelike experiences in the story. This calls for the use of sensory language, which allows the reader to visualize the author’s ideas. The writer needs to consider which sensory details are important for a particular story. For instance, when writing about a haunted house, the writer should ensure that their choice of words appeals to ears and eyes. When writing about an experience they had in a restaurant, the sensory details to focus on would be taste and smell.

Use of Dialogue

Dialogue is a sure way of capturing your readers’ attention. Dialogue makes the story real and interesting. It enables the reader to immerse themselves in the story and momentarily forget that they are reading it. The story’s characters are the main drivers of dialogue in a narrative essay. Dialogue adds variety to the story since it allows the writer to shift from narrating the story to taking the readers to the story’s actual setting, albeit imaginary.

Chronological Order

It is easy for your reader to follow your story when you organize events in the order in which they occurred. This calls for the use of transition words, such as first, second, next, then, and finally. These words make it easy for the reader to follow the story.

Sometimes, writers choose to employ flashbacks or foreshadowing. This means that they do not necessarily narrate the story’s events in the order in which they occurred. These techniques are deliberate shifts in the story’s chronology with the aim of piquing the reader’s interest and creating suspense.

Narrative essays that stick to the story’s order of events are known as linear narratives. Contrarily, those that shift the story’s chronology are referred to as non-linear narratives.

Historical Present Tense

A narrative essay recounts past events as if they were happening in the present. As such, the use of the historical past and present tenses is important. The historical present describes past events as if they were happening now. Like other essays, the present and past tenses are also ordinarily used in narrative essays.

Types of Narrative Essays

Autobiographical narrative essay.

Just like an autobiography, autobiographical essays are real. The writer gives an account of what actually happened in their life.  This type of narrative essay places great emphasis on the actual occurrences and not the little details that would be captured in a descriptive narrative essay.

Descriptive Narrative Essay

The author uses vivid descriptions to relay their experience or memory with the aim of evoking the reader’s various senses. With descriptive narrative essays, the writer also seeks to tell their story in the simplest words possible. The story can be real or imagined, which allows the writer to exercise a lot of creativity.

How to Start Writing a Narrative Essay

Choose a topic.

Settle on a topic and then collect information about it. The topic should not be mundane or one that is overly done. A good starting point would be drawing inspiration from a real-life experience and crafting a captivating story out it. Ensure you stick to a specific theme and remain coherent.

Tips for Choosing a Good Topic

When asked to write a narrative essay, you will enjoy the flexibility that this essay type offers since you can write about almost any aspect of life, real or imagined.

Sometimes, your professor will assign you a specific topic to write about. Other times, you will be given an essay prompt that allows you to choose a topic you prefer.

Specific topics include writing about:

• A life-changing experience.
• Your discovery of a cure for a disease.

Prompts can be open-ended, such as writing about:

• Your first teacher.
• Your first time on a plane.

Interesting stories take unexpected turns along the way, which compels your audience and sustains their interest. Narrative essays are also an opportunity to showcase your personality and what you think about life. When writing a narrative essay for admission into school, ensure your story illustrates your qualities, such as empathy, hard work, resilience, and motivation, among others.

Choosing a topic is a mere starting point. Often, you will think of new ideas along the way that you did not anticipate. The story may take a different but interesting turn, which often sees students changing their essay topic eventually.

Start writing

This entails drafting an essay outline. Essentially, your story should have a three-part plot that has a setting, central point and focus of the essay (climax), and a conclusion. An outline helps you foresee where to incorporate twists and turns, where to add more details, where to add more spice, and where to end the story, among others.

Edit your essay

The editing stage looks out for structure, style, and content errors. As such, ensure your essay has a smooth flow, is void of repetitions, is simple, and is easy to understand.

Proofread your final essay

This stage focuses on the small details such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

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Format of a Narrative Essay

Introduction.

The first paragraph of a narrative essay is the introductory paragraph. It gives the essay’s background information as well as the writer’s main purpose for writing the essay. This paragraph sets the essay’s scene. The reader should be able to tell the essay’s setting, be it geographical, cultural, or historical setting, among others. The introductory paragraph also carries the essay’s thesis statement (e.g., I never attached so much value to online learning until the Covid-19 pandemic struck the world). A thesis statement gives the reader a brief overview of the essay’s key argument. It should not discuss the details; instead, it should give the reader a general idea in such a way that their interest in the topic is aroused. Ensure your introductory paragraph also has a hook that will capture the reader’s attention right from the start. A hook can be a famous quote related to your topic, an intriguing statement, or a question.

The essay’s body should have at least three paragraphs, although they can be more.

Body paragraph 1: the rising action (i.e., what leads to the main events in the story).

Body paragraph 2: the actual occurrence/essay’s climax

Body paragraph 3: the falling action/what happens after the actual occurrence.

The conclusion is a summary of the essay’s main points. Be careful not to repeat everything already discussed. Only focus on the major points to avoid redundancy. Remember to restate your essay’s statement (e.g., institutions, teachers, and parents should embrace online learning since it allows for the continuity of education in the wake of pandemics).

Tips for Writing a Good Comparative Essay

Involve your audience : A narrative essay must engage the audience as much as possible. As a writer, you should go beyond telling the story and recreate what actually happened. This requires the use of words that appeal to the reader’s sensory and visual senses.

A clear plot : Ensure you have a clear plot. The reader should be able to tell who the characters are and what the story’s setting is. Besides the plot, a narrative essay should have a climax.

Keep it simple : The simpler the wording, the easier it is for the reader to understand your story. Avoid complex word choices and focus on telling your story in the simplest words possible.

Leave out unnecessary details : Narrative essays require writers to use vivid descriptions. However, do not overuse vivid descriptions. Focus on describing what is important and leave out unnecessary details.

Minimize references : Narrative essays are often stories from personal experience. As such, the use of references is not necessary. However, you still need to credit sources if you used them in your essay.

Use the first person : Avoid writing in the second person. As mentioned earlier, the use of the first-person pronoun ‘I’ is acceptable when writing narrative essays. Strive to write the story from your own point of view.

The thesis statement does not have to be concrete : Your introductory paragraph should have a thesis statement, just like most essays. However, the thesis statement does not need to be concrete for this type of essay. At this point, you may be wondering if a thesis statement is necessary. Yes, it is! As much as the story is about you, the audience should be able to learn something from it. The narrative should have a universal meaning that the reader can relate with.

Narrative Essay Topics

Sometimes, your professor will give you a topic for your narrative essay. However, you might need to pick your own topic sometimes.

You can get essay topic ideas by:

• Thinking about personal experiences
• Searching the internet
• Watching the news on TV
• Thinking about your hobbies, favorite movies, novels, et cetera
• Taking a walk where you can brainstorm and come up with ideas

If you cannot think about a good topic, you can place an order on WritingElites.net and we will save the day for you!

Below are some good essay topics you can consider for your narrative essay:

• My first day at school
• The day you watched your favorite football team play live
• An embarrassing moment
• A blind date
• An encounter with racism
• Getting lost in a new city
• A life-changing experience
• A day you lived in another planet
• Your discovery of a cure for a disease
• Life in a remote village that has 30 hours in a day

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What Are Language Features and How to Use It

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• Academic Blog

Are you worrying about your English literature assignment? Are you still thinking about why did you lose your marks last time? We have just detected your problems. The main reason is probably that you are not focusing on language features to enhance your writing skills. Using multiple features like the use of the appropriate noun, pronoun, vocabulary, and sentence structure are the only keys to unlock your good grades. However, not only students, even professionals, get confused about the exact language feature meaning and don't know well how to use them effectively and efficiently.

Writing using proper grammar and vocabulary is necessary for a bright future. Students can expand their boundaries of knowledge by taking online assignment help at an early age of their life.

Language is an excellent way through which we can communicate our emotions and thoughts to other people. The language feature is a pathway through which we can make a meaningful connection with the writer. When any narrator conveys their message to the audience, they use selective words and figures of speech to frame the sentences of their writings beautifully.

The language feature definition can be given depending on the purpose and type of the text, along with the meaning conveyed. When any word gives more sense to your writings and improves your quality of work is known as language features.

Read Also:  What Is Emotive Language

What do language features mean in english.

There are a plethora of features in our English language, and a student keeps on learning it over a period of time. For your better understanding of the subject, you can have a look at the below most used language forms and features to use them further in your writings.

When all the starting alphabets of words in a sentence are the same, they are considered alliterations. This sounds interesting to the readers.

For example - Peter picked the peck of pickled peppers.

Without the help of the words ' like ' and ' as,' you make a comparison of similar things.

For example - Time is money.

Comparing two different things with the help of words 'like' and 'as' is considered a simile feature.

For example- You are as beautiful as a flower.

The above are some language features examples; however, the list goes on. There are more features like allusion, hyperbole, mood and tone, oxymoron, and so on.

Recommended:  Persuasive Speech Topics

List of language features.

We have tried to mention as many features as possible in the below list so that you can check on which features you have to brush up on:

• Emotive language
• Different types of adjectives like position advantage, comparative and superlative adjectives
• Figure of speech
• Noun and its type
• Active listening
• Descriptive
• Quantitative
• Demonstrative
• Interrogative
• Distributive
• Alliterations

The more and more features you will learn from the above list, the more you will achieve.

Different Types Of Language Techniques

The students and writers are advised to use essay writing language techniques for making their content more meaningful so that a large audience can understand and connect with your writings. You can also use some techniques from below:

• Imagery technique - As it is clear from the name itself, in this technique, the writer tries to create an image of their topic so that the readers can easily understand the message in a systematic way.
• Idiom technique - This is another technique to make your writings more productive. Instead of single words, two to three phrases are used in the content.
• Ambiguity technique - Creating confusion is involved in this technique. It gives the audience two options and doesn't convey proper information and instructions.

Useful Link:  Use Cursive Letters In Your Writing

Frequently asked questions related to language feature, what are textual features.

When we create any report writing  ,  thesis help , or article, we put a table of contents, index, headings, charts and diagrams, bold words, and many more. This is all included in the textual features. The main body of the content is not included in the textual feature. The structure elements and components are necessary to organize your complete writings systematically.

What Are Language Form And Features?

The language form includes the grammatical structure of words and sentences. Forms are a type of structure to use vocabulary while using the features. On the other hand, functions are the broader terms that define what and how we use the language in our content.

What Are The Examples Of Language Features?

Understanding the concepts with the help of examples is a great way to grab things quickly. Here are some examples:

• Dialogue - which is crucial for communication between two people. Dialogues are widely used in dramas, role-plays, etc.
• Colloquial language - This is an informal way of language. Words like take a chill pill, take relax are examples of colloquial language.
• Figurative language - This is more used in poems and music like simile, metaphor, hyperbole, etc.

No matter at what stage of life you are in, command on language is a must. Learning the language feature is not a cup of tea for many people. However, holding the hands of English assignment experts< can keep you one step ahead of your colleagues.

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Exploring Language Features- Overview

• Published On Oct 23, 2019 | Updated on Aug 22, 2023

Throughout the evolution of humankind, language and its features have played a significant role. It has helped to develop communication which, in turn, has enabled us to express our thoughts, ideas, and views on various subjects.

In today’s time, strong communication skill is mandatory to communicate through written and verbal means. In this guide, we will talk on various English language features and the types of language techniques which are essential to master the art of writing academic , formal, or informal document.

What are the Language Features?

Before we learn about the language features in writing, let’s first understand the basics. So, what is a language feature? A language feature definition states that it is a literary device which helps the readers to understand a text. English language features help a reader to identify unique language techniques and simplify a text for better understanding.

What are the types of language features in writing? The list of language features is endless, and it can come as quite a challenge trying to learn them all at once. Hence, to help you understand and assimilate, below, we have discussed some of the commonly used language features with relevant examples.

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Language Features List

Writers use various types of language features to create an impression on their readers. In exams, professors often ask students to identify language features used in the text to describe a situation and how the identified features affect the reader.

If you are wondering what are linguistic features and the types, here's a list of standard language features with examples and their effects.

Language features:

• Nouns: Naming words, e.g. Mark, S witzerland, Sun day
• Adjectives: Words that describe nouns, e.g. blue, massive, fair
• Verbs: Words that describe nouns, e.g. run, eat, hike
• Adverbs: words that describe verbs, e.g. immensely, patiently
• Pronouns: Describes the subject of the sentence, e.g. I, we, me, you, yours, he, she, they
• Prepositions: Words used to indicate the place or time, e.g. at, for, with, from

Literary Language Features Examples and Their Effects

• Simile: Comparison using “Like” or “as” to create a vivid picture

Example: "As big as a whale."

Effect: Helps to increase the understanding of a reader by comparing it to something else

• Metaphor: Direct comparison of something with another without using "like" or "as."

Example: "drowning in-depth."

Effect: Clear visualisation due to the comparison

• Personification: A clear imagination where a non-human object is given a human characteristic

Example: "the leaves danced with the wind."

Effect: By assigning a human aspect, it gives life to the object

• Onomatopoeia: Words used to express the sound of an action

Example: “pop”, “crunch”

Effect: The sound of words suggests action

• Alliteration: The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of the words

Example: "Reuse, renew, recycle."

Effect: Sound created helps to reinforce an idea

• Assonance: The word(s) with the repetition of vowel sounds

Example: "Moonlit pool."

• Connotations: Implied meaning suggested by a word instead of its actual meaning

Example: “Green” is a colour but used to talk about the “environment” or as a “go” signal

Effect: It helps imply another meaning rather than the literal meaning

• Hyperbole: Words used for over-the-top exaggeration

Example: “I have hundreds of assignments to do.”

Effect: Stresses on creating a dramatic effect

• Repetition: Repeating the words or phrases for an effect

Example: “This is sick. Incredibly Sick"

Effect: Emphasises on the original idea

• Rhetorical questions: Questions asked for an effect with no expected answers

Example: "Do you think that I've got a money tree?"

Effect: Creates a dramatic impact on the readers

Also Read:   Rhetorical Analysis Essay

• Rule of three: Repetition of words in a group of three

Example: "Freedom, justice, and equality."

Effect: Strengthens a primary idea/argument

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• Emotive language: Words or phrases used to create an emotional response

Example: "hard-hearted" or "heartbreaking."

Effect: Builds a sentimental scenario

• Irony: The opposite of what the writer means

Example: “His hand was as soft as a rock.”

Effect: Funny, expresses a writer's attitude on the subject.

• Pun: Using some words which are interpreted in two ways

Example: “Santa Claus' helpers are known as subordinate Clauses.”

Effect: Witty and fun effect

• Colloquialism:  Use of informal or everyday language

Example: "Don't cause a ruckus."

Effect: Writer comes across with a casual tone

• Oxymoron: Words that don't associate brought together

Example: "bittersweet" or "sweet sorrow."

Effect: Creates a dramatic effect and makes a reader ponder about the contradicting ideas

Now that we have discussed some of the most commonly used language features let’s dig deeper and learn the types of language features techniques used for writing.

Different Language Techniques

Different language techniques allow a writer to make their work stand out. We will now discuss the types, effects, and examples of some common language techniques.

• Antagonist: Opposite to the protagonist or the main character.

Example:  Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series

Effect:  Different ideologies which create a conflict

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• Allegory: A figure of speech which describes abstract ideas to preach some kind of moral lesson

Example:  The tale of a Tortoise and the Hare from Aesop’s Fables

Effect: Gives an insight into the writer's mind and his morality

• Anaphora: A writer deliberately repeats the first part of the sentence to create an artistic effect

Example:  "Every day, every night, in every way, she is getting better and better."

Effect: Adds prominence and rhythm to the ideas to catch the reader’s attention

• Idiom: A set expression or a phrase which consists of two or more words

Example:  “ball is in your court” or “beat around the bush”

Effect: Helps to elaborate the language and convey an indirect message to the targeted audience

• Imagery: Use of abstract language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in an appealing way

Example:  "It was dark and foggy. She whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee."

Effect: Generates a vibrant image of a scene to help readers imagine the characters and scenes precisely

• Juxtaposition: Two or more ideas or characters are placed side by side in a narrative form

Example: "The white dove lay still in the pool of blood."

Effect: Develops a comparison between two dissimilar things to evoke readers’ interest

• Symbolism: Used to signify ideas by giving them symbolic meanings which differ from the literal sense

Example:  "Yellow rose is the symbol of friendship."

Effect: Adds double levels of meanings which is far more profound than the literal one

• Theme: Used as an underlying meaning of a literary work to state an idea directly or indirectly

Example: A Christmas Carol: compassion and forgiveness, isolation, transformation, choices, time, family, memory, guilt

Effect: Brings together all essential elements of a narrative and gives readers a better understanding of the main character’s struggles

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You don’t have to worry if you don’t know how to identify language techniques in a text. The professionals at MyessayAssignmenthelp.com can provide you the extensive guidance on how to use different types of languages in writing to excel your the task.

Our assignment writers are associated with the A-listed listed colleges and universities in Australia. If you are wondering how the writer uses structure to interest the reader, get in touch with our experts for one-to-one study sessions and resolve all your academic queries.

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IV. Types of Argumentation

4.1 Features of an Argument

Terri Pantuso

Argument is not the loud, assertive, unwavering statement of your opinion in the hopes of conquering the opposition. Argument is the careful consideration of numerous positions and the careful development of logically sound, carefully constructed assertions that, when combined, offer a worthwhile perspective in an ongoing debate. Certainly you want to imagine yourself arguing with others—and certainly you want to believe your ideas have superior qualities to theirs—but the purpose of argument in the college setting is not to solve a practical problem or shut down a conversation. Rather, it’s to illuminate, expand, and further inform a debate happening on a worthwhile subject between reasonable, intelligent people. In other words, calling the opposition stupid is not good argument, it’s an ad hominem attack. For a review of this and other logical fallacies, refer to section 3.6 of this text.

Some of the key tools of argument are the strategies that students are asked to consider when doing a rhetorical analysis. Before beginning an argument of your own, review the basic concepts of rhetorical appeals below. As you plan and draft your own argument, carefully use the following elements of rhetoric to your own advantage.

Rhetorical Appeals

The use of data, statistical evidence, and sufficient support to establish the practicality and rationality of your claims should be the strongest element of your argument. To have a logically sound argument, you should include:

• A debatable and supportable claim
• Logical reasoning to support your claim
• Sound evidence and examples to justify the reasoning
• Reasonable projections
• Concessions & rebuttals
• Avoid logical fallacies

The ethical and well-balanced use of all of the strategies above will help you to present yourself as trustworthy and intelligent in your consideration of the topic and in the development of your argument. This balance should include the use of credible, relevant sources which can be accomplished through research methods utilizing the strategies governing your discipline. Following those strategies will build your credibility as a writer of argument, particularly in the college setting, as you pay attention to the needs of the audience with regard to presentation and style. In college, this means that you have used the style manual (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) required for the assignment and appropriate to the audience. In so doing, make certain to cite the sources you have used according to the style manual you are using.

The use of examples and language that evoke an appropriate emotional response in your reader—that gets them to care about your topic—can be helpful in argument. For academic essays, pathos may be useful in introductory sections, concluding sections, or as ways to link various parts of the paper together. However, if your argument is based solely or primarily upon emotional appeals, it will be viewed as weak in an academic setting, especially when data or ethical sources can disprove your claims. Therefore, college writing often puts more emphasis on logos and ethos.

Approaches to Argument

A well-structured argument is one that is carefully and optimally planned. It is organized so that the argument has a continuous building of ideas, one upon the other or in concert with the other, in order to produce the most persuasive impact or effect on the reader. For clarity, avoid repeating ideas, reasons, or evidence. Instead, consider how each idea in your argument connects to the others. Should some ideas come before others? Should you build your reasons from simple to complex or from complex to simple? Should you present the counterargument before your reasons? Or, would it make more sense for you to present your reasons and then the concessions and rebuttals ? How can you use clear transitional phrases to facilitate reader comprehension of your argument? Consider these questions while constructing and revising your argument.

Simple to Complex/Complex to Simple

Whether structuring a paragraph or a research paper, the simple to complex (or reverse) method can be an effective way to build cohesion throughout your writing. Just as the phrase implies, simple to complex is when a writer introduces a simple concept then builds upon it to heighten interest. Sometimes, the opposite structure works to move the reader through your position. For example, if you choose to write on the topic of pollution as it impacts the world, you might begin with the concept of straws and sea turtles. Your simple topic of sea turtles swallowing straws thrown away might then move to the complex issues of consumption, consumerism and disposal. Conversely, if you begin with the broad, complex topic of consumerism, you could then move to the story of the sea turtles as a way of building pathos in the reader. Whichever method you choose, make sure that the relationship between the topics is logical and clear so that readers find validity in your position.

Cause/Effect

The cause/effect method is a way of establishing a reason, or reasons, why something has occurred. For example, if you live in south Texas, then you understand the problem that mosquitoes cause in the hot, humid summer months. While there is no way to eliminate all mosquitoes, there are ways to minimize their growth in your backyard. If you research the ways in which mosquitoes are born, you would understand the importance of things such as emptying containers of all stagnant water so that they cannot incubate or keeping your grass mowed to eliminate areas for them to populate. The process by which you go through to determine the cause of mosquito infestations is the cause and effect method. In argumentation, you might use this method to support a claim for community efforts to prevent mosquitoes from growing in your neighborhood. Demonstrating that process is effective for a logos based argument.

Chronological

Sometimes an argument is presented best when a sequential pattern is used. Oftentimes, that pattern will be based on the pattern of time in which the sequence occurs. For example, if you are writing an argumentative essay in which you are calling for a new stop light to be installed at a busy intersection, you might utilize a chronological structure to demonstrate the rate of increased accidents over a given period of time at that intersection. If your pattern demonstrates a marked increase in accidents, then your data would show a logical reason for supporting your position. Oftentimes, a chronological pattern involves steps indicated by signal words such as first, next, and finally. Utilizing this pattern will walk readers through your line of reasoning and guide them towards reaching your proposed conclusion.

Another method for organizing your writing is by order of importance. This method is often referred to as emphatic because organization is done based upon emphasis. The direction you choose to go is yours whether you begin with the strongest, most important point of your argument, or the weakest. In either case, the hierarchy of ideas should be clear to readers. The emphatic method is often subjectively based upon the writer’s beliefs. If, for example, you want to build an argument for a new rail system to be used in your city, you will have to decide which reason is most important and which is simply support material. For one writer, the decrease in the number of cars on the road might be the most important aspect as it would result in a reduction of toxic emissions. For another writer, the time saved for commuters might be the most important aspect. The decision to start with your strongest or weakest point is one of style.

Style/ Eloquence

When we discuss style in academic writing, we generally mean the use of formal language appropriate for the given academic audience and occasion. Academics generally favor Standard American English and the use of precise language that avoids idioms , clichés , or dull, simple word choices. This is not to imply that these tropes are not useful; however, strong academic writing is typically objective and frequently avoids the use of first-person pronouns unless the disciplinary style and conventions suggest otherwise.

Some writing assignments allow you to choose your audience. In that case, the style in which you write may not be the formal, precise Standard American English that the academy prefers. For some writing assignments, you may even be asked to use, where appropriate, poetic or figurative language or language that evokes the senses. Additionally, instructors should be cognizant of second language learners and the variations in style when writing in a non-native language.

In all cases, it is important to understand what style of writing your audience expects, as delivering your argument in that style could make it more persuasive.

This section contains material from:

“Arguing.” In A Guide to Rhetoric, Genre, and Success in First-Year Writing , by Melanie Gagich and Emilie Zickel. Cleveland: MSL Academic Endeavors. Accessed July 2019. https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/csu-fyw-rhetoric/chapter/8-2-arguing/ . Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License .

Pronouncement, affirmation, or endorsement; a declaration or statement of belief, usually positive in nature.

An acknowledgement of at least one aspect of the other side of the argument  that admits or accepts validity or legitimacy.

A counterstatement or counterargument; to offer evidence that opposes the argument that is being made.

Motionless, inactive, idle, or sluggish; a lack of development, growth, or advancement.

A system involving rank. Hierarchical refers to a system that involves a hierarchy. For example, the military is a hierarchical system in which some people outrank others.

To take the position or side of the subject (rather than the object) which is the one doing the observing (rather than being observed); the belief, preference, or understanding of an individual.

A phrase that is not traditionally associated with the meaning that the words provide; idioms cannot be literally translated into another language. For example, when someone is “feeling under the weather,” they are feeling ill.

A stereotyped or corny phrase, expression, or idea that has lost its original meaning from overuse, usually over a long period of time. The saying “time flies when you’re having fun” is an example of a cliché.

A stereotypical or predictable literary convention or device such as a plot point (the damsel in distress), a figure of speech (metaphor, idiom, etc.), or theme or motif (red roses represent true love).

Impartiality or fairness; dispassionate or detached. Also refers to the goal, aim, or intention that someone or a group of people hope to achieve.

Having awareness.

4.1 Features of an Argument Copyright © 2022 by Terri Pantuso is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Lerne mit deinen Freunden und bleibe auf dem richtigen Kurs mit deinen persönlichen Lernstatistiken

Nie wieder prokastinieren mit unseren Lernerinnerungen.

But now imagine you have to write an essay about the book for English class. Now you do have to think about those components. This is because essays for school require formal academic writing. Using the proper language for academic writing is important because it helps ensure easy-to-read and credible essays that make an intellectual impact in their field.

What is Academic Writing

Academic writing includes papers and essays.

Academic writing is scholarly writing done for academic institutions.

Writers must use academic language when writing papers for an academic institution, such as a high school or university. When writers submit writing to an academic journal or organization, they must use formal academic language. There are several types of academic writing, and the type a writer uses will depend on the purpose of the work.

Types of Academic Writing

There are four main types of academic writing: descriptive, analytical, persuasive, and critical.

Descriptive

Descriptive academic writing is straightforward writing in which writers describe facts. For instance, a report about the effectiveness of a program or the status of global warming are both pieces of descriptive academic writing.

Analytical academic writing is writing that requires analyzing facts and information. Analytical academic writing often includes some descriptive writing, but after presenting the facts, writers need to analyze the information to reveal insightful connections and theories.

Persuasive writing is a type of analytical academic writing in which a writer tries to convince the reader that their point of view on a topic is the right one. In a piece of persuasive writing, the writer states an argument and uses multiple pieces of relevant evidence to support that argument.

Critical writing is a type that students at the undergraduate or post-graduate level often use. Critical writing consists of in-depth analysis and features at least two perspectives on a topic. For instance, detailed literature reviews can be examples of critical writing because they analyze the insights and limitations of previous research on a topic.

Components of Academic Writing Language

Several key components of academic writing include formal tone, academic features, and appropriate language.

Language Formalities and Tone Used in Academic Writing

Formal academic writing is writing that is direct, objective, and respectful. It is the opposite of how one would speak or write in a casual manner to a friend.

Instead of using colloquial expressions, slang, and incomplete sentences, formal writing uses complete words and sentences, follows all grammar rules, and uses a formal tone.

For example, the sentence "To whom it may concern," establishes a respectful tone. This is different from, "Hey, what's up?" The latter would be used among friends in an informal setting.

Features of Language Used in Academic Writing

In addition to being formal, the language used in academic writing should be:

Writers should avoid using too many words in their writing. Getting straight to the point ensures that all parts of an essay contribute to the development of the main ideas. For example, imagine a writer is writing about the theme of justice in literature and wants to mention Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) as evidence .

Not Concise: "The American author Harper Lee also wrote a book a long time ago about justice called To Kill a Mockingbird . The book is about a little girl named Scout who loves her brother Jem and is curious about her neighbor Boo Radley. She also loves her father Atticus a lot, who is a lawyer defending an innocent African American man against a felony charge in a small town. The man is innocent, but because of systemic racism he is found guilty, which shows the problems in the justice system."

• This writing is not concise because the writer includes unnecessary information such as how Lee wrote the book "a long time ago" and the people Scout loves.

Concise: "At the height of the United States' civil rights movement, Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird , a book about an African American man who is wrongfully convicted of a felony despite a clear lack of evidence."

• This is a concise sentence. The writer only includes relevant information and immediately shows how the topic relates to the paper's main topic.

Writing should be as direct and easy to understand as possible. To ensure this, writers should use straightforward words to describe a concept, rather than fluffy or passive language. They should also avoid esoteric vocabulary. For example, imagine a writer wants to analyze Shakespeare's use of metaphor in his poetry. The following examples show the difference between unclear and clear writing on the topic:

Unclear: "Shakespeare's extravagant metaphors were filled with passion and intertwined the concept of nature with the power of the human body.

• This is an unclear sentence. The writer uses passive language when they say "metaphors were filled" and uses confusing and vague adjectives, such as "extravagant" and "intertwined." The point about the metaphors is not immediately evident.

Clear: "Shakespeare uses metaphors to compare nature to the human heart."

• This is a clear sentence. The writer does not use confusing or vague language.

Evidence-Based

Effective academic writing is based on evidence. Writers should avoid making claims that they cannot support. They need to point to facts or quotes from a text to prove that what they are saying is credible.

Academic writing also typically includes citations. All information from outside sources should be cited according to the required style guide, such as MLA or APA . Correctly citing information ensures that writing is credible and original.

Types of Appropriate Language Used in Academic Writing

The language used in academic writing is also:

Academic writers should avoid using personal pronouns such as "I," "you," and "we." They should also refrain from discussing their own lives.

A critical part of evidence-based formal writing is using objective language. Objective language does not use personal opinions. Writers should strive to avoid opinionated language and base their claims on fact .

Imagine a writer is writing an essay about a book and says, "This is an enjoyable book to read!" This is not the proper language for academic writing, because it is a casual expression of an opinion . Instead, writers need to use evidence to present objective claims. For example, the writer should say, "The author compares the seasons to the temporary nature of love through the use of metaphors and similes." This sentence is an example of academic writing because it makes a claim about the author's actions and uses figurative language as evidence.

Writers should avoid vague, general language that fills space and doesn't add substantial ideas. Words should have a precise meaning.

For example, writers often include vague words in their writing such as "very" or "thing." Instead, writers should use more descriptive language that relates directly to the topic.

Formal language does not mean fancy language. Sometimes writers can be tempted to use lots of complex vocabulary to make a point. This may confuse readers and weaken the quality of a paper. Instead, writers should strive to be as straightforward as possible and use simple words to make complex points.

Features to Avoid in Formal Academic Writing

In addition to knowing what to include in academic writing, writers must know what to avoid.

Conjunctions

Formal writing requires writing out words completely and not using conjunctions and slang. For instance, instead of using words like "didn't" or "she's" a writer using academic language should write "did not" and "she is."

Idiomatic Expressions

Formal writing should also be original and direct. Idiomatic expressions are informal figurative expressions that make for dynamic conversation but do not belong in academic writing. For instance, the idiomatic expression: "that's the best thing since sliced bread" is a sentence with a strong image, but it can be confusing for readers and does not support an academic thesis.

Incomplete Sentences

In addition to using complete words, language in academic writing should always use complete sentences. This means that writers should avoid sentence fragments, and they need to connect ideas clearly.

Slang words are informal words or phrases people use in everyday social contexts. For example, "lit" and "no cap" are slang expressions. A writer should not include slang in formal writing because not all readers understand slang.

It is important to understand the language used in academic writing when preparing for standardized exams. Students who do not use academic language on formal standardized tests can lose points. For instance, some standardized English exams assess students on "sophistication," which scores the students' use of vivid, persuasive writing. To earn such points, students need to avoid the above negative features and ensure they use concise, clear, and evidence-based language.

Examples of Language Used in Academic Writing

The following is an example of descriptive academic writing about the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

To Kill A Mockingbird is a fiction book about a girl named Scout who is growing up in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. Scout's father, Atticus, is a lawyer tasked with defending Tom Robinson, an African-American man accused of a felony. Atticus proves that Tom is innocent in court, but the jury still finds him guilty because of systemic racism."

There are several features of formal language used in the above paragraph, including the following:

The author uses complete sentences.

The author uses objective language and avoids stating opinions about the book.

The author also avoids contractions by using phrases like "who is" instead of "who's."

The author uses straightforward and concise language. Sentences are short, specific, and to the point.

What other elements of academic writing can you identify in this passage?

Language Used in Academic Writing - Key Takeaways

• Academic writing is scholarly writing that writers use in work for academic institutions.
• The four main types of academic writing are descriptive, analytical, persuasive, and critical.
• Academic writing is formal, clear, concise, evidence-based, and follows all grammar rules.
• Academic language should be impersonal, objective, and specific.
• Academic writing should not include conjunctions, idiomatic expressions, incomplete sentences, or informal slang.

Frequently Asked Questions about Language Used in Academic Writing

--> what are some examples of academic language in writing.

Academic language uses complete words such as "did not" instead of the contraction "didn't." It also has a more formal tone. For instance, writing "To Whom It May Concern" is more formal than "Hey what's up?"

--> What are the main language features of academic writing?

Language used in academic writing is concise, clear, and evidence-based. 

--> What are the components of academic language in writing?

Academic language uses a formal tone, concise words, and impersonal, objective language. 

--> What should be avoided in academic writing?

Conjunctions, idiomatic expressions, incomplete sentences, and slang should be avoided in academic writing. 

--> How many types of language are used in academic writing?

Some types of language used in academic writing are descriptive, analytical, and persuasive.

Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

Which of the following is not a feature of academic writing?

True or False: Academic writing should include personal pronouns such as "I" and "you." 

Which of the following is a type of language used in academic writing?

Your score:

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What is academic writing?

Academic writing is scholarly writing done for academic institutions. 

Idiomatic expressions 

What are the four main types of academic writing?

Descriptive, Analytical, Persuasive, and Critical

What is descriptive academic writing?

Writing that describes facts and ideas. 

True or False: Academic writing should include personal pronouns such as "I" and "you." 

False. Academic writing should not use personal language. 

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3.8: The Language of Cause and Effect

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Below are some of the most common language structures used in cause/effect writing. As you review them, pay attention to the part of speech (noun, verb, adjective) and the preposition used in each structure.

Read the following sentences to highlight the cause signal words. Underline the causes .

1. The difference between income and housing costs has created a crisis of unaffordable housing options.

2. Real estate developers purchase properties and build luxury apartments throughout the city, thereby making it difficult for residents of average income to find affordable housing.

3. Economists attribute the 2008 economic recession to the unregulated housing market.

4. Homelessness results in health conditions that make people vulnerable to contagious diseases like COVID19.

5. Secure housing can lead to better health and emotional resilience.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate cause signal words from the box. Pay attention to the grammar and punctuation needed to make the sentence correct.

1. Genetic variants may ____________ a pattern of obesity in a family.

2. Weight gain can be ____________ medications such as antidepressants.

3. Obesity ____________ challenges to mental health and self-esteem.

4. Regular visits to green spaces such as parks, forests, and rural areas have ____________ on people’s moods and sense of well-being.

5. ____________ a dangerous or polluted community environment, residents may find it difficult to engage in physical activity outside.

Edit these sentences looking carefully at the use of the cause signal words:

1. Since some places are in a drought, as a result there is extreme fire danger in those forests.

2. Because of some places are in drought, many crops require extra irrigation.

3. Global warming which creates melting ice in the arctic and warmer water in the oceans.

4. Tornadoes are increasing in number and size the destruction in property is costly for states and residents.

5. Warmer water in the oceans results from stronger rain during hurricanes.

Highlight the effect signal words. Underline the effects .

1. Every year in the U.S. there are about a thousand tornadoes, thereby causing millions of dollars of damage and the death of over 70 people.

2. Tornadoes are extremely destructive and result in damaged houses, cars and businesses.

3. Strong winds in a tornado are responsible for flipping over cars or lifting them to another area.

4. Scientists have improved forecasting and warning systems for tornadoes; as a result, the number of deaths has decreased.

5. The National Weather Service monitors storms with a Doppler radar; consequently, tornado warnings can be issued in a timely manner.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate signal words to show the cause-effect relationship. Pay attention to the grammar and punctuation needed to make the sentence correct.

1. Many people do not have a basic understanding of how the internet works, ________ they do not know that their personal online privacy is often compromised.

2. A lot of time spent using electronic devices ____________ the students’ ability to socialize in a face to face environment.

3. Reading aloud to children has a positive ___________ their ability to learn to read.

4. The overall health of a nation is directly linked to the health of the population. __________, governments need to take measures to ensure the people are healthy.

5. Good nutrition and mental health go hand in hand. For example, a deficiency in vitamin B9 (found in leafy greens, legumes, and grains) can ________________ irritability, apathy, depression and other issues.

6. Researchers have found that the area of the brain associated with motor skills was greatly _____________ in children who had regular practice of a musical instrument.

The following adjectives are useful when describing the cause or effect more specifically. Choose five of the following and write a sentence that identifies a specific kind of cause or effect. Think of situations when these specific words would be appropriate.

Example: A common cause of obesity is a lack of physical activity.

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________________________________

5. ___________________________________________________________________

Essays About Language: Top 5 Examples and 7 Prompts

Language is the key to expressive communication; let our essay examples and writing prompts inspire you if you are writing essays about language.

When we communicate with one another, we use a system called language. It mainly consists of words, which, when combined, form phrases and sentences we use to talk to one another. However, some forms of language do not require written or verbal communication, such as sign language. 

Language can also refer to how we write or say things. For example, we can speak to friends using colloquial expressions and slang, while academic writing demands precise, formal language. Language is a complex concept with many meanings; discover the secrets of language in our informative guide.

5 Top Essay Examples

1. a global language: english language by dallas ryan , 2. language and its importance to society by shelly shah, 3. language: the essence of culture by kelsey holmes.

• 4.  Foreign Language Speech by Sophie Carson
• 5. ​​Attitudes to Language by Kurt Medina

1. My Native Language

2. the advantages of bilingualism, 3. language and technology, 4. why language matters, 5. slang and communication, 6. english is the official language of the u.s..

“Furthermore, using English, people can have more friends, widen peer relationships with foreigners and can not get lost. Overall, English becomes a global language; people may have more chances in communication. Another crucial advantage is improving business. If English was spoken widespread and everyone could use it, they would likely have more opportunities in business. Foreign investments from rich countries might be supported to the poorer countries.”

In this essay, Ryan enumerates both the advantages and disadvantages of using English; it seems that Ryan proposes uniting the world under the English language. English, a well-known and commonly-spoken language can help people to communicate better, which can foster better connections with one another. However, people would lose their native language and promote a specific culture rather than diversity. Ultimately, Ryan believes that English is a “global language,” and the advantages outweigh the disadvantages

“Language is a constituent element of civilization. It raised man from a savage state to the plane which he was capable of reaching. Man could not become man except by language. An essential point in which man differs from animals is that man alone is the sole possessor of language. No doubt animals also exhibit certain degree of power of communication but that is not only inferior in degree to human language, but also radically diverse in kind from it.”

Shah writes about the meaning of language, its role in society, and its place as an institution serving the purposes of the people using it. Most importantly, she writes about why it is necessary; the way we communicate through language separates us as humans from all other living things. It also carries individual culture and allows one to convey their thoughts. You might find our list of TOEFL writing topics helpful.

“Cultural identity is heavily dependent on a number of factors including ethnicity, gender, geographic location, religion, language, and so much more.  Culture is defined as a “historically transmitted system of symbols, meanings, and norms.”  Knowing a language automatically enables someone to identify with others who speak the same language.  This connection is such an important part of cultural exchange”

In this short essay, Homes discusses how language reflects a person’s cultural identity and the importance of communication in a civilized society. Different communities and cultures use specific sounds and understand their meanings to communicate. From this, writing was developed. Knowing a language makes connecting with others of the same culture easier. 

4.   Foreign Language Speech by Sophie Carson

“Ultimately, learning a foreign language will improve a child’s overall thinking and learning skills in general, making them smarter in many different unrelated areas. Their creativity is highly improved as they are more trained to look at problems from different angles and think outside of the box. This flexible thinking makes them better problem solvers since they can see problems from different perspectives. The better thinking skills developed from learning a foreign language have also been seen through testing scores.”

Carson writes about some of the benefits of learning a foreign language, especially during childhood. During childhood, the brain is more flexible, and it is easier for one to learn a new language in their younger years. Among many other benefits, bilingualism has been shown to improve memory and open up more parts of a child’s brain, helping them hone their critical thinking skills. Teaching children a foreign language makes them more aware of the world around them and can open up opportunities in the future.

5. ​​ Attitudes to Language by Kurt Medina

“Increasingly, educators are becoming aware that a person’s native language is an integral part of who that person is and marginalizing the language can have severe damaging effects on that person’s psyche. Many linguists consistently make a case for teaching native languages alongside the target languages so that children can clearly differentiate among the codes”

As its title suggests, Medina’s essay revolves around different attitudes towards types of language, whether it be vernacular language or dialects. He discusses this in the context of Caribbean cultures, where different dialects and languages are widespread, and people switch between languages quickly. Medina mentions how we tend to modify the language we use in different situations, depending on how formal or informal we need to be. 

6 Prompts for Essays About Language

In your essay, you can write about your native language. For example, explain how it originated and some of its characteristics. Write about why you are proud of it or persuade others to try learning it. To add depth to your essay, include a section with common phrases or idioms from your native language and explain their meaning.

Bilingualism has been said to enhance a whole range of cognitive skills, from a longer attention span to better memory. Look into the different advantages of speaking two or more languages, and use these to promote bilingualism. Cite scientific research papers and reference their findings in your essay for a compelling piece of writing.

In the 21st century, the development of new technology has blurred the lines between communication and isolation; it has undoubtedly changed how we interact and use language. For example, many words have been replaced in day-to-day communication by texting lingo and slang. In addition, technology has made us communicate more virtually and non-verbally. Research and discuss how the 21st century has changed how we interact and “do language” worldwide, whether it has improved or worsened. 

We often change how we speak depending on the situation; we use different words and expressions. Why do we do this? Based on a combination of personal experience and research, reflect on why it is essential to use appropriate language in different scenarios.

Different cultures use different forms of slang. Slang is a type of language consisting of informal words and expressions. Some hold negative views towards slang, saying that it degrades the language system, while others believe it allows people to express their culture. Write about whether you believe slang should be acceptable or not: defend your position by giving evidence either that slang is detrimental to language or that it poses no threat.

English is the most spoken language in the United States and is used in government documents; it is all but the country’s official language. Do you believe the government should finally declare English the country’s official language? Research the viewpoints of both sides and form a conclusion; support your argument with sufficient details and research. 

Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .If you’re stuck picking your next essay topic, check out our guide on how to write an essay about diversity .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

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IELTS Discussion Essay Video Lesson: Useful Language

Learn expressions to use in your discussion essay for IELTS writing task 2 with this video lesson. It is important to use a variety of language to express both sides in your essay. Being able to have flexible language for giving other people’s opinions is a good way to increase your vocabulary band score.

Hello in this lesson I’m going to look at some expressions that you can use for a discussion essay for IELTS writing task 2. Now when you have a discussion essay you have to support two different sides and this is not about your opinion this is about what other people think, other people’s opinion and you have to support what they think. so here are some very useful expressions to help you show other people’s thoughts and opinions.

Now there’s quite a lot of expressions you can use. I will run through each one but I will tell you now there are two expressions here that you shouldn’t use. can you see which ones? well I’ll tell you at the end of the lesson let’s have a look the first one. “Many people believe that ” this is a very common expression to use for IELTS It is not high band score but its clear and its academic so don’t worry, please use it. The next one “it is commonly believed that” this is a very nice expression because you can see here “is believed” that is the passive and it’s very good to give the examiner some passive tense in your essay. It will improve your band score and you can see this word here “commonly” that means many people so it has the same meaning as this sentence and this word we can change, we could say “it is frequently believed that” or we could say “it is often believed that”. So we could put a different adverb of frequency here. The next one “some people think that”  again it’s very simple but it is academic and its clear. “It is often thought that” here we’ve got another passive, so very nice to use. But “on the side of” or “the other side of the coin is” this is the other opinion, the other side. “It is considered by many that” this is a very nice expression is very academic. It’s very good to use for IELTS and again you have a passive here and you can change this word if you want and you could say “it is considered by some that”. The next one here “many argue that” is very nice very clear. You don’t need to say “many people”, you could say “many argue that “. Another one, “it is argued by some that”, again here we’ve got the passive and you can change this word, “it is argued by many that”. “On the one hand” and”On the other hand”, so that’s the one side of the argument, on the other hand that’s the other side of the argument. The last one “some people support the opinion that” again this is very nice, very academic.

Discussion Essay Model Answer

I am exceedingly grateful for your copious and advantageous free resources.

I will be back with my testimonial about how your resources assisted me with acing my IELTS test once.

Well done and God bless you.

Ebizi Eradiri Njoku

Wishing you the best of luck in your test!

Thank you , my best online teacher

hi Liz I have subscribed your channel for many years now .I do receive some emails .However I need support in writing the introduction for a discussion please could you guide me

Think about getting my advanced lessons. I’ll be offering a discount at the start of July: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . The reason I made advanced lessons is so that I could explain fully how to write essays step by step. Each lesson is around 1 hour in length.

I am a new student learning the IELTS and today I started following you with the lesson writing task – 2. It is observed that there are -04- types of essays. I started the discussion type but little confused and not able to analyse the discussion type. Please advise, how may I understand whether the topic is discussion or opinion-based or discussion with opinion.

Go to this page for all your answers: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Dear liz, I have read your E-Book and that helped me a lot because I didn’t know about how to develop Ideas, but after reading that book I have learned what we can write in our essay according to the topic. Thank you for making that E-book. But here I have different doubt about structuring an Introduction for discussion type essay. (Specially, one sided opinion essay) While writing discussion type essay, you taught to give balanced approach or one sided approach. My confusion here is after paraphrasing both view points in the introduction we can directly state our opinion even if it is one sided, do we have to mention that why we do not agree with the other view point? What I mean to say is, if I think cooperation is more important to learn then do i have to mention why i do not think competition is important? My another doubt is do we have to give the hint what body paragraphs will discuss about within the introduction? Like, after paraphrasing the two different view points do we have to write again that many people think competition because it develops a sense of self-esteem in a child, while others believe cooperation is important as it helps in developing social skills + giving my opinion stating, I believe cooperation is important + reason why I believe so + why don’t I believe competition is important?

I am confused what should I exclude to make a short yet clear Introduction with one sided clear opinion? because giving reason why we do not think other view point is more important is making introduction too lengthy. Similarly giving hint within the introduction why people have different view points making it too lengthy.

Your background statement will include the two views held by others. The details for those views will be explained in the body paragraphs. The thesis statement will contain your view and the body paragraph will explain it. It is your choice how you develop the body paragraph. You might want to explain why you agree with one side and why you disagree with the other – if they are two completely different choices to make. It really depends on how much you have to say. IELTS essay are as much about strategy as they are about ideas. Think about word count and length. IELTS essays are short – they were never designed to be long. You should be aiming between 270 and 290 words. So, plan each sentence before you start writing and you’ll soon see how much you can and can’t fit into each paragraph. Also remember that if you agree with one side fully, your opinion will be given along side (in the same paragraph) as the same view that others have. If you are unsure or confused, get my Advanced lessons because I’ve explained it really carefully in those lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . Glad you liked the Ideas E-book 🙂

Hello Ma’am, Sorry for over bugging You Hope You’re kicking fine. Meanwhile, Where can I get full length videos of Your Academic Test teachings on Tips for Task 1 writing- Graphs, Charts, pictures etc- My elder Brother is attempting it for the first time and needs help with it as His Academic test is slated for 12 September. I introduced Him to Your blog but all He could set His eyes on were snippets of Your teachings on YouTube.

Best Regards.

Sorry, I don’t have full length videos for writing task 1. I only have Advanced Writing Task 2 Lessons which can be purchased on this page: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Hello Liz, i visited your website and discovered numerous information and tips that will be useful for my ielts academic test. please i would like to be notified for any new video and information. thanks

You can access over 300 pages of free lessons and tips through the RED MENU Bar at the top of the website. All new lessons can be found listed in the side bar column if you are using desktop or at the bottom of all posts if you are using a smart phone.

Hi Liz, I am a little confused when it’s about the introduction of the “discuss both views and give your opinion” essay. As I understood, introduction is made of 2 parts: 1. Paraphrasing the question (very clear) 2. Thesis to introduce the topics of the body paragraphs In this type of questions, if we start the thesis just right after paraphrasing with “in my opinion”, doesn’t show the examiner that my essay will be only about my opinion?

You’re website and advanced videos are very helpful Thank you

The examiner has the instructions. The examiner has the full essay question. It’s fine.

Hello liz i find your videos very helpful, i wanted to ask can you give the complete structure of an ielts essay

You can find model essays on the main writing task 2 page – click on the RED BAR at the top of the website.

Thank you very much for all your insights on various topics on IELTS. I genuinely appreciate it.

I have a doubt regarding the essay writing; are we allowed to use colon, semi-colon and double-dash in our GT essays and letters just as how I’ve used in this comment?

Your input here will be a good help. Thanks again.

There is no need to use them. Using just full stops and commas is enough. However, there are a no fixed rules.

Hi Liz, Thanks your youtube videos are outstanding and very helpful. Please i will need some clarifications on the following: 1. Can I treat an opinion essay as a discussion essay where i write about both views or do i just stick with my opinion throughout my essay. 2. Is this thesis statement correct- This essay will discuss both views before reaching a logical conclusion. Will appreciate your response

You can’t alter the instructions and write a discussion essay if you are given an opinion essay. However, it is possible to have a partial agreement but you need training for that. See my Advanced Writing Task 2 lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ 2. That is not a thesis statement for IELTS. If you are asked for your view, you must give it directly – I, my. The words “this essay” does not represent your own personal opinion. Also NEVER use learned phrases in an English language test. Each sentence must be created uniquely by you. The examiner will put a line through any learned sentences.

Ma’am thanks so much for all the content that you have provided! I had a question regarding a discussion cum opinion essay. Do I make 1 body paragraphs for each side and a third body para for the details of my opinion (totally 3 paras) or do i combine both sides in body paragraph 1 and explain my perspective in the 2nd body paragraph?

I’d very much appreciate your input.

Do not combine opposite sides in one paragraph. If your opinion agrees with one side, add it to that paragraph. Otherwise, create a third body paragraph.

Hello, Your website is a lifesaver, thank you so much for your work! I have a question regarding the use of singular ‘they’ in an essay: is it allowed or is it better to be avoided? I find myself using it quite often but I am not sure how the examiner would react. Thank you in advance

Yes, it’s allowed.

Hi Liz, Your videos are very informative.

In an opinion essay, could the term ‘I feel’ be used? Or is it better to use I think or I believe?

Thanks Anne

“I feel” is informal.

It’s very helpful thank you. You’re doing a great job.

This was very helpful. Thanks.

Can we say “On the flip side …”?

That is informal and an IELTS essay is formal.

Hi Liz, Thank you for your support 🙂 I wanted to ask you about Writting Task 2; in an opinion essay should I writte the two paragraphs to support my opinion or should I writte the first paragraph for supporting and admitting the suggested opinion in the topic and the second to introduce mine. So do I get more points for a balanced answer or should I present my 2 topics in both paragraphs?

You do not get more points for a balanced view or a one sided view. You choose your opinion, state it in the introduction and then explain it in the body.

What if we agree with both of the views. Can we still use those sentences you provided in the video? Thank you 🙂

A balanced approach does not mean agreeeing with both sides. It means presenting an opinion which is neither one side nor the other but your own specific opinion.

I was wondering if we are not suppose this language in Agree/disagee(Opinion) essay.

Basically whenever I start any opinion essay using one of the expressions mentioned above. And also some times for each paragraph I use “on the other hand” for the second paragraph opening sentences for opinion essay.

Kindly confirm the same. If I not supposed to use, can you provide us with some Agree/Disagree(opinion) essay language too.

Thanks, Shree

You use expressions such as “it is thought …” or “some people believe that …” when you express other people’s opinions. For your background statement in almost all essays, you might use these expressions. When you have an opinion essay, you use these expressions in the background and then present your own opinion directly in the thesis “In my opinion”.

When you use “On the other hand” it is to present an opposing view. It shows an opposite. This is unlikely to be used in an opinion essay but not impossible. It depends on the ideas and the paragraph content.

I hope that helps. See my model writing task 2 essays on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Hi Liz, Cam you please clarify between discussion type and agree disagree type questions. How does the structure vary.

All IELTS essays have either two or three body paragraphs. The structures are decided depending on your opinion and ideas.

Hello Liz, Is there a link for all the essay sample questions you shared?

Regards Sweety

You can find sample essay questions here: https://ieltsliz.com/100-ielts-essay-questions/ . All links can be found on the main writing task 2 page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . All main pages can be found on the red bar at the top of the website.

Hello Liz, Is there are a link for all essay answers?

See the main writing task 2 page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Is it necessary to write your opinion in introduction in a discussion essay (discuss both views and give your opinion)? And also please tell that is it the write structure for this type of question Introduction body para 1 (discussing one view) body para 2 (discussing other side of the argument and giving your opinion) conclusion

You should also introduce your opinion in the introduction.

Helpful commentary, I love the info – Does anyone know where I could acquire a sample form I could use?

can we say the other side of the MEDALLION is

Obviously not. You shouldn’t be using idioms.

Hi Liz, can i write 3 paragraphs if i agree with both sides of the arguments and third one is going to be about my opinion that it is better both

You shouldn’t agree with both sides. Giving an opinion, doesn’t mean sitting on the fence. Please see my advanced lessons.

Hi Liz, Thank you very much for this helpful Blog. Just trying to be helpful here, you said in the first line: wring task1. So, I know it’s not serious error, but just want to get your attention on it, so maybe better to correct it.

Best regards, Salah

Thanks. It really helps me when people tell me about typos because I don’t have much time for proof reading. Well spotted!! Liz 🙂

Hello mam..im ALi From PAKISTAN and i am prepairing my IELTS exam test for 23 Jan ….could you give me few tips and techniques for task 2 and speaking for General Question

https://ieltsliz.com/liz-notice-2015-2016/

Hi Im Aysa Im 12 years old and Im studing Ielts I have 2 older sister.My schools name is Hafez and the place that I study Ielts in it is Melal English school and there are some knowledgeable teachers there. Actually Im a cheerful person and I love Art. and then I love so much eating and watching animations especially Sponge bob.

Please inform your parents that you have posted a comment on my blog. It is essential that all underage comments are done with parental permission. Thanks Liz

Hi liz, Thank you for your videos and everything. In writing task 2 if the topic says “discuss both these views and give your own opinion” when should we state our opinion? Can we mention it in inroduction part or in conclusion? While discussing both views are we allowed to be personal or we should discuss them objectively?

The given site is not found?

Mam, I was going through the subscription video of your Discussion essay.After viewing it i was trying to write a Background statement for the question ” Some say all offenders should be sent to prison,others argue that there are better alternatives such as community work for those who commit minor crimes.Discuss both views and give your opinion “.

I tried writing this line same as you were explaining on that video ” Although it is sometimes argued that all criminal ought to sent to jail,other people believe that the focus should be on other alternative methods “. Is this back ground statement correct.Please help me in this

This is the correct technique to use. All the best Liz

Hi mam My question is regarding writing task 2, Mam what counts more in IELTS,more number of ideas but not explained much or one-two ideas bit well explained. For example,to reduce environmental pollution ,we can write about a number of ideas like Using green energy resources to curb air pollution,lesser use of pesticides to control land pollution and so on..so should we write about all the ideas that i have in my mind or should i pick one or two of them and elaborate upon then well.? Thnx

See this page to learn how your writing is marked: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-band-scores-5-to-8/ . To learn more about writing an opinion essay and how to develop ideas, see my advanced lessons: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore All the best Liz

Hi Liz ..conclusion is compulsory in each essay?

All writing task 2 essays have a conclusion. Please see the lesson about paragraphs. Liz

After 7 days I have an IELTS exam. And I have still problem with speaking and reading, so can you please help me how can I get improvisation in both?

Please see the reading section and the lesson: how to improve your reading. The look at the speaking section and how to develop your speaking at home. All the best Liz

CAN YOU LIE WHEN WRITING YOUR ESSAY?

You can write anything you want. No one will check whether the information is true or not. However, as you have not presented me with an example of “a lie”, I can’t fully say yes. All the best Liz

plzz telk me which is best BC or IDP test

IELTS is owned by Cambridge ESOL, IDP and the British Council – they are all the same company. The test at IDP and BC is the same, the examiners are trained in the same way – there’s no difference. All the best Liz

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Psychology Discussion

Essay on language: definition, structure and characteristics.

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In this essay we will discuss about Language. After reading this essay you will learn about: 1. Definition of Language 2. Structure of Language 3. Characteristics.

Essay # Definition of Language:

The term language is derived from the Latin word language which means tongue. While the need to express one’s desires, interests, feelings and emotions is inborn, the ability to communicate with others through language is learned or acquired. Acquisition of language begins with the initial cries, grunts, grons, and gasps of the neonate.

With growth of age babbling starts. All these are transformed in to the use of single words, two words and then to three words sentences and finally into well formed sentences. Words are symbols of reality and they are used to symbolize concepts and manipulate knowledge concerning reality.

A language ordinarily is an elaborate system of specialized verbal symbol generally accepted and used in the transmission of meaning. The human child acquires a great amount of reception learning through language itself.

Language also helps greatly in learning in the transmission of cultures traditions, love, sympathy attitudes and aspirations of social beings. Mowrer (1954) emphasizing the importance of language has thus remarked “Language makes it possible for its users to have various experience, to learn through and from the learning of others and this I see is the essence of education.”

It is through language that cultures and traditions are passed on to the next generation, to the children and to students. The never ending transmission of culture and heritage from generation to generation is done basically through language and without language, the cultural stream cannot flow properly.

Bruner (1964) has referred to language as a Cultural technique upon which the phylogenetic and Ontogentic development of human intelligence depends. Besides Communicating one’s own feeling and experience with another person other aims of language are to learn to gain knowledge, to fulfill various needs and above all to relationship with others.

Brownfled, McCarthy and Vincent holds that speech is a type of activity through which man builds his world, becomes sociable and helps others. Language makes a man polished and by and large, language helps in the healthy development of personality.

According to Encyclopedia America, Language is a faculty and ability possessed by normal human beings and by other species of using a spoken and written references to represent mental phenomena or events. According to Soffettic language refers to “The systematized set of vocal habits by means of which the members of a human society interact in terms of their culture.”

Sapir (1921) is of view that “language is a purely human method of communication through a system of voluntarily produced symbols” Ruddell (1974) defines language as a system represented by sound symbols with conventional meanings hared by members of a linguistic group.” The importance of language cannot be undermined in the society.

The acquisition of words is essential for abstraction, concept formation, all higher learning, cognitive growth processes. In simple terms language may be said to be a means of communication through conventional symbols.

Language has three major dimensions such as:

(1) Content, which refers to the meaning of any written or spoken language.

(2) Form, which is the particular symbol used to represent the Content, the sound the word and the grammar.

(3) Use-which is referred to the social inter-change or exchange between two people.

Essay # Structure of Language :

The structure of language has three aspects:

(1) Phonemes

(2) Horphems

(3) Syntex.

1. Phonemes:

Phonemes refers to the basic source used in any language. The letters of the alphabets in English language have 26 Corresponding basic sounds in speech i.e. one letter for each distinguishable speech sound.

2. Morphems:

When Phonemes are combined into large units, they are called morphemes. Thus, Morphemes are smallest meaningful spoken units. A morphem is a language unit that cannot be broken down further without loosing or altering its meaning. A single morphem may consist of any syllable or several syllables.

The rules for combining morpheme (words) into grammatically correct sentences are called syntex. Syntex is based on linguistic analysis of sentence formation. The ultimate purpose of syntex is to understand how the meaning of sentences is conveyed by the speaker to the listener.

Each language has its own rules governing the combination of phonemes, permitting some combinations and prohibiting others. In order to understand any language one has to understand both meaning and structure.

Essay # Characteristics of Language :

A language has the following characteristics:

1. Language is a human attribute.

2. It is partly acquired, but largely instinctive.

3. It is verbal, symbolic and primarily oral in nature.

4. Language is a systematic and patterned behaviour having definite structure and form. The speaker cannot indiscriminately change the sequence of words.

5. Language has individual and social significance since it is a primary tool of communication.

6. Language is a system actualized as sounds or phonemes.

7. Language has melody, rhythm, pitch, stress and junctare.

8. The relationship between symbol and meaning is conventional arbitrary, learned and traditional.

9. Language is a open system allowing the speaker to say new utterances that may never have been said before.

Some features of children’s experience are vital to the learning of the structure of language. These features are initiation, comprehension and production. The relationship between these three processes are of major importance than their individual contributions.

1. Initiation:

A child repeats utterances produced by his parents. He imitates the pronunciation of his parents or baby seater or aaya and readily accepts the speech pattern and pronunciation made by persons in his immediate environment. Electronic medias like Radio. Television etc. play important role here.

2. Comprehension:

This includes the correct association of meaning with word by symbols, the selection of the correct meaning suggested by the context, the organisation and retention of meanings, the ability to reason smaller idea segment and the ability to group the meaning of a larger unitary idea.

3. Production:

It refers to utterances which are of initiation, which are grammatical and internally principled and which bear some relation to nonlinguistic features of the environment so that they are comprehensible to a listener. Initiation is found to be easier then comprehension which is again easier than production.

The former two are necessary conditions of the later. While initiation involves a perceptual motor skill only and hence easiest, comprehension and production both require awareness of meaning. Further production demands utterances while comprehension simply requires pointing.

Related Articles:

• Language Acquisition Device (LAD) | Language | Psychology
• Development of Language Behaviour in the Child | Language | Child Psychology
• Essay on Emotions: Definition, Characteristics and Importance
• Personality Development: Definition and Characteristics

Modeling essay grading with pre-trained BERT features

• Published: 11 April 2024

Cite this article

• Annapurna Sharma   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4661-6826 1 &
• Dinesh Babu Jayagopi 2  

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Writing essays is an important skill which enables one to clearly write the ideas and understanding of certain topic with the help of language articulation and examples. Writing essay is a skill so is the grading of those essays. It requires a lot of efforts to grade these essays and the task becomes tedious and repetitive when the student to teacher ratio is high. As with any other repetitive task, the intervention of technology for automated essay grading has been thought of long back. However, the main challenge in automated essay grading lies in the understanding of language construction, word usage and presentation of idea/ argument/ narration. Language complexity makes natural language understanding a challenging task. In this work, we show our experiments with pre-trained static word embeddings like GloVe, fastText and pre-trained contextual model Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) for the task of automated essay grading. For the regression task, we have used Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Support Vector Regression (SVR) models under various feature settings framed from the learnt embeddings. The results are shown with the ASAP-AES dataset on all 8 prompts. Our work shows average Quadratic Weighted Kappa (QWK) of 0.81 and 0.71 with SVR and LSTM on in-domain test set essays, respectively. The SVR model shows a better QWK than the human-human agreement of 0.75. To the best of our knowledge, our SVR model with pre-trained BERT embeddings achieve the highest average QWK reported on ASAP-AES data set. We further show the performance of our approach with adversary samples generated using permuted essays and off-topic essays. We experimentally show that our LSTM model though does not show high QWK score with human assigned grade but is robust against the adversarial settings considered.

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Author Annapurna Sharma is supported by Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India under the grant number– MEITY-PHD-2541.

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Annapurna Sharma

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Sharma, A., Jayagopi, D.B. Modeling essay grading with pre-trained BERT features. Appl Intell (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10489-024-05410-4

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10489-024-05410-4

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