Question 5: Writing to Present a Viewpoint Flashcards
All 15 cards in this deck
In Question 5, what is the difference between being asked to argue and to explain your point of view?
Argue: push the reader forcefully to your side. Explain: set out and justify your view more calmly, weighing other views.
What are the main conventions of a written article?
A headline, an optional standfirst, perhaps one or two subheadings, then developed paragraphs. No columns or pictures.
What is a standfirst?
A sentence or two below the headline that sums up the article's angle.
What layout features show you are writing a formal letter?
Your address and the date, a salutation ("Dear…"), paragraphs, and a sign-off with your name.
When do you sign off a letter "Yours faithfully" and when "Yours sincerely"?
Yours faithfully after Dear Sir or Madam (name unknown); Yours sincerely after a name (Dear Mrs Hale).
What are the main features of a speech?
A greeting, direct address, signposting, rhetorical devices for the ear, a memorable ending, often thanks at the close.
What do inclusive pronouns (we, us, our) do in a speech?
They make speaker and audience a team with a shared problem.
What is a review?
A piece judging how good something is, mixing brief description with a clear opinion and a verdict.
What features suit the text of a leaflet?
A clear title, short sections with subheadings, perhaps a few bullet points, and a closing next step. Text only; no pictures.
What does a rhetorical question do in persuasive writing?
It implies the answer is obvious, so the reader feels they've agreed with you.
What is the rule of three, and what does it do?
Grouping ideas in threes ("cheaper, cleaner, safer"), so the point feels complete and memorable.
What is antithesis?
Setting opposites side by side ("This is not a cost; it is an investment") to sharpen the choice.
What is a counter-argument?
A fair statement of the opposing view.
What is a rebuttal?
Your response to the counter-argument, explaining why it is wrong or weaker.
What is a concession?
Admitting part of the other side is true ("Admittedly, cars are convenient…") before going on.