Author's Craft and Style Flashcards

What is the purpose of using repetition as a stylistic device in an argumentative or literary text?

Answer: To emphasize a key idea or create rhythm and impact

Repetition is used intentionally to stress important concepts, reinforce arguments, or create a memorable rhythm.

If an author uses statistics and expert quotes alongside emotional anecdotes, what is the author doing?

Answer: Combining logos (logic) and pathos (emotion) as rhetorical strategies

Blending logical evidence with emotional appeal is a deliberate rhetorical craft choice to persuade a broad audience.

How does analyzing sentence structure (syntax) contribute to a TDA response?

Answer: It reveals how the author controls pacing, emphasis, and complexity to shape meaning

Syntax analysis examines how the arrangement of words and clauses creates emphasis, reflects character, or controls the reader's experience.

What does it mean when an author uses an 'extended metaphor' throughout a text?

Answer: A single comparison is developed and sustained across multiple paragraphs or the entire piece

An extended metaphor builds upon a single comparison consistently throughout a text, deepening its meaning and impact.

Which question is MOST effective when analyzing author's craft in a TDA response?

Answer: Why did the author choose this specific technique, and what effect does it have on the reader?

Effective craft analysis always asks both 'what technique' and 'why/what effect'—identifying the device is only the first step.

An author of an informational text uses subheadings, bullet points, and bold text. What is the craft purpose of these structural choices?

Answer: To organize information clearly and guide the reader's attention to key ideas

Text features like subheadings and bold text are deliberate structural choices that aid comprehension and highlight essential information.