Year 9 English Study Guide – List of Key Terms and Descriptive Writing Tools
Vocabulary Powerful Words that describe a person, place and/or thing.
adjectives
Nouns Words that name a person, place and/or thing.
Powerful verbs Words that describe an action or link the subject of the sentence with the object.
Adverbs Words that describe how/to what extent an action is being done.
Conjunctions Words that link two simple sentences (complete ideas) together.
Pronoun Words that are used in the place of a noun (‘he’, ‘she’, ‘you’).
Punctuation commas, periods, hyphens, quotation marks
Sentence structure Simple A sentence with an independent clause (complete idea)
Usage/effect: makes an event plain, direct, sudden, surprising, certain, final; emphasizes an
idea.
Compound A sentence with two or more independent clauses linked with a comma or conjunction
Usage/effect: suggests relationships/links between ideas, suggest that events are happening at
the same time/close together.
Complex A sentence with an independent clause and a dependent clause (incomplete idea)
Usage/effect: add details to help imagine a scene, suggests relationships/links between ideas
Compound- A sentence that is made up of two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause
complex
Usage/effect: suggest movement, passing of time, explain a complex process/event
Minor A sentence that is often missing a main verb or a subject.
Usage/effect: conversational effect, emphasise a point, create drama, show surprise.
Text structure Chronological When a narrative starts from introduction to conclusion
In media res When a narrative starts in the middle of things, often at a point of high drama.
Flashback A section of a narrative that takes the reader back to a time before the current point.
Literary devices Similes A comparison between two things using ‘like’ and/or ‘as’.
(descriptive writing
tools) Metaphors A comparison between two things without using ‘like’ and/or ‘as’.
Extended A metaphor that continues over a number of lines or sentences.
metaphors
Alliteration When adjacent words begin with the same letter or sound.
Assonance When adjacent words contain the same sounds particularly vowel sounds
Adverbial phrases A phrase added to the main clause of a sentence to give detail about when, where, how or to
what extent something has happened.
Noun phrases An expanded phrase that tells you more about a noun (or pronoun).
Personification When a writer assigns human actions/behaviors/features to nature or inanimate objects.
E.g.: The sky cried its tears.
Pathetic fallacy When a writer attributes human emotions to nature or inanimate objects.
E.g.: The sky was depressed.
Symbols When a word, mark or sign is used to represent something else
Perspective The view or angle from which a writer observes things.
Can mean 1st, 2nd, 3rd POV
Can mean position in time (past/present/future)
Motif A significant idea or image that recurs in a text and contributes to atmosphere and/or thematic
(atmosphere) development.
(the vibe)
Reference chains Different ways to refer to a particular person, place or thing throughout a text (includes nouns,
pronouns and noun phrases).
Onomatopoeia When a word sounds like the noise it refers to
E.g.: 'boom', ‘crash’, ‘whistling’
Connotations The associations brought to mind by a word or phrase
Hyperbole Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Use of senses Words in a description that are used to trigger any of the five senses (sight, smell, sound, taste,
(sensory details touch)
Contrasts and Words that establish contrast/opposite ideas
oppositions E.g.: ‘light/dark’, has/hasn’t’, ‘clear/foggy’, ‘peaceful/chaotic’, ‘fear/bravery’
Paragraph Phrases that are used to open/start a paragraph and tells where/when/how a described event is
openers happening
E.g.: Passing of time / changing of setting / zooming in / flashback
Cohesiveness When ideas are connected at word and sentence level to create a flowing experience for the
reader.
The rule of three A writing principle that suggests that a trio of entities such as events or characters is more
humorous, satisfying, or effective than other numbers.
Parenthesis A word phrase or sentence marked off by a pair of commas, dashes or brackets that adds detail,
personal opinion or a funny aside.
Tone The mood or feeling created by the writer for effect.
Tone vs. atmosphere
- Tone is set by the writer when they write their essay/writing.
- Atmosphere is understood by the reader when they read an essay/writing.
Repetition When a writer repeats a particular idea/point more than once to create emphasis and to act as
references.
Rule of three A writing principle that suggests that a trio of entities such as events or characters is more
humorous, satisfying, or effective than other numbers.
Juxtaposing Putting 2 or more things next to one another to suggest a contrast or show differences.
Note: the things don’t have to be opposites of each other to be juxtaposed.
E.g.: comparing a beginner with a professional, comparing apples with oranges.
Oxymoron A figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing meanings
E.g.: pretty ugly, deafening silence, simply complicated, organized mess
