The Difference between Strategy and Technique

For the Module One Essay

According to Merriam Webster
strategy
noun strategy \-j\
: a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time
: the skill of making or carrying out plans to achieve a goal
plural strategies

Full Definition of STRATEGY

1
a (1) : the science and art of employing the political, economic, psychological, and military
forces of a nation or group of nations to afford the maximum support to adopted policies in peace
or war (2) : the science and art of military command exercised to meet the enemy in combat
under advantageous conditions
b : a variety of or instance of the use of strategy
2
a : a careful plan or method : a clever stratagem
b : the art of devising or employing plans or stratagems toward a goal
3
: an adaptation or complex of adaptations (as of behavior, metabolism, or structure) that serves
or appears to serve an important function in achieving evolutionary success <foraging strategies
of insects>

Examples of STRATEGY
1. They are proposing a new strategy for treating the disease with a combination of
medications.
2. The government is developing innovative strategies to help people without insurance get
medical care.
3. a specialist in campaign strategy

Origin of STRATEGY
Greek stratgia generalship, from stratgos
First Known Use: 1810
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Related to STRATEGY
Synonyms
arrangement, blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, master plan, program,
project, road map, scheme, plan, system

technique
technique
noun technique \tek-nk\
: a way of doing something by using special knowledge or skill
: the way that a person performs basic physical movements or skills

Full Definition of TECHNIQUE

1
: the manner in which technical details are treated (as by a writer) or basic physical movements
are used (as by a dancer); also : ability to treat such details or use such movements <good piano
technique>
2
a : a body of technical methods (as in a craft or in scientific research)
b : a method of accomplishing a desired aim

Examples of TECHNIQUE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

We learned some techniques for relieving stress.

I used a special technique to make the bread.
The players need to practice in order to improve their technique.
a dancer with excellent technique
The ice-skaters will be judged on technique and creativity.

Origin of TECHNIQUE
French, from technique technical, from Greek technikos
First Known Use: 1817

Related to TECHNIQUE
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Synonyms
approach, fashion, form, how, manner, methodology, recipe, strategy, style, system, tack,
tactics, method, way

Language strategies are the ways in which

the piece/excerpt/extract is organized, from
beginning to end, based on the type of
writing (the genre) that it is. Dr. Lashley
The following are language strategies, but are NOT exhaustive

PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION
http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/writing/sixtrait/organization/pattern
s.html
There are several ways to organize your writing. Not every pattern will work
for every writer or for every piece of writing. It is important to organize the
writing in an order that is interesting, but more importantly it must be
logical. In other words, it has to make sense to the reader. Everything must
fit together, much like the pieces of a puzzle.
The examples that follow are only a paragraph in length and only serve as
short models of each pattern. However, the concept for each pattern is the
same regardless of the length.

Chronological Order
Chronological order is the order in which the events occurred, from first to
last. This is the easiest pattern to write and to follow.
Example:
It seemed like an ordinary day when she got up that morning, but Lynda
was about to embark on the worst day of her life. First, she fell in the
bathtub because her mother forgot to rinse out the bath oil. Then she
spilled orange juice on the outfit she had spent hours putting together for
school pictures. When she changed, she messed up the French braid her
mother had put in her hair. As she walked out the door, she dropped all
of her school books and her math homework flew away. Once she made it
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to the car she thought everything would be all right. She was wrong; her
father didn't look before he backed out of the driveway and ran into the
neighbors truck. Lyndas side of the car was damaged the most, and she
ended up with a broken arm. That night, she cried herself to sleep.

Cause and Effect Order

In this type of order, the cause (or reason) is usually discussed first. This
then leads to a discussion of the effect (or result.)
Example:
Because toys have become electronic devices, some children today are
unable to entertain themselves. Gone are the days when children
invented their own adventures and used sticks as swords, cookie sheets
as armor, and refrigerator box as a fortress to defend. The electronic age
has delivered children all sorts of gadgets and gizmos that are supposed
to be realistic. Some toys even have buttons to push so prerecorded
messages can be played to begin scripted adventures that require no
imagination. No imagination? No wonder some children today have short
attention spans.

Problem to Solution Order

In this type of order, the problem is presented first. Details about the
problem, including its cause, follows. Next, a suggested solution will be
discussed, including details that support the solution.
Example:
Several students receive poor grades on writing assignments, not
because they lack the ability to communicate, but because they can not
seem to manage their time when it comes to a large project. They do not
know where to begin, and therefore put things off until the last minute.
To solve this problem, students need to develop a timeline for completing
the project. If they divide the assignment into manageable chunks or
parts and then set a schedule for completing each part, they will be able
to finish the entire project before the deadline. Without the pressure of
not knowing where to begin, the students will be able to focus on the
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assignment and communicate their ideas effectively.

Spatial Order
This type of organization takes the reader from one spot the next, as if the
reader were looking at something. It is very descriptive.
Example:
I couldnt believe my eyes when we finally emerged from the storm
shelter. Where the barn once stood there was now only a few tufts of
hay. The path that led to the house was scattered with branches and
debris. The house! The entire roof was gone. The north wall was caved in
and we could see right into the house. Well, what was left of it. Tears
rolled down my cheeks as I noticed that most of our belongings had been
sucked up into the great vacuum and scattered across the countryside.
We heard a loud cracking and moaning as the west wall gave way and
collapsed, sending up a wave of dust. And yet, there in the middle of the
front yard was mothers prized rose bush. It swayed in the breeze as if
nothing had happened. Seeing it made me realize how lucky we were to
be alive. We stood there in dismay, our arms locked around one another.

Climactic Order
This type of organization takes the reader from the least important idea to
the most important idea. The ideas build in importance, holding the reader's
attention. The best is saved for the last.
Example:
My encounter with nature became a learning experience for me. I learned
to come prepared for anything. Our canoe overturning was proof that
anything could happen. All of our supplies were gone. I also learned that
although nature is beautiful, she can also be deadly. If it hadnt been for
the cave we discovered in the moonlight, the hail storm surely would
have killed us. Most of all, I learned to trust my mother. I never thought I
would say this, but she does know a thing or two. She kept her wits
about her and kept me calm as well. Even in the middle of nowhere
without any supplies, she still managed to take care of me. Her
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grandfather had taught her how to survive in the wild, and she hadnt
forgotten a thing.

Reverse Climactic Order

In this type of organization, the most important idea is stated first and the
least important idea is stated last. This method is used most often in
newspaper articles. This way if the reader does not finish the article he/she
will still know the most important details. This method grabs the reader's
attention in the beginning, but it does not work very will in holding the
reader's attention clear to the end.
Example:
A plan to improve the citys park was approved Monday night by the city
council. The plan involves adding landscaping to the north end, rebuilding
the bridge over the lake, and updating the playground equipment. Funds
for the project have been donated by local businesses who hope that
improving the park will bring more people to the downtown area which
will in turn bring more customers. The next order of business is for the
city council to open the bidding process for the various improvements.

Process Order
In this type of order, a sequence of actions is described. It instructs the
reader on how to do something. It is basically a set of directions. Owner's
manuals and cookbooks are organized in this pattern.
Example:
The first step in redesigning your closet is take everything out and sort
through it. Anything you havent worn in over a year should be given to
charity. Check garments for wear and tear. Take care of anything that
needs mending. If it is beyond repair, get rid of it. The second step is to
install a closet organizer. Choose one that will hold the different types of
garments in your wardrobe. The third step is to put items in the closet so
that those you wear most often are easy to access. The final step is to
stay organized. Put garments back in their appropriate places so that you
will be able to find them.
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Classification Order
In this type of order, the main idea is broken down into smaller areas or
classifications. Each classification is then discussed.
Example:
There are four basic modes of writing. Each mode may take different
forms, but has a primary purpose. The first is expository writing, which
has a purpose of explaining something or giving directions. Providing
directions to your house is an example. The second mode is persuasive
writing, which has a purpose of influencing the readers way of thinking.
An advertisement is a an example of persuasive writing. The third mode
is descriptive writing, which has a purpose of providing vivid details so
that the reader can picture what is being presented. An essay that depicts
the glorious Grand Canyon is an example. The fourth mode is narrative
writing, which has a purpose of presenting an experience in the form of a
story. A personal account of a vacation is an example of narrative writing.

Comparison/Contrast Order (block form)

In this pattern of organization one item is discussed in detail before the next
item is mentioned. In other words, each item gets its own "block" of space
within the writing.
Example:
As a child, I thought my parents were ignorant and out of touch with
reality. They couldnt possible understand anything I thought or felt.
When they werent annoying me with their ridiculous lectures, or
grounding me for minor infractions of the rules, they were embarrassing
me in public. As a parent, I find it frustrating that my children think I
have no clue about their lives, even though I understand perfectly well
what they are thinking or feeling. I find myself giving my children the
same lectures I once thought were ridiculous. My children can not seem
to follow the rules their father and I have set, and they are continuously
embarrassing me in public. My, how things have changed.

Comparison/Contrast Order (point by point)

This type of order is again based on comparison (the similarities) and
contrast (the differences.) Instead of being divided into parts, however, both
sides of each point are discussed together.
Example:
Although they are sisters, Jennifer and Jessica are complete opposites.
Jennifer enjoys playing sports, while Jessica would rather watch. Jennifer
has no interest in playing a musical instrument, while Jessica is the first
chair violinist. Jennifer listens to new age music, while Jessica prefers
country. Jennifers favorite subject is English, and Jessicas favorite is
math. Jennifer likes to curl up in a chair on a rainy day and read a good
book , but Jessica would rather sleep all day. No one would ever guess
that they are actually twins.

Language techniques are the individual

language and literary methods that are
available to all writers, which can be inclusive
of, or regardless of, the genre of writing they
are composing. These methods help writers to
achieve their purpose. Dr. Lashley.
The following encapsulate such techniques according to different sources.

Language Techniques and their Effects

Colloquial
Ordinary conversational English rather than formal speech or writing. Audience relates to text as
the mood is relaxed and free flowing.

Formal
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Adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial
forms.Creates a serious and informative mood.

Slang
Informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered appropriate for
formal occasions.

Code Switching
Inserting native language words or phrases into text.

Archaic Words
Words no longer used.

Jargon
Exculsive types of language only certain people know

Connotations
All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests. Can be positive or negative.

Denotations
No loaded meanings.

Nouns
Concrete or Abstract people, places or things.

Verbs
Action words, increases the sense of the pace of text.

Adjectives
Words that describe nouns or pronouns.

Adverbs
describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb

Pronouns
Tells us who is telling - 1st or 3rd person.

Contractions
Indicates informality e.g. can't, won't.

Onomatopea
Words that imitate the sound e.g. plop pow zoom

Alliteration
Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Assonance
Repeated vowel sound. Sets mood, often subconsiously

Rhyme
Correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines. Internal rhyme occours within a line of a
verse.

Sibilance
A type of alliteration in which the "s" sound is repeated.

Plosive
a consonant produced by stopping the flow of air at some point and suddenly releasing it e.g. P
and B

Fricatives
"F" sounds

Imagery
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The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, thing, place, or
experience.

Similies
Imagery - , Compares two different things using like or as

Metaphors
Imagery - , describe one thing as if it were something else

Extended Metaphor
Imagery - A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.

Personification
Imagery - The act of attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas.

Hyberbole
Imagery - Overstatement

Oxymoron
Imagery - Conjoining contradictory terms

Antithesis
Imagery - Balance of two contrasts

Paradox
Imagery - Seemingly impossible.

Puns
Imagery - Play on words, double meaning.

Rhetorical Questions
Imagery - Questions not expecting an answer

Euphamism
Connotations - a mild term substituted for a harsh one

Dysphomism
Connotations - Harsh word for one less offensive

Allusions
A reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature readers are assumed to know what it means.

Minor Sentence
Incomplete sentence which can be fully understood.

Incomplete Sentence
Sentence with a unknown meaning

Parallel Structure
The repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structures. e.g. He Came. He
Saw. He Conqured.

Inversion
Switching order of words to give a different sound.

Juxtaposistion
a poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unasscoiated ideas, words, or phrases are placed
next to one another creating an effect of surprise or wit.

Comparatives
Compares two things or two groups

Superlative
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The best, the worst.

Imperative
Order to do something

Point of View
What the writer is trying to covey

Persona
Character taken on in writing.

Style
Combined effect of all techniques

Form
Shape of writing

Irony
Witty language used to convey insults or scorn
http://quizlet.com/28016400/language-techniques-and-their-effects-flash-cards/

Literary Techniques and Figures of Speech

The following list contains 25 common literary techniques and figures of speech likely to be
covered on the SAT Critical Reading:

Alliteration: The repetition of similar sounds, usually consonants, at the beginning of

words. For example, Robert Frosts poem Out, out contains the alliterative phrase
sweet-scented stuff.
Allusion: A reference within a literary work to a historical, literary, or biblical character,
place, or event. For example, the title of William Faulkners novel The Sound and the
Fury alludes to a line from Shakespeares Macbeth.
Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds in a sequence of nearby words. For example,
the line The monster spoke in a low mellow tone (from Alfred, Lord Tennysons poem
The Lotos-Eaters) contains assonance in its repetition of the o sound.
Caricature: A description or characterization that exaggerates or distorts a characters
prominent features, usually for purposes of mockery. For example, a cartoon of a gaunt
Abraham Lincoln with a giant top hat, a very scraggly beard, and sunken eyes could be
considered a caricature.
Clich: An expression, such as turn over a new leaf, that has been used and reused so
many times that it has lost its expressive power.
Epiphany: A sudden, powerful, and often spiritual or life changing realization that a
character experiences in an otherwise ordinary moment. For example, the main character
in James Joyces A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man has an epiphany during a
walk by the sea.
Foreshadowing: An authors deliberate use of hints or suggestions to give a preview of
events or themes that do not develop until later in the narrative. Images such as a storm
brewing or a crow landing on a fence post often foreshadow ominous developments in a
story.

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Hyperbole: An excessive overstatement or conscious exaggeration of fact. Ive told you

that a million times already is a hyperbolic statement.
Idiom: A common expression that has acquired a meaning that differs from its literal
meaning, such as Its raining cats and dogs or That cost me an arm and a leg.
Imagery: Language that brings to mind sensory impressions. For example, in the
Odyssey, Homer creates a powerful image with his description of rosy-fingered dawn.
Irony: Broadly speaking, irony is a device that emphasizes the contrast between the way
things are expected to be and the way they actually are. A historical example of irony
might be the fact that people in medieval Europe believed bathing would harm them
when in fact not bathing led to the unsanitary conditions that caused the bubonic plague.
Metaphor: The comparison of one thing to another that does not use the terms like or
as. A metaphor from Shakespeares Macbeth: Life is but a walking shadow.
Motif: A recurring structure, contrast, or other device that develops a literary works
major themes (see below). For example, shadows and darkness are a motif in Charles
Dickenss A Tale of Two Cities, a novel that contains many gloomy scenes and settings.
Onomatopoeia: The use of words like pop, hiss, or boing, in which the spoken sound
resembles the actual sound.
Oxymoron: The association of two terms that seem to contradict each other, such as
same difference or wise fool.
Paradox: A statement that seems contradictory on the surface but often expresses a
deeper truth. One example is the line All men destroy the things they love from Oscar
Wildes The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
Personification: The use of human characteristics to describe animals, things, or ideas.
Carl Sandburgs poem Chicago describes the city as Stormy, husky, brawling / City of
the Big Shoulders.
Pun: A play on words that uses the similarity in sound between two words with distinctly
different meanings. For example, the title of Oscar Wildes play The Importance of Being
Earnest is a pun on the word earnest, which means serious or sober, and the name
Ernest.
Rhetorical question: A question asked not to elicit an actual response but to make an
impact or call attention to something. Will the world ever see the end of war? is an
example of a rhetorical question.
Sarcasm: A form of verbal irony (see above) in which it is obvious from context and
tone that the speaker means the opposite of what he or she says. Saying That was
graceful when someone trips and falls is an example of sarcasm.
Simile: A comparison of two things through the use of the words like or as. The title of
Robert Burnss poem My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose is a simile.
Symbol: An object, character, figure, place, or color used to represent an abstract idea or
concept. For example, the two roads in Robert Frosts poem The Road Not Taken
symbolize the choice between two paths in life.
Theme: A fundamental, universal idea explored in a literary work. The struggle to
achieve the American Dream, for example, is a common theme in 20th-century American
literature.
Thesis: The central argument that an author makes in a work. For example, the thesis of
Upton Sinclairs The Jungle is that Chicago meat packing plants subject poor immigrants

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to horrible and unjust working conditions, and that the government must do something to
address the problem.
Tone: The general atmosphere created in a story, or the authors or narrators attitude
toward the story or the subject. For example, the tone of the Declaration of Independence
is determined and confident.

http://sparkcharts.sparknotes.com/sat/satcriticalreading/section4.php

Textual features: language features

http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/raps/fairytales/pdf/TexFeat.pdf
Alliteration
when the poet uses the same consonant letter at the beginning of a number of
words placed close together e.g.
dark plastic skeleton dangling near my French doors.
Apostrophe
addressing an inanimate object or a dead person as if they were alive e.g. Death be
not proud though some have called thee mighty(Donne, J in
Favourite verse (1999) Hurford, C (Ed), Parragon, Bath. p.450)
Assonance
when the poet repeats the same vowel sound in a number of words placed closely
together. e.g.
Billys pen hit the desk and it ricocheted into the window.
Consonance
repeating the consonant anywhere in a number of words e.g.
Deadly destruction of the world.
Hyperbole
dramatic exaggeration e.g.
I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
Imagery
graphic pictures created by colourful language features e.g.
Algae lie still and bloated on the top.
Imperative Voice
forceful verbs, ordering someone to do something e.g.
Openyour mind to injustice.
Irony
saying one thing but meaning another e.g.
War doesnt hurt anyone.
Metaphor
when one object through comparison becomes the other object. When a poet
continues the comparison over a verse or a number of lines it becomes an extended
metaphor e.g.
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Lord Farquard is an evil monster.

Onomatopoeia
this is when a poet wants the responder to hear the sounds in the poem, so a word
is used that echoes the sound the poet wishes to create e.g.
The dragon bellowed and shrieked in anger.
Oxymoron
two contradictory words placed together to make a dramatic point e.g.
Shakespeares Othello stated that he wept
cruel tears (Shakespeare, W)
Pathetic Fallacy
using nature to reflect human feelings e.g.
Brents ribs were painful and he winced in
pain when he turned to look at the bruised and angry storm clouds building in the
East.
Person
1st: I; 2nd: you; 3rd: he or she or they.
The second person youwhen addressed to the responder can be forceful and
persuasive. The first person can invite empathy.
Personification
when a composer transforms a non human object into a human by giving the object
human qualities e.g.
He was in love with the curvaceous lines of his red 3.6 litre turbo Porsche.
Repetition
repeating key words.
Sibilance
repetition of the s sound. It can sound soft, relaxing or gentle or even sinister and
cold. It all depends on the choice of words and images e.g.
sweet scent of mint and basil.
Similes
a comparison between two objects using like or as e.g
When the dragon saw Donkey, she acted like a lovesick teenager.
Symbolism
when the composer uses an image to represent something else, such as winter
which could symbolise death, or a dark shadow which could symbolise danger e.g.
The shadows of the tall, darktrees were creeping closer to the child.
(the underlined words could symbolise impending evil)
Tone
the feelings of the composer. These feelings are conveyed through word choice and
imagery
e.g.
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I move into an amazing world. (The tone is one of awe, appreciation and
wonder.)
Word choice
the composers choice of words affects the tone, the mood and the response of the
reader. The words could be sensual (appeal to senses), emotive (emotional and
stirring), humorous, descriptive, blunt, harsh etc. The following words are
persuasive, direct and warm
e.g.
Move into its world and feel its magic.

Students must confidently look at the piece

given in the Module One essay and find at
least two, and probably no more than three
(each), strategies and techniques. They may
be overlap. Comparison and contrast is a
good example of a method that can be used as
both a strategy and a technique. No teacher
can fully prepare you for an UNSEEN
excerpt. You, the student MUST be prepared
to deal with what comes. Dr. Lashley

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