The form of a piece of writing is the manner or style in which its parts are arranged to achieve an effective result.
A rhetorical device is a use of language, usually in a persuasive manner, to create a literary effect (and possibly to induce an emotional response).
A figure of speech is a use of language […]
The theme of a work reflects its dominant idea. Consider using these terms when describing a piece of writing.
appearance/reality
illusion
falsity + pretense
dreams + fantasies
journey - psychological journey - search for identity - coming of age
heart/reason
chance - fate - luck/free will
prophecy
supernatural events
faith/loss of faith
loyalty/betrayal
persistence/defeat + failure
domination + suppression/resistance + rebellion
mob psychology
scapegoat + victim
social status
prejudice
cruelty + violence
revenge + […]
The tone of a piece of writing refers to the stylistic manner in which opinions and emotions are expressed. Consider using these adjectives when analyzing compositions.
admiring
angry
apprehensive
bantering
benevolent
biting
bitter
burlesque
candid
clinical
colloquial
compassionate
complimentary
concerned
condescending
confident
contemptuous
contentious
cynical
detached
determined
didactic
diffident
disdainful
disgusted
dramatic
ecstatic
effusive
elegiac
facetious
factual
fanciful
flippant
hopeful
impartial
incisive
indignant
inflammatory
informative
insipid
insolent
ironic
irreverent
learned
lugubrious
mock-heroic
mocking
mock-serious
moralistic
mournful
neutral
mournful
neutral
nostalgic
objective
patronizing
pedantic
petty
pretentious
respectful
restrained
sarcastic
sardonic
satiric
scholarly
scornful
sentimental
solemn
somber
sympathetic
taunting
threatening
turgid
urbane
urgent
vibrant
whimsical
worshipful
The "Improving Sentences" questions in the Writing Skills sections of the SAT and PSAT require you to identify and correct grammatical errors and errors in diction.
One Writing Skills section will consist of 35 questions, 11 of which will be "Improving Sentences" questions. A separate Writing Skills section will consist of 14 questions of this type. […]
A journalist from the LA Times reports her experiences as a reader for the essay portion of the SAT. She offers several tips for students taking the test:
"Varied sentences and vocabulary are good, and smooth transitions help."
"Write at least a page and a quarter."
"Prepackage some thinking. Get familiar with a couple of Greek […]