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REFLECTION #2
ARTEFACTS/ SOURCES
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Song
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Article
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Poem
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What is REFLECTION #2?
Reflection #2 is a deliberate discussion about the content of your artefacts. Reflection #2 is the second entry, which asks you to discuss the use of language techniques in the artifacts selected. It should be 150-200 words.
Language Techniques
Before we can progress by looking at how to construct Reflection #2, it is important to gain knowledge about language techniques. So, we will take it from the beginning. There are three types of writing: prose, poetry, and drama. They are defined as follows:
Reflection #2: Genre and Explanation
Reflection #2 is a deliberate discussion about the content of your artefacts. Reflection #2 is the second entry, which asks you to discuss the use of language techniques in the artifacts selected. It should be 150-200 words.
Language Techniques
Before we can progress by looking at how to construct Reflection #2, it is important to gain knowledge about language techniques. So, we will take it from the beginning. There are three types of writing: prose, poetry, and drama. They are defined as follows:
Reflection #2: Genre and Explanation
Writing styles usually fall under one of these umbrellas. It is important to know these writing styles because embedded in them are the language techniques:
PERSUASIVE WRITING: This type of writing seeks to literally persuade, or to convince an audience, or reader(s) to agree with an idea, or concept. Certain techniques, known as persuasive techniques, are used to achieve the goal of swaying an audience, or reader(s), to the writer’s side. Some of these techniques include the use of literary devices, colloquial language, verbal attacks, emotive appeal, inclusive language, exaggeration, evidence, and clichés.
EXPOSITORY WRITING: This writing seeks to inform, explain, define, clarify, or instruct individuals on a subject matter. Before you, the student can discuss the techniques of expository writing, you must identify the type of expository writing that your source falls under. Types of expository writing are problem-solution, cause and effect, comparison-contrast, and process-based. The techniques that you explore will be based on the type of expository piece that you have collected as your source. Some techniques that are common to the different types of expository writing are the use of literary devices, colloquial language, exaggeration, evidence, and the use of clichés.
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING: Descriptive writing literally attempts to describe a subject, which can be an event, person, or place. Techniques of descriptive writing are the use of literary devices, adjectives, and sensory words.
NARRATIVE WRITING: This is, essentially, a classification that describes a story. The techniques that you need to identify and explore in your source are plot, character, theme, conflict, setting, point of view, and the use of literary devices.
Reflection #2: Writing Styles and Techniques
PERSUASIVE WRITING: This type of writing seeks to literally persuade, or to convince an audience, or reader(s) to agree with an idea, or concept. Certain techniques, known as persuasive techniques, are used to achieve the goal of swaying an audience, or reader(s), to the writer’s side. Some of these techniques include the use of literary devices, colloquial language, verbal attacks, emotive appeal, inclusive language, exaggeration, evidence, and clichés.
EXPOSITORY WRITING: This writing seeks to inform, explain, define, clarify, or instruct individuals on a subject matter. Before you, the student can discuss the techniques of expository writing, you must identify the type of expository writing that your source falls under. Types of expository writing are problem-solution, cause and effect, comparison-contrast, and process-based. The techniques that you explore will be based on the type of expository piece that you have collected as your source. Some techniques that are common to the different types of expository writing are the use of literary devices, colloquial language, exaggeration, evidence, and the use of clichés.
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING: Descriptive writing literally attempts to describe a subject, which can be an event, person, or place. Techniques of descriptive writing are the use of literary devices, adjectives, and sensory words.
NARRATIVE WRITING: This is, essentially, a classification that describes a story. The techniques that you need to identify and explore in your source are plot, character, theme, conflict, setting, point of view, and the use of literary devices.
Reflection #2: Writing Styles and Techniques
The following are additional language techniques, all of which can fit into most of the writing styles, and have been highlighted because they are commonly used techniques:
I. Formal & Informal Register
The informal register is casual and spontaneous. It is used with friends and family, in conversation or writing. Therefore, this type of register is used in personal emails, texts, and some business correspondence. The formal register, on the other hand, is not intended to be personal but to convey emotional distance. It is, therefore, used when writing documents for professional or academic purposes.
Reflection #2: Formal and Informal Register
I. Formal & Informal Register
The informal register is casual and spontaneous. It is used with friends and family, in conversation or writing. Therefore, this type of register is used in personal emails, texts, and some business correspondence. The formal register, on the other hand, is not intended to be personal but to convey emotional distance. It is, therefore, used when writing documents for professional or academic purposes.
Reflection #2: Formal and Informal Register
II. Descriptive language
This describes writing that uses adjectives, adverbs, power verbs, and literary devices. The purpose of descriptive language is to paint a visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile image for the reader.
III. Narrative voice
This refers to the first and third-person voice in the story. The first person is the ‘I’ in the story. The use of this narrator ensures that the reader has only one view of the details, the first-person narrator’s view. The third person, on the other hand, can be either limited or omniscient. The third person limited, like the first-person narrator, only observes and tells the story from one perspective, while the third-person omniscient narrator knows all the thoughts, feelings, and actions of all the characters.
IV. Diction
This is, essentially, word choice. Language is a tool to reveal the thoughts in our heads, so the words that we choose are essential in conveying meaning. Therefore, our choice of words must be appropriate for the situation and the idea that we want to convey. Sometimes we have words that can be classified as ‘workhorses’; we use them all the time, yet they do not necessarily convey the meaning that we desire. Use of emotive language, jargon, slang, denotative or connotative language, emotive language all falls under word use, or Diction.
Reflection #2: Diction
This describes writing that uses adjectives, adverbs, power verbs, and literary devices. The purpose of descriptive language is to paint a visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile image for the reader.
III. Narrative voice
This refers to the first and third-person voice in the story. The first person is the ‘I’ in the story. The use of this narrator ensures that the reader has only one view of the details, the first-person narrator’s view. The third person, on the other hand, can be either limited or omniscient. The third person limited, like the first-person narrator, only observes and tells the story from one perspective, while the third-person omniscient narrator knows all the thoughts, feelings, and actions of all the characters.
IV. Diction
This is, essentially, word choice. Language is a tool to reveal the thoughts in our heads, so the words that we choose are essential in conveying meaning. Therefore, our choice of words must be appropriate for the situation and the idea that we want to convey. Sometimes we have words that can be classified as ‘workhorses’; we use them all the time, yet they do not necessarily convey the meaning that we desire. Use of emotive language, jargon, slang, denotative or connotative language, emotive language all falls under word use, or Diction.
Reflection #2: Diction
Questions for REFLECTION #2
- Identify at least ONE language technique used.
- Give an example of the language technique as used in the artefact.
- Comment on the effectiveness of the selected technique.
Tips for Answering the questions
Question 1: Examples of general language techniques are the formal register, informal register and literary devices. A list of language techniques that are specific to writing styles are:
Question 3: The comment on the effectiveness of the technique is an analysis of why the technique is suited to deliver the message/ issue. Your task will be easier if you classify the artefact by writing style (Expository, Persuasive, Descriptive or Narrative), which gives you the purpose of the artefact (Expository - expose/ Persuasive - persuade/ Descriptive - describe/ Narrative - tell). Knowing the purpose of the artefact then allows you to analyze the effectiveness of the technique.
Question 1: Examples of general language techniques are the formal register, informal register and literary devices. A list of language techniques that are specific to writing styles are:
- (Expository Writing) definition, description, classification, comparison/contrast, cause/effect, and process/sequence, generalisations.
- (Persuasive Writing) rhetorical questions, emotive language, facts/statistics, repetition, and expert opinions, scenarios)
- (Descriptive Writing) literary devices
- (Narrative Writing) literary devices, adjectives, power verbs, diction.
Question 3: The comment on the effectiveness of the technique is an analysis of why the technique is suited to deliver the message/ issue. Your task will be easier if you classify the artefact by writing style (Expository, Persuasive, Descriptive or Narrative), which gives you the purpose of the artefact (Expository - expose/ Persuasive - persuade/ Descriptive - describe/ Narrative - tell). Knowing the purpose of the artefact then allows you to analyze the effectiveness of the technique.
Reflection #2: Breakdown
Reflection #2: Example
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Reference:
CSEC English Syllabus Amended 2026 for Exams 2027.
Reference:
CSEC English Syllabus Amended 2026 for Exams 2027.
