use of technique essay

What Are Language Techniques?

Language techniques are the elements which the writer brings to his or her story to focus on the theme on which they are emphasizing. It plays a crucial factor in writing an essay or story. Language technique means the way writer conveys meanings by applying language techniques. The different language techniques may be related to sentence structure, tone, choice of words etc.

You can use language techniques and elements which can be found everywhere in the story. As a result, it assists students in developing understanding a story, essay, poem or novel in a better way.

Importance of language techniques

The main purpose of English techniques is to:

• Craft thoughts into words
• Bring a story to life
• Give meaning in an artistic structure
• Present a logical framework through words and language
• Makes a story and its purpose recognizable to its audience
• It helps to test the understanding of a story that readers have.
• Assists in motivating both readers and writer imagination.
• Motivate readers to visualize and see characters and scenes more within a story.

Language technique and their effects

The persuasive language technique helps students in scoring good marks in the exam for writing. If you have good knowledge of language techniques then you can easily score a good score in exams.  It is very much important for you to develop an understanding of the following factors such as:

• The way writers gain impact on their writing.
• Techniques to use different features in your writing.
• Techniques to achieve unit standards which you may need for exploring language and think critically about poetic texts.

Language feature

At the time of analyzing the language, you should mainly concentrate on the way it is written. It means you need to mainly concentrate on identifying the language features and explaining their effect.

21 English language techniques

The Basic English language techniques are literary techniques and figures of speech that we utilize in the English language for conveying messages.

Alliteration

It is language techniques that include repetition of sounds that are similar. Such repetition of sounds appears at the beginning of words.

You can find such type of language techniques in literary work. It wills a reference a literary, historical, or biblical person, place, or event from another piece of literary work or a separate occurrence in itself.

It is language techniques which are somewhat similar to alliteration. But the only difference is that the repetition occurs in the vowel sound of the word.

For example, the sentence, “The Brother spoke in a low mellow tone” contains the repetition of the “o” sound.

Such language technique includes a description of that is a little far-fetched. You can mainly use caricature language techniques at the timer of mocking character.

These are basic techniques of expression.

It is language techniques which writer generally utilize with the intention of providing the character with experience of extraordinary movements.

Foreshadowing

Such language techniques include the author, writer, or narrator’s use of hints or suggestions that will give a sort of “preview” of events that may occur later on in the story.

It is a language technique which involves the use of exaggeration or overstating in order to get a point across.

The idiom is somewhat similar to Clinches. This language technique includes expressions that you have probably heard before.

It is one of the popular English language techniques. The main motive of using such a technique for writing a story or essay is to set up an image in the audience’s mind. By using such a technique writer also intends to make a sensory impression

Irony language techniques 

The writer mainly uses such a technique for making differentiation between two things.

This is basically an English literary language technique which writer mainly uses for comparing two things without using words “As”, “Like”.

You can use this technique for developing a key theme for a story.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is words that sound exactly like they are.

For instance: hiss, boing, or pop.

Oxymoron language technique

These are two words that are close together that contradict each other.

For instance, “same difference”

There are many essays and other academic writing where you need to include Thesis. It is basically a central argument which authors will make in their piece of academic writing.  You need to include a thesis at the beginning of your essay.

A symbol could be anything from an object to an actual person which will represent an idea or concept in a story.

It is a form of verbal Irony where the speaker will say something which means the exact opposite of what they actually mean.

Simile language techniques

This technique mainly includes using Similes for making a comparison between two things. It means at the time of writing a story or an essay writer mainly uses words “Like”, “as”.

Rhetorical questions 

At the time of writing essays or stories, you can ask questions from yourself.  The questions which you are asking from yourself do not require an actual response. The main purpose of rhetorical questions is to call attention.

Personification

When writing the English language one of the techniques is to use human characteristics for describing the things.

For instance: Raindrops danced  on the pavement

Effect of emotive Language

Emotive language has a great influence on the audience. By using emotive language in an effective manner you can positively influence the audience to react. This audience manipulation is a type of rhetoric. Therefore, emotive language can cause an audience to take action or to argue with the speaker.

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Visual Techniques for English Essays: A Complete Guide

Visual techniques in English may be something you are familiar with, but it also may be completely new to you, and that’s okay! In HSC, QCE, ATAR, and other English curriculums, you have to use visual techniques to discuss images in books, videos, or book covers and analyse the visual and interpretation techniques within them, for meaning. The visual techniques outlined in this article focus mainly on images rather than film clips as these are likely to come across in your external HSC system. Still, these techniques can easily be transferred to film clips. 

What Are Visual Techniques in English?

Visual techniques are the elements of an image, video, or artwork that help to create meaning. They are used by different artists and creators for many reasons, but we analyse them to help us discern and create meaning from text when writing English essays .

Essential English Visual Techniques 

Analysing visual techniques in your English essays is vital for success in your career as an English student. Many other things can help you get an A in English as well, but here we are focusing on breaking down different visual techniques. The different techniques are listed and expanded upon below. 

1. Composition

Composition is what an image is made up of . This includes things like where an object is placed, how it is framed, and the colour and lighting techniques used. Composition broadly refers to the image as a whole and what you see when you look at it.

Using this in an essay could look like this: The Mona Lisa is a picture of a woman’s torso taking up the majority of the piece in front of a nature background.

Colour is the colours used in an image and what they can symbolise. Oftentimes different colours will evoke different emotions in the audience. For example, purple is a colour of royalty, wealth and luxury, whereas red represents passion, lust and anger. 

Colour also includes the tone of the colour, if it is bright and vivid or dull and de-saturated. Using this in an essay could look like: The deep, saturated colours used in the Mona Lisa evoke feelings of calm and peace. 

If you are a visual learner , you may already be using this without even knowing it! This could be through colour-coding different subjects or thoughts, or working better with diagrams and colours built into your notes.

3. Symbolism

Symbolism is the use of one object or image to represent another more complex concept. Things like religious symbolism and animal symbolism are often used.

Using this in an essay could look like: Frida Kahlo’s use of the hummingbird in Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird symbolises hope in her culture.

Texture refers to the literal texture of an object. Is it rough or smooth? Does it have different ridges and feelings across the object? 

Using this in an essay could look like: Van Gogh’s Starry Night has a heavy texture throughout the image.

5. Perspective

Perspective is how a three-dimensional object is placed on a two-dimensional surface. In artworks, perspective also changes the angle at which you, as the viewer, perceive the object. 

Using this in an essay could look like: In Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, the viewer is placed in a front-on perspective, looking directly at Kahlo. 

6. Lighting

Lighting is how an image is lit or not lit. This can include natural lighting like sunlight or open windows, man-made lighting like lamps or torches, or feature lighting like coloured lights or spotlights. Lighting has a major impact on the mood and atmosphere of a piece of art.

Framing includes the camera shots and angles used across images and film to foster differing audience reactions and emotions. These techniques include a close-up, extreme close-up, mid shots, aerial shots, and many more. 

Using this in an essay could look like this: The artist uses an extreme close-up of the subject to create a feeling of tension and unease in the viewer.  

8. Proportion and Scale

Proportion is the size of the different parts of an object in relation to each other. Scale is the size of one object to another in the same artwork. 

Using this in an essay could look like: The artist uses realistic proportions across the image. The artist plays with scale to create a more surrealist feel in the image. 

9. Point of View

Point of view refers to how the shot is framed in reference to the viewer or a character. For example, is the audience placed level with, above or below the subject of the image. 

Using this in an essay could look like: The point of view in the image places the viewer looking down at the subject. 

10. Text and Typography

Text and typography are the words used within an image to convey a literal or figurative message. This is influenced by the colour, size, and font of the text as well as its repetition throughout the image. 

Using this in an essay could look like: The text within the image conveys both its literal message based on the words, and a subliminal message based on the wider context of the whole image. 

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Whether you need help with literary analysis, essay writing, or visual techniques in literature, our team is here to help you succeed. Contact us now to schedule your first session and start achieving your academic goals!

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The English Literary Techniques Toolkit for The HSC

Guide Chapters

• 1. Literary Techniques Toolkit
• 2. Visual Techniques Toolkit
• 3. Film Techniques Toolkit
• 4. English Grammar Toolkit

All about the English Literary Techniques Toolkit

This Literary Techniques Toolkit is your essential resource for analysing written texts for English.

Students of all year levels should explore this page for techniques to enhance their discussion of texts and strengthen their repertoire of written techniques.

We are constantly adding to this reference to ensure that it is as detailed and comprehensive as possible to help you achieve your best in English.

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What are English literary techniques?

Literary Techniques  (NESA also refers to literary techniques and devices as  figurative language ) are the techniques that composers use in their written texts to help convey or heighten meaning.

Rather than writing in plain language, composers give more emphasis to their ideas by utilising literary devices to make them stand out.

If you are after more practical advice about how to succeed in Year 11 and 12 English, you should read our Beginner’s Guide to Acing HSC English .

English Literary Techniques for the HSC

While the list below is a comprehensive list of literary techniques, Year 11 and 12 Matrix English Students have an extensive 30+ page Glossary of Techniques with detailed definitions and examples included at the end of each Matrix Theory Book.

Below is a list of the most common literary devices used in texts (the techniques underlined are clickable links that take you to expanded definitions and step-by-step tutorials on analysis):

Go to technique: A    B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K  L   M   N   O   P   Q  R   S   T   U  V  W   X  Y  Z

Learn how to write about techniques the right way, before the hsc.

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If you want to take your analysis further and expand your awareness of literary techniques, read the blog post:  Understanding Literary Techniques: How to Analyse Poetry and Prose  to learn how to analyse literary techniques in poetry and prose with reference to all the major techniques.

When you write an essay identifying the techniques used by a composer, you need to explain how that technique is creating meaning in the text. It is not enough to just cite a literary term. You need to discuss the device or technique in detail. This process is called literary analysis and it is an important skill that Matrix English students are taught in the Matrix English courses.

Great marks in essays and writing tasks are earned through the detailed analysis of your texts and not merely listing examples and techniques. You can learn more about how to analyse texts in our Beginner’s Guide to Acing HSC English .

The Visual Techniques Toolkit

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Essay and dissertation writing skills

Planning your essay

Writing your introduction

Structuring your essay

• Writing essays in science subjects
• Brief video guides to support essay planning and writing
• Writing extended essays and dissertations
• Planning your dissertation writing time

Structuring your dissertation

• Top tips for writing longer pieces of work

Advice on planning and writing essays and dissertations

University essays differ from school essays in that they are less concerned with what you know and more concerned with how you construct an argument to answer the question. This means that the starting point for writing a strong essay is to first unpick the question and to then use this to plan your essay before you start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).

A really good starting point for you are these short, downloadable Tips for Successful Essay Writing and Answering the Question resources. Both resources will help you to plan your essay, as well as giving you guidance on how to distinguish between different sorts of essay questions. 

You may find it helpful to watch this seven-minute video on six tips for essay writing which outlines how to interpret essay questions, as well as giving advice on planning and structuring your writing:

Different disciplines will have different expectations for essay structure and you should always refer to your Faculty or Department student handbook or course Canvas site for more specific guidance.

However, broadly speaking, all essays share the following features:

Essays need an introduction to establish and focus the parameters of the discussion that will follow. You may find it helpful to divide the introduction into areas to demonstrate your breadth and engagement with the essay question. You might define specific terms in the introduction to show your engagement with the essay question; for example, ‘This is a large topic which has been variously discussed by many scientists and commentators. The principal tension is between the views of X and Y who define the main issues as…’ Breadth might be demonstrated by showing the range of viewpoints from which the essay question could be considered; for example, ‘A variety of factors including economic, social and political, influence A and B. This essay will focus on the social and economic aspects, with particular emphasis on…..’

Watch this two-minute video to learn more about how to plan and structure an introduction:

The main body of the essay should elaborate on the issues raised in the introduction and develop an argument(s) that answers the question. It should consist of a number of self-contained paragraphs each of which makes a specific point and provides some form of evidence to support the argument being made. Remember that a clear argument requires that each paragraph explicitly relates back to the essay question or the developing argument.

• Conclusion: An essay should end with a conclusion that reiterates the argument in light of the evidence you have provided; you shouldn’t use the conclusion to introduce new information.
• References: You need to include references to the materials you’ve used to write your essay. These might be in the form of footnotes, in-text citations, or a bibliography at the end. Different systems exist for citing references and different disciplines will use various approaches to citation. Ask your tutor which method(s) you should be using for your essay and also consult your Department or Faculty webpages for specific guidance in your discipline. 

Essay writing in science subjects

If you are writing an essay for a science subject you may need to consider additional areas, such as how to present data or diagrams. This five-minute video gives you some advice on how to approach your reading list, planning which information to include in your answer and how to write for your scientific audience – the video is available here:

A PDF providing further guidance on writing science essays for tutorials is available to download.

Short videos to support your essay writing skills

There are many other resources at Oxford that can help support your essay writing skills and if you are short on time, the Oxford Study Skills Centre has produced a number of short (2-minute) videos covering different aspects of essay writing, including:

• Approaching different types of essay questions  
• Structuring your essay  
• Writing an introduction  
• Making use of evidence in your essay writing  
• Writing your conclusion

Extended essays and dissertations

Longer pieces of writing like extended essays and dissertations may seem like quite a challenge from your regular essay writing. The important point is to start with a plan and to focus on what the question is asking. A PDF providing further guidance on planning Humanities and Social Science dissertations is available to download.

Planning your time effectively

Try not to leave the writing until close to your deadline, instead start as soon as you have some ideas to put down onto paper. Your early drafts may never end up in the final work, but the work of committing your ideas to paper helps to formulate not only your ideas, but the method of structuring your writing to read well and conclude firmly.

Although many students and tutors will say that the introduction is often written last, it is a good idea to begin to think about what will go into it early on. For example, the first draft of your introduction should set out your argument, the information you have, and your methods, and it should give a structure to the chapters and sections you will write. Your introduction will probably change as time goes on but it will stand as a guide to your entire extended essay or dissertation and it will help you to keep focused.

The structure of  extended essays or dissertations will vary depending on the question and discipline, but may include some or all of the following:

• The background information to - and context for - your research. This often takes the form of a literature review.
• Explanation of the focus of your work.
• Explanation of the value of this work to scholarship on the topic.
• List of the aims and objectives of the work and also the issues which will not be covered because they are outside its scope.

The main body of your extended essay or dissertation will probably include your methodology, the results of research, and your argument(s) based on your findings.

The conclusion is to summarise the value your research has added to the topic, and any further lines of research you would undertake given more time or resources. 

Tips on writing longer pieces of work

Approaching each chapter of a dissertation as a shorter essay can make the task of writing a dissertation seem less overwhelming. Each chapter will have an introduction, a main body where the argument is developed and substantiated with evidence, and a conclusion to tie things together. Unlike in a regular essay, chapter conclusions may also introduce the chapter that will follow, indicating how the chapters are connected to one another and how the argument will develop through your dissertation.

For further guidance, watch this two-minute video on writing longer pieces of work . 

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