Diction

Word Choice

Formal Language Characterized by a serious

tone, a careful attention to word choice, longer sentences, and a strict adherence to traditional conventions.

Hello, Mr. Henry. May I please have a moment of your time?

Informal Language Characterized by a personal

tone, the occasional use of popular expressions, shorter sentences, the use of contractions and personal references (I, he, you), and an adherence to basic conventions.

Hi, Mr. Henry. Can I talk to you for a few minutes?

Colloquial Language

Casual or conversational language

~I flunked the test vs. I failed the test.

Hey man. Can we chat for sec?

Denotation

The exact, literal meaning of a word.

~ A dictionary definition.

Connotation

Ideas implied by a word.~

Involve associations and emotional overtones that go beyond a word’s definition.

Divide the following words among three headings:

Positive, Negative, Neutral

1. harmony, sound, racket, shriek, melody, music, noise, pitch, voice

2. talkative, articulate, chattering, eloquent, vocal, verbose, gossipy, fluent, gabby

General and Specific

General Words- refer to a group or a class

~For example: car, or tree.

Specific words- refer to members of that class

~For example: Honda,

Buick, Ford, Oak, Elm , Dogwood.

Slang A kind of colloquial language,

it is coined words and new meanings for existing words.

Quickly pass in and out of use. Not appropriate for most

academic writing.

Jargon

Specialized vocabulary of a particular group

Exists in every field Reserve jargon for

specialist audience.

Regional Language

Language specific to a geographical area.

http://tastyresearch.wordpress.com/2006/10/05/pop-vs-soda-vs-coke/

Examples:

Abstract and Concrete Abstract words

Denotes qualities (kind),concepts (speed), Relationships (friends), acts (cooking), conditions (bad weather) and ideas (transportation)

Concrete wordsIdentify what can be

perceived by the senses, by being seen, heard, tasted, felt, smelled (black, padded, leather dashboard)Carry specific Images and

details.

TONE- Attitude toward the subject and audience implied in a literary

work

Tone towards the subject

Pervasive quality that characterizes the whole composition

Many other elements, working together, can lead to the perception of an author’s tone

Organization, Diction, Syntax, etc. Requires the reader to “read

between the lines”

Tone towards the subject Bitter Sardonic Sarcastic Ironic Mocking Scornful Satiric Vituperative

Scathing Confidential Factual Informal Facetious Critical Resigned Astonished

Tone towards the subject Objective Naive Joyous Spiritual Wistful Nostalgic Humorous Mock-serious

Pedantic Didactic Inspiring Remorseful Disdainful Laudatory Mystified

Tone towards the subject Idyllic Compassionate Reverent Lugubrious Elegiac Gothic Macabre Reflective

Maudlin Sentimental Patriotic Jingoistic Detached Angry Sad

Tone towards the audience

Talking down to the reader as an advisor

Talking down to the reader as a satirist

Talking eye-to-eye with the reader as an equal

Talking up to the reader as a suppliant or subordinate

Tone towards the audience (cont.)

Formal Diction and syntax that are

academic, serious, and authoritative

Informal More conversational and

engages the reader on an equal basis

Loose/cumulative sentence

The most common sentence structure in English

Information accumulates in the sentence until it reaches a period

Structure starts with a SUBJECT and VERB and continues with

modifiers

EXAMPLE

A car hit a shoulder and turned over at midnight last night on the road from Las Vegas to Death

Valley Junction.

Periodic/Climactic Sentence

Reserves the main idea for the end of the sentence

Tends to draw in the reader as it moves toward the period

If overused, however, periodic sentences lose their punch.

EXAMPLE

At midnight last night, on the road from Las Vegas to Death Valley Junction, a car hit a shoulder and turned over.

EXAMPLE 2

“Drowsy, clumsy, unable to fix a bicycle tire, throw a baseball, balance a grocery sack, or walk across the room, he was stripped of his true self by drink.”

from Under the Influenceby Scott Russell Sanders

EXAMPLE 3

“Over this rocky area relieved by a few shady tall persimmon trees the graduating class walked.”

from Graduationby Maya Angelou

Parallel Sentence Occurs when you write words, phrases, or

clauses within a sentence to match in their grammatical forms.

Several advantages Express ideas of equal weight in your writing Emphasize important information or ideas Add rhythm and grace to your writing style

EXAMPLE

“Left alone, our father prowls the house, thumping into furniture, rummaging in the kitchen, slamming doors, turning the pages of the newspaper with a savage crackle, muttering back at the late-night drivel from television.”

from Under the Influenceby Scott Russell Sanders

Balanced Sentence Type of parallelism in which contrasting

content is delivered. The two parallel structures are usually ,

but not always independent clauses. A balanced sentence uses coordination. The two coordinate structures are

characterized by opposites in meaning, sometimes with one structure cast in the negative.

Mosquitoes don’t bite; they stab.

By night, the litter and desperation disappeared as the city’s glittering lights came on; by day, the filth and despair reappeared as the sun rose.

EXAMPLES

EXAMPLES (cont.)

“Poetry is seldom useful, but always memorable.”

from The Town Dumpby Wallace

Stegner

Writing Tips Write assignments for a wider

audience than simply your teacher. (Even if your teacher is the only person to read them.)

“Amongst” is the same as “among.” One comes across as pretentious, the other does not.

If you use “not only,” you must use “but also.”

Writing Tips (continued)

Learn how to punctuate the word “however.” I like you; however, I think we should

just be friends. I am, however, willing to consider

romance in the future. However you cut it, we belong

together.

Writing Tips (continued)

If you need to use the word “very” or “really,” there is definitely a more appropriate and specific word that will work better.

Experiment with the dash – a fancy comma.

Make sure repetition is purposeful.

Writing Tips (continued)

Learn the rules for possession. John’s car My parents’ car

What to avoid

Passive Voice Linking verbs

The following verbs are true linking verbs: any form of the verb be [am, is, are, was, were ,can, could, do, did, has, have, had, having , has been, are being, might have been, etc.], become, and seem,,

Short sentences unless done for effect