Syntax One of the five elements of voice: syntax, diction, detail, imagery and tone.

Syntax (grammatical sentence structure; the way words are arranged in sentences)

Syntax controls verbal pacing and focus.

How writers use syntax is a strong determiner of voice

Syntax imparts personality to writing

Syntax includes:. Word order. Sentence length. Sentence type Syntax includes: Word order Sentence length Sentence type Sentence focus Punctuation

Most sentences follow a subject-verb-object pattern.

Deviating from usual syntax can startle reader and draw attention to the sentence. This emphasizes the sentence’s message.

Inverting subject and verb: “Am I ever sorry!”

Placing a complement at the beginning of a sentence: “Hungry, without a doubt, he is.” (Complements are parts of a sentence required by the verb to make the sentence complete. There are four types: direct objects, indirect objects, subject complements and object complements).

Placing an object in front of a verb: “Sara I like – not Susan.”

Good writers shift between conformity and nonconformity, preventing reader complacency without using unusual sentence structure to the point of distraction.

Length: Writers vary length to forestall boredom and control emphasis Length: Writers vary length to forestall boredom and control emphasis Short after long shifts reader’s attention Emphasizes the meaning

Sentence focus deals with variation and emphasis within a sentence Main ideas are usually expressed in main-clause positions.

However, main clause placement varies However, main clause placement varies. Placement determines focal point of sentence

Sentence focus is generally determined by repetition and syntactic tension.

Tension: achieved by withholding syntactic closure to end (periodic sentence)

A periodic sentence is one in which the main idea occurs at the end A periodic sentence is one in which the main idea occurs at the end. In other words, the meaning of the sentence is not clear until the end.

A periodic sentence carries high tension and interest A periodic sentence carries high tension and interest. The reader must wait to end to understand

“As long as we ignore our children and refuse to dedicate the necessary time and money to their care, we will fail to solve the problem of school violence.” The emphasis is on the problem.

In contrast, sentences that reach syntactical closure early (loose sentences) relieve tension and allow the reader to explore the rest of the sentence without urgency.

Note the difference in tension: “We will fail to solve the problem of school violence as long as we ignore our children and refuse to dedicate the necessary time and money to their care.” The emphasis here is on the cause of failure.

Repetition: another way writers achieve focus Purposeful repetition of a word, phrase, or clause (parallelism) emphasizes the repeated structure and focuses the reader’s attention on its meaning.

Writers can also repeat parallel forms such as infinitives, gerunds and prepositional phrases. This kind of repetition balances parallel ideas and gives them equal weight.

This can result in a balanced sentence (one in which both halves are roughly equal “weight” and importance).

Punctuation: used to reinforce meaning, construct effect and express the writer’s voice. Of particular interest in shaping voice are the semicolon, colon and dash.

Semicolon: gives equal weight to two or more independent clauses Semicolon: gives equal weight to two or more independent clauses. Resulting balance reinforces parallel ideas and imparts equal importance to both (or all) of the clauses.

Colon: directs reader attention to the words that follow Colon: directs reader attention to the words that follow. Used between independent clauses if the second summarizes or explains the first.

Colon sets the expectation that important, closely related information will follow, and words after the colon are emphasized.

Dash – marks a sudden change in thought or tone, sets off a brief summary, or sets off a parenthetical part of the sentence. Often conveys a casual tone.

The impact of poetry is so hard and direct that for the moment there is no other sensation except that of the poem itself. What profound depths we visit then – how sudden and complete is our immersion! There is nothing here to catch hold of; nothing to stay us in our flight…The poet is always our contemporary. Our being for the moment is centered and constricted, as in any violent shock of personal emotion.   - Virginia Woolf, “How Should One Read a Book?”

Woolf uses a variety of sentence types in this selection Woolf uses a variety of sentence types in this selection. Among them is the exclamatory sentence, a sentence that makes a statement in an excited or forceful way. Identify the exclamatory sentence in the passage. What is its effect?

Classify each sentence as to length: short, medium, or long Classify each sentence as to length: short, medium, or long. How is the meaning of the passage reinforced and clarified by sentence length?

Write a declarative sentence about learning to drive Write a declarative sentence about learning to drive. Then write an exclamatory sentence which amplifies or clarifies the declarative sentence.

Brother, continue to listen Brother, continue to listen. You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably to his mind; and, if we do not take hold of the religion which you white people teach, we shall be unhappy hereafter. You say that you are right and we are lost. How do we know this to be true?   - Chief Red Jacket, “Chief Red Jacket Rejects a Change of Religion”

The words you say are repeated several times in the sentence The words you say are repeated several times in the sentence. What is the repetition’s function?

Chief Red jacket repeats the words you say to mark a refutation and to emphasize the words. Everything that follows the you say is denied.

The conscious repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several successive verses, clauses or paragraphs is called anaphora. Functions of anaphora vary: emphasis, irony, and/or refutation of what follows.

The question at the end of the passage is a rhetorical The question at the end of the passage is a rhetorical. What attitude toward the audience is expressed by the use of a rhetorical question?

A rhetorical question is one for which no answer is expected A rhetorical question is one for which no answer is expected. The answer is assumed. In this case the answer is obvious: we cannot know this to be true. The rhetorical question reinforces the refutation of the anaphora and conveys a clear feeling of mistrust for the audience.

Dean, Nancy. Voice Lessons:. Classroom Activities to Teach Dean, Nancy. Voice Lessons: Classroom Activities to Teach Diction, Detail, Imagery, and Tone. Gainesville, Florida: Maupin House, 2000.