Tone, Diction, Syntax Important Terms, Ideas, and Hints Important Terms, Ideas, and Hints

Tone TONE—the speaker or author’s attitude toward their subject, which is revealed by the words he or she chooses. TONE—the speaker or author’s attitude toward their subject, which is revealed by the words he or she chooses.

DIDLS—a way to analyze tone Diction—the connotation of the word choice Diction—the connotation of the word choice Images—vivid appeals to understanding through the senses Images—vivid appeals to understanding through the senses Details—facts that are included or those omitted Details—facts that are included or those omitted Language—the overall use of language, such as formal, clinical, jargon Language—the overall use of language, such as formal, clinical, jargon Sentence Structure—how structure affects the reader’s attitude Sentence Structure—how structure affects the reader’s attitude

Good authors rarely use only one tone—this results in a SHIFT IN TONE Good authors rarely use only one tone—this results in a SHIFT IN TONE Clues for shifts in tone: Clues for shifts in tone: -key words (but, yet, nevertheless, however) -key words (but, yet, nevertheless, however) -punctuation (dashes, semicolons, periods) -punctuation (dashes, semicolons, periods) -stanza and paragraph divisions -stanza and paragraph divisions -changes in line and stanza or in sentence length -changes in line and stanza or in sentence length -sharp contrasts in diction -sharp contrasts in diction

Tone Words

Word choice… DICTION

Levels of Diction Levels of Diction 1. high or formal 1. high or formal 2. neutral 2. neutral 3. low or informal 3. low or informal

Types of Diction 1. slang 1. slang 2. colloquial expressions 2. colloquial expressions 3. jargon 3. jargon 4. dialect 4. dialect 5. concrete diction 5. concrete diction 6. abstract diction 6. abstract diction 7. denotation 7. denotation 8. connotation 8. connotation

LEAD= Diction Analysis Low or informal diction (dialect, jargon, slang) Low or informal diction (dialect, jargon, slang) Elevated language or formal diction Elevated language or formal diction Abstract and concrete diction Abstract and concrete diction Denotation and connotation Denotation and connotation

Sentence structure Syntax=

Sentence Length Telegraphic- shorter than five words in length Telegraphic- shorter than five words in length Short—approx. five words in length Short—approx. five words in length Medium- approx. eighteen words in length Medium- approx. eighteen words in length Long and involved—thirty or more words in length Long and involved—thirty or more words in length

Types of Sentence Declarative Declarative Imperative Imperative Exclamatory Exclamatory Interrogative Interrogative Simple Simple Compound Compound Compound-complex Compound-complex

Types of Sentence Continued Loose or cumulative sentence—makes complete sense if brought to a close before its actual ending Loose or cumulative sentence—makes complete sense if brought to a close before its actual ending Periodic sentence—makes sense fully only when the end of the sentence is reached Periodic sentence—makes sense fully only when the end of the sentence is reached Balanced sentence—has phrases or clauses that balance each other by virtue of their likeness or structure, meaning or length Balanced sentence—has phrases or clauses that balance each other by virtue of their likeness or structure, meaning or length Natural order of a sentence-- subject, then predicate Natural order of a sentence-- subject, then predicate

Types of Sentence Continued Inverted order of a sentence—predicate, then subject Inverted order of a sentence—predicate, then subject Juxtaposition—normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, often creating an effect of surprise and wit Juxtaposition—normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, often creating an effect of surprise and wit Parallel structure Parallel structure Repetition Repetition Rhetorical question Rhetorical question Rhetorical fragment Rhetorical fragment

Sentence Techniques –Natural order of a sentence –Inverted order of a sentence –Juxtaposition –Parallel structure –Repetition –Rhetorical question –Rhetorical fragment

Advanced Syntax Techniques Anaphora-- The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several successive verses, clauses, or paragraphs Anaphora-- The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several successive verses, clauses, or paragraphs Asyndeton-- The omission of conjunctions from constructions in which they would normally be used Asyndeton-- The omission of conjunctions from constructions in which they would normally be used Chiasmus/ Antimetabole-- A rhetorical inversion of the second of two parallel structures, as in “Each throat/Was parched, and glazed each eye” Chiasmus/ Antimetabole-- A rhetorical inversion of the second of two parallel structures, as in “Each throat/Was parched, and glazed each eye”

Advanced Syntax Techniques Polysyndeton-- The repetition of conjunctions in close succession for rhetorical effect, as in the phrase here and there and everywhere Polysyndeton-- The repetition of conjunctions in close succession for rhetorical effect, as in the phrase here and there and everywhere Stichomythia– A form of dramatic dialogue in which two disputing characters answer each other rapidly in alternating single lines, with one character's replies balancing (and often partially repeating) the other's utterances. Stichomythia– A form of dramatic dialogue in which two disputing characters answer each other rapidly in alternating single lines, with one character's replies balancing (and often partially repeating) the other's utterances. Zeugma-- A figure of speech describing the joining of two or more parts of a sentence with a single common verb or noun Zeugma-- A figure of speech describing the joining of two or more parts of a sentence with a single common verb or noun

Syntax Description Words Plain, spare, austere, unadorned Plain, spare, austere, unadorned Ornate, elaborate, flowery Ornate, elaborate, flowery Jumbled, chaotic, obfuscating Jumbled, chaotic, obfuscating Erudite, esoteric Erudite, esoteric Journalistic, terse, laconic Journalistic, terse, laconic Harsh, grating Harsh, grating Mellifluous, musical, lilting lyrical Mellifluous, musical, lilting lyrical Whimsical Whimsical Elegant Elegant Staccato, abrupt Staccato, abrupt Solid, thudding Solid, thudding Sprawling, disorganized Sprawling, disorganized Dry Dry Deceptively simple Deceptively simple

Questions to aid in describing sentence structure/ syntax… 1. What is the effect of the sentence length the author uses? 2. Examine sentence beginnings. Is there a good variety,or does a pattern emerge? 3. Examine the arrangement of ideas in a sentence. Are they set out in a special way for a purpose? Are they set out in a special way for a purpose? Do the same for a paragraph. Does the arrangement of ideas suggest a particular strategy on the part of the author? Do the same for a paragraph. Does the arrangement of ideas suggest a particular strategy on the part of the author?