a.k.a. “Why you gotta say it that way?”

 Word choice  Most obvious indicator of tone (attitude)  Choose words carefully, considering  Speaker Who is the voice of the poem? What kind of language would this speaker use? Vocabulary (large, small, medium-sized?) Level of diction (slang, informal, formal?) Grammar (standard? Nonstandard?) Lingo/jargon * Keep it consistent! Don’t use language that your speaker would not normally use. (Know your speaker!)  Story

 Choose words carefully, considering  Story What’s literally happening in this poem? What’s the subject?  Tone What is the speaker’s involvement re: the story? How does the speaker feel about it? What words will best communicate the speaker’s attitude?

 the literal meaning of a word  a word’s dictionary definition  ex: Nazi  A member of the German Socialist political party during the 1930’s and 1940’s.

 The ideas, attitudes, and feelings surrounding a word  A word’s “emotional baggage”  Note: the word baggage itself connotes something heavy and cumbersome; a burden— mostly negative connotations  A word’s emotional charge  Ex. Nazi  Brutality, genocide, ash and smoke from the ovens, piles of picked-through luggage, cattle cars; gas chambers; emaciated prisoners

 For each of the following pairs of words, determine their relationships, both denotative and connotative:  Skinny/slender  Plump/obese  Meat/flesh  Father/Daddy

 Ceremonial  Formal  Informal  Slang  Consider vocabulary, usage, and syntax in determining level of diction

 Word order—the purposeful way in which a writer arranges words and sentences  Sentence structures, types, orders, kinds

 Some archaic vocabulary—highly formal  Syntax—often uses highly complex sentence structures  Purpose—to create a particular atmosphere that impresses upon others the import of the occasion  Occasion—highly formal; weddings, funerals, inaugurations, graduations

 Vocabulary: words labeled “form.” in a dictionary; vocabulary is large & mature— words are specific—speak to the nuances of meanings  Syntax: often more complex sentence structures—lengths and types of sentences chosen for their specific effects on the audience and the work as a whole  Occasions: scholarly essays, papers, research, speeches, letters of a business nature, resumes  Audience: those in authority—principals, senators, bosses (respect); those who are well- educated

 Vocabulary: smaller pool of words from which to choose; mostly words labeled “inf.” in a dictionary  Syntax: often less purposeful than formal writing; mostly medium length and simple structures  Purpose/occasion: vocab. creates a more familiar, relaxed atmosphere  Audience: classroom discussion, informal letters to family (not the notes you write in class!)

 Vocabulary: quite small; riddled with words labeled “sl.” in a dictionary, considered non-standard English  Syntax: non-standard—fragments, run- ons, non-standard spellings and punctuation; mostly short sentences.  Purpose, Occasion, Audience: casual situations, i.e. notes to friends, casual conversations, certain genres of song lyrics, texting & im’ing