1. Chapter 11 Notes
Effective Language

2. What is EFFECTIVE LANGUAGE?
It is language that is CLEAR- it is accurate for the time and place.
It is language that is CONCISE- you must be economical with the number of words you use. Avoid clutter!

3. Figurative Language that COMPARES:
Metaphor and simile- compares one thing to something else. “He was as fast as a cheetah.”
Allusion- refers to a well known person, place, thing or idea. “He was quite a Picasso in his earlier days.”

4. Figurative Language that CONTRASTS:
Antithesis- contrasting opposites. “It doesn’t matter whether you are young or old.”
Oxymoron- Places opposites side-by-side. “boring-fun; momentary love-of-my-life”
Irony- Imply the opposite of what you are saying. “When everything goes wrong you say your day was terrific.”

5. Figurative Language that EXAGGERATES:
Hyperbole- A humorous exaggeration. “I called you a million times last night!”
Understatement- Makes less of something. “You make a slam dunk but tell your friends that you can dunk a little.”
Personification- Making the non-human human. Think of cartoons.

6. AVOID! AVOID! JARGON- slang
SEXIST LANGUAGE- The surgeon walked in the room, and then he dropped his glove.”
SHOCKING OR OBSCENE LANGUAGE- turns off an audience if you offend them.