DIDLSDIDLSEnglish I Pre-APEnglish I Pre-AP

Fall 2011Fall 2011

DICTION

Evaluate Loaded WordsEvaluate Loaded Words• Why has the author chosen Why has the author chosen these words specifically? these words specifically? •Use of repeated words, Use of repeated words, vocabulary, words that create a vocabulary, words that create a “feeling” or specific tone.“feeling” or specific tone.•Connotative vs. DenotativeConnotative vs. Denotative

Diction• student, apprentice, disciple, junior, student, apprentice, disciple, junior,

learner, novice, scholarlearner, novice, scholar

• vacation, break, fiesta, furlough, vacation, break, fiesta, furlough, intermission, layoff, recess, sabbaticalintermission, layoff, recess, sabbatical

• friend, companion, buddy, friend, companion, buddy, acquaintance, colleague, playmateacquaintance, colleague, playmate

IMAGERY-Creates vivid picture

•Senses – Touch, Taste, Sound, Sight, Smell•Why has the author chosen these

specific images to include in their writing? •What do these images invoke?

IMAGERY-Creates vivid picture

"At the next table a woman stuck her nose in a novel; a college kid pecked at a laptop. Overlaying all this, a soundtrack: choo-k-choo-k-choo-k-choo-k-choo-k--the metronomic rhythm of an Amtrak train rolling down the line to California, a sound that called to mind an old camera reel moving frames of images along a linear track, telling a story."(Andy Isaacson, "Riding the Rails." The New York Times, March 8, 2009)

LANGUAGE-words that describe the entire body

of text!! •Registers of Language: Frozen, Registers of Language: Frozen, Formal, Consultative, Casual, IntimateFormal, Consultative, Casual, Intimate

•Figurative Language: Similes, Figurative Language: Similes, Metaphors, Personification, Oxymoron, Metaphors, Personification, Oxymoron, etc. etc.

•Point of View – How do all of these Point of View – How do all of these contribute to the author’s contribute to the author’s effectiveness?effectiveness?

LANGUAGELANGUAGEFORMAL: FORMAL: It appears that in a number of instances jobs were assigned on the basis of gender. Given the current anti-discrimination laws, this raises serious concerns.

CASUAL: CASUAL: It's so obvious that people were given jobs just because they were male or female. I don't think that is an acceptable approach and is even against the law.

DetailsDetails•Facts chosen by Facts chosen by author or omitted author or omitted for effectfor effect•Why has the Why has the author chosen author chosen these specific these specific details to include details to include or omit in their or omit in their writing?writing?

Syntax-Consider Syntax-Consider patterns/structurespatterns/structures•Sentence Structure – Length, Sentence Structure – Length, Complexity or SimplicityComplexity or Simplicity•Use of Run-Ons, Fragments, Use of Run-Ons, Fragments, Parallel Structure, Anaphora, Parallel Structure, Anaphora, Repetition,Repetition,•Conventional or Grammatical Conventional or Grammatical CluesClues

Syntax continuesSyntax continues

• PUNCTUATION to consider:PUNCTUATION to consider:

–EllipsesEllipses

–Dash– interruption of thoughDash– interruption of though

–Semicolon-parallel ideasSemicolon-parallel ideas

–Colon-a listColon-a list

– Italics/Capitalization/Exclamation Italics/Capitalization/Exclamation PointPoint

SHIFTS in TONE!SHIFTS in TONE!•Key WordsKey Words (but, (but, nevertheless, however, nevertheless, however, although)although)•Change in line lengthChange in line length•Paragraph divisionParagraph division•Punctuation (dashes, Punctuation (dashes, periods, colons)periods, colons)•Sharp contrast in dictionSharp contrast in diction