Five Elements of Style
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Transcript of Five Elements of Style
Five Elements of Style
Diction
Word choiceThe foundation of voice!
Diction Author’s choice of word
Words are the basic tools of writer
Reflect and determine the level of formality of a piece
Shape reader’s perceptions
Students should NOT skip words they don’t know as those might be excellent additions to a new writing piece!
Pick words that are clear, concrete, and exact
Lame words = pretty, nice, good, bad
A coat isn’t torn; it is tattered.
The US Army doesn’t want revenge; it is thirsting for revenge.
A door does not shut; it thuds.
Diction depends on the following:TopicPurposeOccasion
Topics and DictionSpecialized topics may call for
specialized language / vocabularyE-mail, iPodJargon depending on the fieldScienceMathHistory
Purpose and DictionThe purpose of the writing
will call forward certain types and levels of language:Inform – more straightforward language
Entertain – ironic, playful, unexpected language
Occasion and Diction Level of formality influences
formality of word choiceSuper formal writing (the
stuffiest of the stuffy)Formal writing (formal
school papers)Informal (responses to
constructed responses)Colloquial / Slang (notes,
emails, texts)
Denotation and Connotation
DenotationThe literal meaning of a word
No emotional bias has been added
ConnotationAn emotionally loaded word
Denotation and Connotation
Compare the effects of the following pairs of words:
Thin…..gaunt
Child…..devil
Student…..scholar….sophomore
Teacher…..professor….sage
Automobile…..car….jalopy….junker….beater
Practice!Word Denotatio
nsPositive Connotation
Negative Connotation
Child
Smell
Image
Worker
Travel
Pay Attention
What is the Difference? Put a lid on it, for cryin’ out loud.
I will not respond to these stressful and unproductive outbursts.
I think you need to, like, channel that negative energy.
You best chill, sucka
Assignment Rewrite the provided text for another
audience, experimenting with different levels of diction.
Sport report
Complaining blog
Technical manual
Movie review
????
Detail Facts, observations, and incidents
used to develop a subject and impart voice.
Create precise mental pictures
Bring color and life to description
The more specific the detail, the greater focus on the object described.
Lack of Detail? Can also state by understatement,
by a lack of detail!
Choose details with care! Add meaning! Don’t trivialize or detract from the
point!
Imagery Verbal representation of the senses
Sight
Sound
Touch
Taste
Smell
Imagery Experiment with a variety of images
Purposely intermingle senses Give smells a color!
Examine traditional images / archetypes!
Syntax Ways words are arranged within
sentences
Normal order is subject – verb – object He handed the flower to her.
Play with the order, though! The flower was handed to her. A flower, the gift he handed to her. To her, the only gift was a flower.
Vary Sentence Lengths!
Help shift reader’s attention
Fend off boredom!
Repetition
Parallelism
Advanced Punctuation uses
Semicolon Way to connect two independent clauses
Colon Sets up a list Sets up a structure “as follows” Information following the colon expands upon the
first clause
Dash Sudden change in thought / mood Sets of a parenthetical part of a sentence
Tone Expression of attitude
Writer’s implied attitude toward his subject and audience
Created by the following: Diction Syntax Details / images
Understanding tone is requisite to understanding meaning!