Tone, Diction, SyntaxTone, Diction, SyntaxImportant Terms, Ideas, and Important Terms, Ideas, and

Hints Hints

ToneTone TONE—the speaker or author’s TONE—the speaker or author’s

attitude toward their subject, which attitude toward their subject, which is revealed by the words he or she is revealed by the words he or she chooses.chooses.

DIDLS—a way to analyze DIDLS—a way to analyze tonetone

Diction—the connotation of the word Diction—the connotation of the word choicechoice

Images—vivid appeals to understanding Images—vivid appeals to understanding through the sensesthrough the senses

Details—facts that are included or those Details—facts that are included or those omittedomitted

Language—the overall use of language, Language—the overall use of language, such as formal, clinical, jargonsuch as formal, clinical, jargon

Sentence Structure—how structure Sentence Structure—how structure affects the reader’s attitudeaffects the reader’s attitude

Good authors rarely use only one tone—Good authors rarely use only one tone—this results in a SHIFT IN TONEthis results in a SHIFT IN TONE

Clues for shifts in tone:Clues for shifts in tone: -key words (but, yet, nevertheless, -key words (but, yet, nevertheless,

however)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 -changes in line and stanza or in sentence

lengthlength -sharp contrasts in diction-sharp contrasts in diction

Tone WordsTone Words

Word choice…Word choice…

DICTIONDICTION

Levels of DictionLevels of Diction 1. high or formal1. high or formal 2. neutral2. neutral 3. low or informal3. low or informal

Types of DictionTypes of Diction

1. slang1. slang 2. colloquial expressions2. colloquial expressions 3. jargon3. jargon 4. dialect4. dialect 5. concrete diction5. concrete diction 6. abstract diction6. abstract diction 7. denotation7. denotation 8. connotation8. connotation

LEAD= Diction AnalysisLEAD= Diction Analysis

Low or informal diction (dialect, Low or informal diction (dialect, jargon, jargon, slang)slang)

Elevated language or formal Elevated language or formal dictiondiction

Abstract and concrete dictionAbstract and concrete diction Denotation and connotationDenotation and connotation

Sentence structureSentence structure

Syntax=Syntax=

Sentence LengthSentence Length Telegraphic- shorter than five words Telegraphic- shorter than five words

in lengthin length Short—approx. five words in lengthShort—approx. five words in length Medium- approx. eighteen words in Medium- approx. eighteen words in

lengthlength Long and involved—thirty or more Long and involved—thirty or more

words in lengthwords in length

Types of SentenceTypes of Sentence DeclarativeDeclarative ImperativeImperative ExclamatoryExclamatory InterrogativeInterrogative SimpleSimple CompoundCompound Compound-complexCompound-complex

Types of Sentence Types of Sentence ContinuedContinued

Loose or cumulative sentence—makes Loose or cumulative sentence—makes complete sense if brought to a close complete sense if brought to a close before its actual ending before its actual ending

Periodic sentence—makes sense fully Periodic sentence—makes sense fully only only when the end of the sentence is reached when the end of the sentence is reached

Balanced sentence—has phrases or Balanced sentence—has phrases or clauses clauses that balance each other by virtue of that balance each other by virtue of their their likeness or structure, meaning or likeness or structure, meaning or lengthlength

Natural order of a sentence-- subject, then Natural order of a sentence-- subject, then predicate predicate

Types of Sentence Types of Sentence ContinuedContinued

Inverted order of a sentence—predicate, Inverted order of a sentence—predicate, then subject then subject

Juxtaposition—normally unassociated Juxtaposition—normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, often creating an effect of to one another, often creating an effect of surprise and wit surprise and wit

Parallel structure Parallel structure Repetition Repetition Rhetorical question Rhetorical question Rhetorical fragment Rhetorical fragment

Sentence TechniquesSentence Techniques– Natural order of a sentenceNatural order of a sentence– Inverted order of a sentenceInverted order of a sentence– JuxtapositionJuxtaposition– Parallel structureParallel structure– RepetitionRepetition– Rhetorical questionRhetorical question– Rhetorical fragment Rhetorical fragment

Advanced Syntax Advanced Syntax TechniquesTechniques

Anaphora-- The deliberate repetition of a Anaphora-- The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several word or phrase at the beginning of several successive verses, clauses, or paragraphs successive verses, clauses, or paragraphs

Asyndeton-- The omission of Asyndeton-- The omission of conjunctions from constructions in which conjunctions from constructions in which they would normally be used they would normally be used

Chiasmus/ Antimetabole-- A rhetorical Chiasmus/ Antimetabole-- A rhetorical inversion of the second of two parallel inversion of the second of two parallel structures, as in “Each throat/Was parched, structures, as in “Each throat/Was parched, and glazed each eye”and glazed each eye”

Advanced Syntax Advanced Syntax TechniquesTechniques

Polysyndeton-- The repetition of Polysyndeton-- The repetition of conjunctions in close succession for rhetorical conjunctions in close succession for rhetorical effect, as in the phrase here and there and effect, as in the phrase here and there and everywhere everywhere

Stichomythia– A form of dramatic Stichomythia– A form of dramatic dialogue in which two disputing characters dialogue in which two disputing characters answer each other rapidly in alternating answer each other rapidly in alternating single lines, with one character's replies single lines, with one character's replies balancing (and often partially repeating) the balancing (and often partially repeating) the other's utterances. other's utterances.

Zeugma-- A figure of speech describing Zeugma-- A figure of speech describing the joining of two or more parts of a sentence the joining of two or more parts of a sentence with a single common verb or noun with a single common verb or noun

Syntax Description Syntax Description WordsWords

Plain, spare, austere, unadornedPlain, spare, austere, unadorned Ornate, elaborate, floweryOrnate, elaborate, flowery Jumbled, chaotic, obfuscatingJumbled, chaotic, obfuscating Erudite, esotericErudite, esoteric Journalistic, terse, laconicJournalistic, terse, laconic Harsh, gratingHarsh, grating Mellifluous, musical, lilting lyricalMellifluous, musical, lilting lyrical WhimsicalWhimsical ElegantElegant Staccato, abruptStaccato, abrupt Solid, thuddingSolid, thudding Sprawling, disorganizedSprawling, disorganized DryDry Deceptively simple Deceptively simple

Questions to aid in Questions to aid in describing sentence describing sentence structure/ syntax…structure/ syntax…

1. What is the effect of the sentence length 1. What is the effect of the sentence length the author uses?the author uses?

2. Examine sentence beginnings. Is there a 2. Examine sentence beginnings. Is there a good variety,or does a pattern emerge?good variety,or does a pattern emerge?

3. Examine the arrangement of ideas in a 3. Examine the arrangement of ideas in a sentence.sentence.

Are they set out in a special way for a Are they set out in a special way for a purpose? purpose?

Do the same for a paragraph. Does the Do the same for a paragraph. Does the arrangement of ideas suggest a particular arrangement of ideas suggest a particular strategy on the part of the author?strategy on the part of the author?