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How to: Analyze StyleWeek 8.1 Lecture

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What is Writing Style?What it isn’t:The content of your writing(e.g. what the characters are doing/feeling, what the setting of the story is, what the mood of the passage is)

What it IS:The WAY you writeThe WAY you convey your meaningThe WAY you set your tone(e.g. how you describe the characters, the vocabulary you use to set the scene, the language you use to set the tone)

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What to look forSentence Structure• Long v. short• Commas v. periods

Vocabulary• Simple v. complex

Content• Descriptions v. Dialogue• Feelings v. Actions

Rhetorical Devices• Be aware of what rhetorical devices the author used/didn’t use in his or her writing

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Examples of Style

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Nathanial Hawthorne

Ernest Hemingway

Click the pictures for more information about the authors.Note: The extra credit questions on this week’s quiz will be pulled from

this information.

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Read the DifferenceHawthorne’s

The Scarlet Letter

• "Doomed by his own choice, therefore, as Mr. Dimmesdale so evidently was, to eat his unsavory morsel always at another’s board and endure the lifelong chill which must be his lot who seeks to warm himself only at another’s fireplace, it truly seemed that this sagacious, experienced, benevolent old physician, with his concord of paternal and reverential love for the young pastor, was the very man, of all mankind, to be constantly within reach of his voice" (9.16).

Hemingway’sThe Sun Also Rises

"It's cold.""Want to walk back?""Through the park."We climbed down. It was clouding over again. In the park it was dark under the trees."Do you still love me, Jake?""Yes," I said"Because I'm a goner," Brett said."How?""I'm a goner. I'm mad about the Romero boy. I'm in love with him, I think.""I wouldn't be if I were you.""I can't help it. I'm a goner. It's tearing me all up inside.""Don't do it.""I can't help it. I've never been able to help anything.""You ought to stop it.""How can I stop it? I can't stop things. Feel that?"Her hand was trembling."I'm like that all through.""You oughtn't to do it.""I can't help it. I'm a goner now, anyway. Don't you see the difference?""No.""I've got to do something. I've got to do something I really want to do. I've lost my self-respect."

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How did Hawthorne do on the checklist?Sentence Structure• Long v. short• Commas v. periods

Vocabulary• Simple v. complex

Content• Descriptions v. Dialogue• Feelings v. Actions

Rhetorical Devices

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How did Hemingway do on the checklist?Sentence Structure• Long v. short• Commas v. periods

Vocabulary• Simple v. complex

Content• Descriptions v. Dialogue• Feelings v. Actions

Rhetorical Devices

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Note: The Style is NOT based on what the characters are doing, but how the AUTHOR is writing.

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Hear the Difference

Hawthorne V. Hemingway

Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” Ch. 1 Read Aloud

Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises” Ch. 1 Read Aloud

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What do you notice about the differences in the way the passages read?

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Developing your style

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You already have a style of writing!• Developing your style since you first began to

write• Everyone’s style of writing is different• Different styles of writing for different purposes• Professional Writing• Persuasive Writing• Journals

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Refining your academic writing style• Do not write the way you think• Be concise• Avoid clichés• Avoid using a passive voice• Use strong vocabulary!

View this link for more in-depth list of common stylistic problems and solutions.

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Now Practice Analyzing Style!

Find your assignment here.

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