Monologues

Objective:To analyze the use of rhetorical techniques (diction, jargon, colloquialism) for creating voice and drawing inferences about a speaker and apply these techniques to a written monologue

Lists

• Write down a hobby, activity, religious event, job, sport, recreation, or other

• Create a list of words associated with it– Example: Teaching-lesson plans, off period, CLO,

SGO, SPF, direct instruction, inquiry based…

Definitions • Voice– A writer’s or speaker’s use of language

• Colloquialism– Idiom, popular expression, vulgar• Effect: Identifies the writer’s or speaker’s culture or

background

• Jargon– Special words or expressions that are used by a

particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand• Effect: Creates a unified bond with the group or

excludes others who do not belong to the group

“Girl”• Mark the Text– Look for diction that stands out to you– Underline or highlight the words– Explain the effect• How did it make you feel?• Who uses these words?• What inferences can you make about the speaker?• What connotations do you have with the word?• What are ALL the denotative meanings? (look them up)

“Instructions for Life”

• Mark the Text– Look for diction that stands out to you– Underline or highlight the words– Explain the effect• How did it make you feel?• Who uses these words?• What inferences can you make about the speaker?• What connotations do you have with the word?• What are ALL the denotative meanings? (look them up)

Criteria

• What can you say is true for both monologues?

• What are the top three criteria for writing a monologue of this style?

Monologue

• Select one activity from your list• Write a monologue that includes the top three

criteria you have listed for a monologue of this style