• Visualize / picture this in your head:• 1. “The big monkey sat on the ground with

his belly extending in front of him.”

• Now this:• 2. “The grossly obese orangutan sat

immobilized with its rolls of belly fat spilling all over the ground in front of him.

• What description matches this picture the best?

• The second description is a more accurate description of this picture because of the author’s use of “diction” or word choice.

Diction refers to the author’s choice of words. *To help you remember that diction means word choice, think of where you can look to choose from a number of words - the dictionary.

The words you (or any writer) choose to use in your writing can have a profound effect on how your reader interprets your work.

• Describe this image in 2-3 sentences.

• Its amazing how one image can be described in some many different ways - thus it is important to make sure you are using the right / best words to make sure your reader’s do not misinterpret or understand your writing.

When analyzing diction, consider such questions as:

• Is the language concrete or abstract?• Are the words monosyllabic or polysyllabic?• Do the words have interesting connotations?• Is the diction formal or colloquial?• Is there any change in the level of diction in the

passage?• What can the reader infer about the speaker or the

speaker’s attitude from the word choice?

What are some of the conclusions we can draw from these answers?• Concrete?• Abstract?• Monosyllabic words• Polysyllabic words• Formal• Colloquial• Change in type of

diction?

• Childlike• Mature thinking• Intellectually inferior• Sophisticated• Educated• Illiterate• Does this indicate an

epiphany?

Denotation means the literal, dictionary definition of the word – plump and obese both mean caloricly challenged

Connotation means the implied or suggested meaning attached to a word, or the emotional “tag” that goes along with the word.

Corpulent, plump, obese, heavy set, fleshy, fat, paunchy, burly, over-weight, roly poly, bulky, portly, weighty, pudgy

Which word do we use to insult someone?Which one do we use to describe someone we like?Which one do we use to describe a cute little baby?

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• What is tone?• Tone is the attitude the writer has towards

his/her topic.• What is the tone of this passage:

• My hand trembled as I tried to properly position the cold metal nozzle. Beads of sweat dripped from my brow and onto the firing mechanism. My index finger itched as my breathing intensified. I took a deep breath in and finally pulled the trigger.

The choice of diction contributes to the tone

When discussing tone, consider such questions as:

• What seems to be the speaker’s attitude in the passage?

• Is more than one attitude or point of view expressed?

• Does the passage have a noticeable emotional mood or atmosphere?

• Can anything in the passage be described as irony?

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé and their wedding plans.

What are the specific words that create the feeling of the sentence? What words did the author use to create the feeling of the sentence?

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé and their wedding plans.

Bouncing – lit – joyous – glow – fiancé - wedding

What kind of words are these?

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé and their wedding plans.

____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

Cheerful diction contributes to the euphoric tone.

Or uplifting diction contributes to the joyful tone.

She huddled in the corner, clutching her tattered blanket and shaking convulsively, as she feverishly searched the room for the unknown dangers that awaited her.

____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

frightening diction contributes to the alarming tone.

TONETONE

TONE is simply the author’s attitude TONE is simply the author’s attitude toward the subject. toward the subject.

You can recognize the tone/attitude by the You can recognize the tone/attitude by the language/word choices the author uses. language/word choices the author uses. His language will reveal his His language will reveal his perspective/opinion (that is, whether it is perspective/opinion (that is, whether it is positive/negative) about the subject.positive/negative) about the subject.

Tone Example Tone Example    The girls were playing in the pond, splashing The girls were playing in the pond, splashing

each other and trying to catch fish with their hands. each other and trying to catch fish with their hands. They were having fun, but kept looking over their They were having fun, but kept looking over their shoulders at the looming forest. The long grass of the shoulders at the looming forest. The long grass of the field kept moving and they sort of felt like they were field kept moving and they sort of felt like they were being watched… About a half hour passed and still being watched… About a half hour passed and still the girls kept checking the field for movements. It the girls kept checking the field for movements. It seemed like a pair of dark eyes was on them. They seemed like a pair of dark eyes was on them. They even considered going back inside, but that would even considered going back inside, but that would mean homework time. So they continued splashing, mean homework time. So they continued splashing, but with caution now. Their eyes hardly left the field.but with caution now. Their eyes hardly left the field.

The The tonetone of this passage is of this passage is ominousominous, suggesting a little , suggesting a little bit of bit of fear or forebodingfear or foreboding.. Words like "caution, dark, Words like "caution, dark, and looming“ lead readers to the tone.and looming“ lead readers to the tone.

TONE EXAMPLETONE EXAMPLE

Finally, one of the girls pointed to the grass and Finally, one of the girls pointed to the grass and giggled. "Meow!" A cat sat on the edge of the giggled. "Meow!" A cat sat on the edge of the field and licked its paw. They did indeed have field and licked its paw. They did indeed have company. The girls ran over to the cat and pet company. The girls ran over to the cat and pet his belly. They laughed and the cat sauntered his belly. They laughed and the cat sauntered back to the field. back to the field.

The The tonetone of this passage is happy/contentment as of this passage is happy/contentment as there was a successful, happy resolution to the there was a successful, happy resolution to the problem.problem.

TONETONESo, let’s TONE our brain muscles So, let’s TONE our brain muscles

with descriptive vocabulary with descriptive vocabulary exercises!!exercises!!

BitterBitter SeriousSerious WittyWitty PlayfulPlayful TenderTender SympatheticSympathetic HauntingHaunting MysteriousMysterious SuspensefulSuspenseful

Tasteful/Tasteful/distastefuldistasteful

NonchalantNonchalant Angry Angry Attached/Attached/

DetachedDetached InnocentInnocent PoignantPoignant CompassionateCompassionate HumorousHumorous Gore-yGore-y

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Attitude is EverythingAttitude is Everything

What tone is conveyed in this What tone is conveyed in this narrative?narrative?

What words are used to help convey What words are used to help convey that tone?that tone?

How is dialogue used to help convey How is dialogue used to help convey the tone?the tone?

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Romeo Dallaire and Aron Romeo Dallaire and Aron RalstonRalston

What tones were conveyed in the two What tones were conveyed in the two narratives we have already looked narratives we have already looked at?at?

What words helped convey these What words helped convey these tones?tones?

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I Know it’s an Object, but is I Know it’s an Object, but is it D’art?it D’art?

What tone is conveyed in this What tone is conveyed in this narrative?narrative?

What words are used to help convey What words are used to help convey this tone?this tone?

How is dialogue used to help convey How is dialogue used to help convey this tone?this tone?

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Power Personal WritingPower Personal Writing

You have one minute to retell an You have one minute to retell an experience / event from your experience / event from your weekend - most words winsweekend - most words wins

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ToneTone

What tone does your personal power What tone does your personal power writing convey?writing convey?

Switch your writing with a partner - if Switch your writing with a partner - if you are a “number one”, you must you are a “number one”, you must rewrite your partner’s work in a rewrite your partner’s work in a positive tone, if you are a “number positive tone, if you are a “number two” you must rewrite your partner’s two” you must rewrite your partner’s work in a “negative tone”work in a “negative tone”

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MOODMOOD

MOOD is the overall feelings or MOOD is the overall feelings or emotions that are created IN THE emotions that are created IN THE READER. READER.

The “power of the pen” can move The “power of the pen” can move mountains. mountains.

Authors “move” their readers’ moods Authors “move” their readers’ moods through their choice of words and through their choice of words and level of detail.level of detail.

She lay on the couch in a white evening dress, whispering softly in the ear of her fiancé, running her fingers through his hair and gently nibbling his earlobe.

____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

suggestive diction contributes to the seductive tone.

Harvard accepted her, allowing this child the opportunity to study in the same halls as the many famous scholars before her, giving her the chance to excel in her field in the best college in the United States.

____ diction contributes to the ____ tone. lofty diction contributes to the elevated tone.

Bursting through the door, the flustered mother hollered uncontrollably at the innocent teacher who gave her child an F.

____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

fierce diction contributes to the antagonistic tone.

Drawing the attention of his classmates, as well as his teacher, the student dared to experiment with his professor’s intelligence by interrogating him about the Bible.

____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

challenging diction contributes to the confrontational tone.

He furtively glanced behind him, for fear of his imagined pursuers, then hurriedly walked on, jumping at the slightest sound, even of a leaf crackling under his own foot.

____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

threatening diction contributes to the frantic tone.

Gently smiling, her mother tenderly tucked the covers up around the child’s neck, and carefully, quietly, left the room, making sure to leave a comforting ray of light shining through the opened door should the child awake.

____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

loving diction contributes to the serene tone.

The laughing wind skipped through the village, teasing the trees until they danced with anger and cajoling the grass into fighting itself, blade slapping blade, as the silly dog with golfball eyes and flopping, tongue bounded across the lawn.

____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

humorous diction contributes to the happy-go-lucky tone.

Remember………………………What kind of words are there?

And how do they make you feel?

Abhorrent abrupt accusing accusatory admonitory bantering bitter boring brash bucolic calm cautious

childish coarse cold colloquial concerned despairing desperate disdainful disgusted ecstatic effusive

elated elegiac eloquent embittered erudite exuberant foreboding gloomy harsh haughty hopeful humbleindignant inflammatory irreverent irritated ironic

joking joyful light loving miserable melancholicnervous nostalgic optimistic outraged paranoid passionate

patronizing pedantic peaceful pessimistic pitiful pleasant playful proud pompous pretentious questioning

reflective reminiscent resigned romantic sadsanctimonious sarcastic sardonic scornful sentimental

serene serious sharp shocked silly solemn somber soothing snobbish snooty sympathetic taunting turgid vexed

vibrant whimsical angry anxious appreciative apologetic arrogant audacious condemning dark condescending

contemptuous dreamy mocking moralistic mournful persuasivepiquant cynical compassionate confidant

See…………

The more words you know to describe passages, the more sophisticated your descriptions will be when you analyze authors’ writing

And one last tip………..Never, never, never, never, never say:

“the author uses diction”do you mean – the author chooses words?

Well, duh!!!!!!

Always say:the author uses ______(what kind of) diction

indignant? dark? euphoric?Describe it!!!!!!