Analyzing DICTION Diction is simply the words the writer chooses to convey a particular meaning.
When analyzing diction, look for specific words or short phrases that seem stronger than the others (ex. Bragg’s use of slingshot instead of travel).
Diction is NEVER the entire sentence! Also, look for a pattern (or similarity) in the words the writer chooses (ex. Do the words imply sadness, happiness, etc?).
This pattern helps to create a particular kind of diction.
This pattern can also include repetition of the same words or phrases. Repeating the same word or phrase helps the reader emphasize a point, feeling, etc. Effective diction is shaped by words that are clear, concrete, and exact. Good writers avoid words like pretty, nice, and bad because they are not specific enough. Instead, they rely on words that invoke a specific effect in order to bring the reader into the event being described.
Examples: A coat isn’t torn; it is tattered. The US Army does not want revenge; it is thirsting for revenge. A door does not shut; it thuds. D
Levels of Formality
1.
“Do” a close
reading on the passage, first identifying any unusual or characteristic
words. If there are none, you are
probably reading something with a “middle style.”
2.
If words stand
out, you should be able to decide whether the passage leans to the high or low
styles. If so, pick a snazzy vocab word
to describe what kind of high or low diction it is.
Connotation
1.
Examine how the
words appear to be used—do they seem to be used like poetry, with lots of
external, thematic meanings attached, or are they more literal, like a
straightforward action story?
2.
Once you decide
which way it leans, connotative or denotative, pick some vocab words that
characterize the diction more specifically.
Miscellaneous
·
Ask yourself
about abstraction/ concreteness, what figures of speech you see, and the sounds
of the language.
Purpose
1.
Sit back for a
moment and ask yourself what purpose of the word choice appears to be
fulfilling.
2.
For example, you
can always say that it sets a tone—just make sure you have some words ready to
describe that tone.
3.
Also consider
whether the word choice is having an effect on character, symbol/theme,
setting, etc.
The topic sentence. Let’s play Madlibs!!!
“In [name of work], [Author] writes in a [connotation]
[level of formality] style. Her use of
[connotation vocab] and [level of formality vocab] language [achieves this
purpose].”
For example:
“In Heart of
Darkness, Joseph Conrad writes in a highly connotative high style. His use of abstract, poetic, and ornate
language establishes existential themes of fate and meaninglessness.”
Paragraph 2: Diction
Sentence
1
|
Topic
Sentence: It includes the word diction and links it to the tone
words.
|
Sentence
2
|
Evidence:
This sentence will use 3 words or short phrases from different parts of the
beginning of the passage that have strong connotations – they will be good
examples to support the tone words in your thesis and topic sentence.
|
Sentence
3
|
Explain
the significance of one or two of the words you quoted.
|
Sentence
4
|
Explain
the significance of the other word or words you quoted.
|
Sentence
5
|
Evidence:
This sentence will use 2 or 3 words or short phrases from different parts of
the end of the passage that have strong connotations – they will be good
examples to support the tone words in your thesis and topic sentence.
|
Sentence
6
|
Explain
the significance of one or two of the words you quoted.
|
Sentence
7
|
Explain
the significance of the other word or words you quoted.
|
Sentence
8
|
This
concluding sentence ties the ideas together and leads into the detail
paragraph.
|
Example 1
In the poem it is evident that the mother’s life has not been a “crystal stair” and her ascension has been less than favorable
as her climb is being compared to stairs with “boards torn up, “ and “bare”. To emphasize this point, instantly the reader is introduced to the image
of a beautiful light and luxurious staircase. This metaphor suggests that life
could be a smooth or easy and beautiful escalation. The denotation of crystal
is a precious and delicate mineral often associated with wealth and gift
giving. Yet as the poem progresses,
it is clear this was not the case for the speaker. Her ascent through life has been the complete
opposite of easy. Her metaphorical staircase is wooden, which one associates
with poverty, or a rustic lifestyle. However, her struggles are made more evident when she describes her
stair as being “bare,” leading to reader to believe she had no support and the
bulk of her climb was done through intrinsic motivation. The “splinters” and
“tacks” propose that her experiences in life were filled with obstacles and
disappointment.
The author’s diction heightens the power
and force behind the snake as it responds to the man, first placidly, then
aggressively. “Arrested,” the snake becomes a “live wire” after he shakes his
“little tocsin” at the man. Unmoving at first, the snake plays a waiting game
as adversary meets adversary across an imaginary line drawn in the desert. Then
a feeling of electricity jolts the reader, heart beating faster from the noise
of the warning that, like battle stations aboard a ship, calls all to readiness.
Example 3
Yet it must lose; despite its attempts to
retreat to a “paper bag bush,” the snake knows its life has been “dearly sold,”
but it remains “sinuous and self-respecting” in the man’s mind. The hiding
place is an illusion, and a costly one. The snake’s valiant behavior adds
dignity to its last moments. All involved recognize the strength of both the
man and the almost-human snake but know that responsibility and commitment to
others make killing the snake necessary.
Read Example 2A Paragraph 2 and 2B Paragraphs 2-3 from the link below:
apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/ap06_englishlang_samples_q2.pdf
Read Example 2A Paragraph 2 and 2B Paragragh 3 from the link below:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap08_eng_lit_op_q2.pdf
The following examples of diction analysis (among other things) show the various ways to be successful. They also exhibit varying writing abilities. So, success is possible for all types of writers.
Look at example 2-A. It received an 8 on the exam. The highest score possible is a 9.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/ap06_englishlit_samples_q2.pdf
Look at example 1-A. It recieved an 8 as well.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/ap06_englishlit_samples_q2.pdf
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