What is tone anyway?

What is style anyway?

When analyzing text for style, the reader must focus on several different aspects including point of view/perspective, diction, syntax, figurative language, allusion, and vocabulary/jargon. When doing stylistic analysis, do not merely point out features. Explain WHY the writer has used the features and WHAT EFFECT they have on the reader.

Title of Essay: ______________________________

Writer: ___________________________________

Complete the chart below. All stylistic devices are listed; however, some of them may or may not apply to the essay you have chosen. If it is not there, you can’t analyze itJ In the example column, provide appropriate examples of the corresponding stylistic device with a reference to its location in the essay. In the effect column, explain what effect/meaning the author intended to create through the use of the corresponding stylistic device.

Stylistic Devices	Example	Effect/Meaning
Point of View/Perspective	1. 2. 3.
Diction	1. 2. 3.
Syntax	1. 2. 3.
Figurative Language	1. 2. 3.
Allusion	1. 2. 3.
Vocabulary/Jargon	1. 2. 3.

How do you think the essay would have been different had these particular stylistic devices not been used? Provide specific examples and commentary to support your reasoning.

Assignment Sheet for Analyzing Tone

What is tone anyway?

Tone is defined as the writer's or speaker's attitude toward the subject and the audience. Understanding tone in prose and poetry can be challenging because the reader doesn't have voice inflection to obscure or to carry meaning. Thus, an appreciation of word choice, details, imagery, and language all contribute to the understanding of tone. To misinterpret tone is to misinterpret meaning.

Title of Essay: ______________________________

Writer: ___________________________________

Analyzing Tone:

When analyzing tone in your essay, it is important to remember the acronym DIDLS (D iction, I mages, D etails, L anguage, S entence Structure). In addition to this acronym, it is important to pay close attention to the shift at some point in the essay. A detailed explanation of these devices is listed below:

Diction: the connotation of the word choice

Which words does the author choose? Consider his/her word choice compared to another. Why did the author choose that particular word? What are the connotations of that word choice?

Images: vivid appeals to understanding through the senses

What images does the author use? What does he/she focus on in a sensory (sight, touch, taste, smell, etc.) way? The kinds of images the author puts in or leaves out reflect his/her style? Are they vibrant? Prominent? Plain? NOTE: Images differ from detail in the degree to which they appeal to the senses.

Details: facts that are included or those that are omitted

What details does the author choose to include? What do they imply? What does the author choose to exclude? What are the connotations of their choice of details? PLEASE NOTE: Details are facts. They differ from images in that they don't have a strong sensory appeal.

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

What is the overall impression of the language the author uses? Does it reflect education? A particular profession? Intelligence? Is it plain? Ornate? Simple? Clear? Figurative? Poetic? Make sure you don't skip this step.

Sentence Structure: how structure affects the reader's attitude

What are the sentences like? Are they simple with one or two clauses? Do they have multiple phrases? Are they choppy? Flowing? Sinuous like a snake? What emotional impression do they leave?

Complete the chart below. All devices are listed; however, some of them may or may not apply to the essay you have chosen. If it is not there, you can’t analyze itJ In the example column, provide appropriate examples of the corresponding device with a reference to its location in the essay. In the effect column, explain what effect/meaning the author intended to create through the use of the corresponding device.

Devices	Example	Effect/Meaning
Diction	1. 2. 3.
Images	1. 2. 3.
Details	1. 2. 3.
Language	1. 2. 3.
Sentence Structure	1. 2. 3.

Shift in Tone: Good authors are rarely monotone. A speaker's attitude can shift on a topic, or an author might have one attitude toward the audience and another toward the subject. The following are some clues to watch for shifts in tone:

• key words (but, yet, nevertheless, however, although)

• punctuation (dashes, periods, colons)

• paragraph divisions

• changes in sentence length

• sharp contrasts in diction

Where does the shift occur in this essay? How do you know? Why do you think the shift occurs?

Assignment Sheet for Analyzing Literary Devices

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14