11 AP Tone, Diction and Devices Packet

Name: 11 AP – Tone, Diction and Devices Packet

TONE Overview Tone… -Is the manner in which an author expresses his or her attitude; the intonation of the voice that expresses meaning -Describes the author’s attitude toward his or her material, the audience, or both -Is easier to determine in spoken language than written language (the reader does not have voice inflection to carry meaning). Thus, deciphering tone requires close attention to word choice, details, imagery, and language. -Tone is described by adjectives, and the possibilities are nearly endless. Often a single adjective will not be enough, and tone may change or shift from chapter to chapter or stanza to stanza or even line to line. -Considering how a work would sound if it were real aloud can help in identifying an author’s tone. -To misinterpret tone is to misinterpret meaning, assertion and tone must match

How to Use Tone Essay: Green

Assertion: In his 1861 speech at the onset of the Civil War, Alfred M. Green urges his fellow African Americans to look beyond the past injustices the United States has inflicted upon them and to join the Union forces to fight for a more equal and just American Republic.

1. Based on your close reading of the text, decide the tone

Inspirational

2. Choose a sentence or two that communicates the tone

“Let us, then, take up the sword, trusting in God, who dill defend the right, remembering that these are other than the days of yore; that the world today is on the side of freedom and universal political equality.”

3. Recall the definition of the tone word and think of synonyms

Inspirational: uplifting and optimistic; granting divine power to

4. Use the words from the definition/synonyms to explain how the sentence (that you have chosen in step 2) either advances the assertion and/or affects the audience and connects to the purpose.

Green’s inspirational tone offers an optimistic future, one of “freedom” and “universal political equality,” that his audience might strive for. According to Green, those who “take up the sword” with him will join in a divine struggle and will stand alongside God to “defend the right,” building a sense of hope that will drive his audience to enlist.

Words that Describe Tone

Whimsical: playfully quaint or fanciful in an appealing and amusing way; acting or behaving in a capricious manner

Dramatic: arresting or forceful Informative: providing useful or interesting information

Somber: gloomy; oppressively solemn or sober

Urgent: requiring immediate action or attention; pressing; earnest

Inspirational: uplifting and optimistic; granting divine power to

Objective: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts; impartial

Elegiac: having a mournful quality; sorrow for something long past

Disdainful: showing contempt or lack of respect for an individual regarded as beneath oneself

Indignant: feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

Cynical: believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity;

Didactic: intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive;

Factual: concerned with what is actually the case rather than interpretations of or reactions to it

Angry: wild and stormy; wrath; indignation; rage; ire; vitriol, fume

Concerned: interested; troubled or anxious

Complimentary: conveying or expressing praise, commendation or admiration

Contemptuous: expressing disdain, or scorn, or intense disgust

Compassionate: to have sorrow for suffering with helpful intent; pity, deep sympathy

Impartial: favoring none more than another; without prejudice; just; fair, unbiased

Sentimental: having or showing tender, gentle, or delicate feelings, but sometimes in an excessive or maudlin way; influenced more by emotion than reason

Candid: honest, outspoken; unbiased, impartial; frank, genuine

Insolent: boldly rude or disrespectful; impertinent

Contentious: tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome

Condescending: to deal with others in a proud or haughty way

Facetious: lightly joking, usually at an inappropriate time; jocose, jocular Clinical: purely scientific; dispassionately curious; objective, detached

Inflammatory: rousing or likely to rouse excitement or violence; vehement, fiery

Benevolent: doing or inclined to do good; charitable

Satiric: use of ridicule, sarcasm, or irony to expose, attack or deride vices, follies, stupidities or abuses with the hope of correcting the problem

DICTION Overview Diction… -Is deliberate word choice -Certain words invoke emotion, imagery, opinion, so authors use them to help convey their argument

How to Use Diction

Essay: Green

1. Choose a word that you want to focus on.

Freedom

2. Choose a synonym and state that the word “suggests” or “connotes” the synonym.

Liberation, a political right, equality

3. Choose a quote that contains the word.

“…that the world today is on the side of freedom and universal political equality; that the way cry of the howling leaders of Secession and treason is: ‘Let us drive back the advance guard of civil and religious freedom.’”

4. Use the definition and techniques of logic or rhetoric along with the synonym to explain how the sentence affects the argument and/or audience and advances the purpose.

Green’s repetition of the word “freedom” emphasizes that the Union fights for liberation and equality while the Confederacy would seek to continue depriving African Americans of political rights. If his audience hopes to secure a better future for themselves and their children, they must choose to fight for the Union. RHETOERICAL DEVICES Overview -A device is a technique the author uses to help convey his/her message -When choosing devices, look for words, lines, or phrases that JUMP out at you. -When picking out devices, it is more important to identify that the writer is using a device than being able to specifically name the device (see packet)… pick out words or phrases that stick with you and convince you that the author’s argument is right. In other words, it’s better to pick out a good quote than a device. DO NOT DEVICE HUNT. -If you do not know the technical term for a device you can always refer to it in the following ways…

The writer’s phrase “______” convinces the audience that…

The word “_____”suggests a secretive act. The writer uses this diction to show that the opposition is secretly….

The word “______” suggests a childlike behavior. This intentional language characterizes the opposition as childish.

-Determine the purpose of a device… (VERY IMPORTANT) A rhetorical device is a word or phrase that does one or two things: 1) advances the writer’s argument If a device advances the author’s assertion it… -Moves the main argument forward -Provides evidence or reasoning as to why the assertion is true -Negates the opposing side to show why the argument in the text is correct -Explains why the argument in the text is correct

2) affects the audience… sometimes they can do both If a device affects the audience it… -Makes the audience feel an emotion that sways them to buy into the author’s argument -Makes the audience trust the credentials/authority of the author/text -Makes the audience question the opposing argument -When you decide if a device advances the assertion and/or affects the audience, answer the corresponding question below IN DETAIL. -How does the device advance the writer’s assertion? -How does the device affect the audience to buy the assertion? *Connect the device to BUZZWORDS from your section purpose or assertion How to Analyze Devices

Essay: Green

1. Identify a good quote or device. Choose what part from the essay you will use as a quote. In order to identify with and establish a connection to his African American audience, Green uses inclusive pronouns when he acknowledges: “It is true that our injuries in many respects are great; fugitive-slave laws, Dred Scott decisions, indictments for treason, and long dreary months of imprisonment.”

2. Clarify what the quote is saying. Green deliberately grouping himself with his audience when he refers to “our injuries” to make them feel that he speaks to them from their own position instead of one that is condescending and superior. He lets his audience know that he understands and identifies with the hardship and inequality they experience.

3. Explain the impact of the quote on the assertion and/or audience. Use buzzwords from the section purpose or assertion to ensure you have connected the device back to the assertion. The audience trusts Green as someone who knows what they have endured, which prevents them from scoffing at his request that they serve a country that has not treated them well. Green’s crucial acknowledgement of such inequality allows him to then relay the message that although African Americans have been slapped down by their country, they must commit to fighting for it.

Rhetorical Devices

The Basics

Style—An evaluation of the sum of the choices the author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other devices. ex. flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, laconic, etc.

Diction—deliberate word choice, especially with attention to correctness, clearness, and effectiveness. -formal vs. informal -ornate vs. plain Note: Avoid saying “the author uses diction.” That’s like saying “a painter uses paint.” Instead, use adjectives and tone words to describe the author’s diction.

Syntax—the away an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. When analyzing syntax, consider: -length or brevity of sentences -unusual sentence constructions -sentence patterns -kinds of sentences (questions, declarations, exclamations, etc.) Ask yourself what kind of sentences the author uses, and then ask how the author’s choices amplify meaning.

Tone—describes the author’s attitude towards his or her subject, the audience, or both. Devices Involving Balance

Parallelism—the use of the same grammatical structure for similar items -Suggests equal importance of items -Sounds measured and deliberate -Adds balance, rhythm, clarity ex. Government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Antithesis—parallelism used to juxtapose words, phrases, or clauses that contrast

-Used to point out differences, rather than similarities -Through parallel structure, still adds balance, clarity, rhythm ex. To err is to human; to forgive is divine Devices Involving Repetition A good writer is never repetitive. A good writer does, however, utilize repetition to: -Lead the reader to pay closer attention to the prose -Cause the reader to see the writer as purposeful, forceful, and artistic.

Repetition—the use of a word or phrase two or more times in close proximity

Anaphora—the repetition of the same group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, phrases, or sentences. ex. To raise a happy, healthy, and hopeful child, it takes a family; it takes teachers; it takes clergy; it takes business people; it takes community leaders; it takes those who protect our health and safety. It takes all of us.

Alliteration—the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning or in the middle of two or more words ex. I think we need a bigger box.

Devices that use Figurative Language

Metaphor—compares two different things by speaking of one in terms of the other. -Asserts that one thing is the other, the strongest possible comparison. ex. Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.”

Simile—a comparison between two different things that resemble one another using “like” or “as” -Can be used as an adjective (The gear has a flower-like symmetry to it) -Can be negative, showing two things that are unlike -Can be created using comparison (His speech was smoother than butter) ex. Charging a man with murder in this place was like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500. I took the mission. What the hell else was I gonna do?

Synecdoche—part of something is used to refer to the whole. ex. If I had some wheels, I’d cruise around town all night.

Metonymy—referring to something by something else associated in meaning or concept ex. “Hollywood” for the film industry. Hyperbole—deliberate exaggeration or overstatement ex. I’m going to kill you!

Personification—giving human qualities to inanimate objects ex. The ground thirsts for rain; the wind whispered secrets to us.

Oxymoron—pairing two contradictory terms ex. plastic silverware, partially complete

Paradox—a statement that appears to be contradictory but is actually true ex. My only love sprung from my only hate.

Other terms and devices

Allegory—using a story to symbolically represent or explain something. ex. Creation myths

Allusion—A reference to a person, place, thing, or work of art that the author expects the reader to know

Analogy—making a concept or idea clear by showing its similarity to a more familiarize concept ex. Three strikes laws

Anecdote—a brief, humorous, usually personal story that helps illustrate a point

Cause and effect—Presenting a cause (or action) and effect (or result) to logically explain the connection or lack of connection between the two ex. Mr. O’Connor dropped the glass and the glass broke. Mr. O’Connor dropping the glass caused it to break.

Caricature—A description that greatly exaggerates specific features.

Classification—Breaking down items into categories ex. The 99%/The 1%

Colloquialism: a slang word or expression ex. ya’ll, There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

Concession—an acknowledgement of an unavoidable/inevitable point

Correction/Refutation—pointing out and fixing an incorrect or limited belief

Direct address—to speak to directly to the audience in a way that implies individual responsibility even if the speaker is addressing a group. ex. I want YOU to join the army!

Example-- a specific instance that helps prove a point (hypothetical, concrete, anecdotal)

Euphemism—a less offensive substitute for an unpleasant word ex. Kick the bucket

Imagery—descriptive language used to create a sense experience

Inclusive Pronoun Choice—When the speaker purposefully uses pronouns like “we” and “our” to establish a collective relationship with the audience

Inversion— reversing the normal order of elements in a sentence to emphasize part of the sentence ex. Destroy the Sith, we must.

Irony—contrast between expectation/reality or what is said/what is meant

Juxtaposition—deliberately putting two ideas next to one another to invite comparison or contrast

List—a number of examples given one after or another to demonstrate a pattern

Parody—a work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule ex. The Daily Show, The Onion

Rhetorical question—a question that is asked merely for effect and is not meant to be answered ex. Do I look like an idiot?