DIDLS The Key to TONE Diction - the connotation of the wo.docx
- 1. DIDLS: The Key to TONE Diction - the connotation of the word choice What 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 - concrete language 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 are 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 or fact-lets. They differ from images in that they don't
- 2. 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? Is there antithesis, chiasmus, parallel construction? What emotional impression do they leave? If we are talking about poetry, what is the meter? Is there a rhyme scheme? DICTION: Laugh: guffaw, chuckle, titter, giggle, cackle, snicker, roar Self-confident: proud, conceited, egotistical, stuck-up, haughty, smug, condescending House: home, hut, shack, mansion, cabin, home, residence Old: mature, experienced, antique, relic, senior, ancient Fat: obese, plump, corpulent, portly, porky, burly, husky, full-
- 3. figured IMAGES: The use of vivid descriptions or figures of speech that appeal to sensory experiences helps to create the author's tone. My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun. (restrained) An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king. (somber, candid) He clasps the crag with crooked hands. (dramatic) Love sets you going like a fat gold watch. (fanciful) Smiling, the boy fell dead. (shocking) DETAILS: Details are most commonly the facts given by the author or speaker as support for the attitude or tone. The speaker's perspective shapes what details are given and which are not. LANGUAGE: Like word choice, the language of a passage has control over tone.
- 4. Consider language to be the entire body of words used in a text, not simply isolated bits of diction. For example, an invitation to a wedding might use formal language, while a biology text would use scientific and clinical language. • When I told Dad that I had goofed the exam, he blew his top. (slang) • I had him on the ropes in the fourth and if one of my short rights had connected, he'd have gone down for the count. (jargon) • A close examination and correlation of the most reliable current economic indexes justifies the conclusion that the next year will witness a continuation of the present, upward market trend. (turgid, pedantic) SENTENCE STRUCTURE: How a sentence is constructed affects what the audience understands. Parallel syntax (similarly styled phrases and sentences) creates interconnected emotions, feelings and ideas. Short sentences are punchy and intense. Long sentences are distancing, reflective and more
- 5. abstract. Loose sentences point at the end. Periodic sentences point at the beginning, followed by modifiers and phrases. The inverted order of an interrogative sentence cues the reader to a question and creates tension between speaker and listener. Short sentences are often emphatic, passionate or flippant, whereas longer sentences suggest greater thought. Sentence structure affects tone. 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
- 6. • changes in sentence length • sharp contrasts in diction The Literary Superpower Tool of TONE 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. DIDLS: The Key to TONE Diction - the connotation of the word choice. What 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?
- 7. Images - vivid appeals to understanding through the senses - concrete language. 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 are 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 or fact-lets. 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
- 8. 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? Is there antithesis, chiasmus, parallel construction? What emotional impression do they leave? If we are talking about poetry, what is the meter? Is there a rhyme scheme?
- 9. HOW TO IDENTIFY TONE STEP ONE: Use DIDLS STEP TWO: Begin with a simple tone such as positive, negative, neutral, philosophical, satirical. STEP THREE: Refine the tone by selecting an adjective that is more descriptive. Here is a short list of simple but helpful "tone words": Angry Sad Sentimental Afraid Sharp Cold Fanciful Detached Upset Urgent Complimentary Contemptuous Silly Joking Condescending Happy Boring Poignant Sympathetic Confused Apologetic Hollow Childish Humorous Joyful Peaceful Horrific Allusive Mocking Sarcastic Sweet Objective Nostalgic Vexed Vibrant Zealous Tired Frivolous Irrelevant Bitter
- 10. Audacious Benevolent Dreamy Shocking Seductive Restrained Somber Candid Proud Giddy Pitiful Dramatic Provocative Didactic Lugubrious Sentimental ADD MORE OF YOUR OWN TONE WORDS BELOW!! LANGUAGE: Article Review – Rubric These assignments will assist you in exploring contemporary issues in business. Topics are given for each article review. Your work will be submitted in Blackboard as an “Assignment”. ASSIGNMENT: Using a business publication, select an article that captures the assigned topic and your interest. See weekly “Course Content” for the assigned topic. Write your report: 1. Include the source: title of article, writer, and date published (15 pts) 2. Include the website link to your report OR name of printed publication (5 pts) 3. Write a two-paragraph report on the article, including: a. One paragraph summary of the article (30 pts) b. One paragraph reflection/reaction to article (50 pts) i. Why was the topic important? ii. What did you learn? iii. What was interesting, fascinating, intriguing, etc.? 4. Your report must be based on a recent news article (within the last 3 – 6 months)
- 11. a. Up to 20 points deducted for using out-of-date articles 5. Do not use Blogs. Blogs are opinion-based and subjective. a. Up to 40 points deducted for using a blog 6. No points will be given for articles that are off-topic. SOURCES Go to Blackboard, “Course Information” and click on “Business Publications” OR use any other business-related publication. The Literary Superpower Tool of Theme is: • Theme is the central, underlying, and controlling idea or insight of a work of literature. • Theme is the idea the writer wishes to convey about the subject--the writer’s view of the world or revelation about human nature. Theme is NOT: • Theme is not expressed in a single word • Theme is not the purpose of a work • Theme is not the moral • Theme is not the conflict To ascertain theme, the reader should first understand the plot, characterization, and conflict. Use the following five steps as a guide to help you write a theme for a work. 1. Summarize the plot by writing one sentence descriptions for the exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
- 12. 2. Identify the subject of the work. 3. What was the insight or truth that was learned about the subject? • How did the protagonist change? • What lesson did the protagonist learn from the resolution of the conflict? 4. How did the plot present the primary insight or truth about the subject? 5. Write one or more generalized declarative sentences that state what was learned and how it was learned. Theme litmus test Is the theme supported by evidence from the work itself? Are all the author’s choices of plot, character, conflict, and tone controlled by this theme? IDENTIFYING A THEME IN FIVE STEPS THEME DIDLS: The Key to TONE Diction - the connotation of the word choice What words does the author choose? Consider his/her word choice compared to another. Why did the author choose that particular word? What are the
- 13. connotations of that word choice? Images - vivid appeals to understanding through the senses - concrete language 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 are 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 or fact-lets. 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.
- 14. 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? Is there antithesis, chiasmus, parallel construction? What emotional impression do they leave? If we are talking about poetry, what is the meter? Is there a rhyme scheme? DICTION: Laugh: guffaw, chuckle, titter, giggle, cackle, snicker, roar Self-confident: proud, conceited, egotistical, stuck-up, haughty, smug, condescending House: home, hut, shack, mansion, cabin, home, residence Old: mature, experienced, antique, relic, senior, ancient Fat: obese, plump, corpulent, portly, porky, burly, husky, full- figured IMAGES: The use of vivid descriptions or figures of speech that appeal to sensory experiences helps to create the author's tone. My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun. (restrained) An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king. (somber, candid)
- 15. He clasps the crag with crooked hands. (dramatic) Love sets you going like a fat gold watch. (fanciful) Smiling, the boy fell dead. (shocking) DETAILS: Details are most commonly the facts given by the author or speaker as support for the attitude or tone. The speaker's perspective shapes what details are given and which are not. LANGUAGE: Like word choice, the language of a passage has control over tone. Consider language to be the entire body of words used in a text, not simply isolated bits of diction. For example, an invitation to a wedding might use formal language, while a biology text would use scientific and clinical language. • When I told Dad that I had goofed the exam, he blew his top. (slang)
- 16. • I had him on the ropes in the fourth and if one of my short rights had connected, he'd have gone down for the count. (jargon) • A close examination and correlation of the most reliable current economic indexes justifies the conclusion that the next year will witness a continuation of the present, upward market trend. (turgid, pedantic) SENTENCE STRUCTURE: How a sentence is constructed affects what the audience understands. Parallel syntax (similarly styled phrases and sentences) creates interconnected emotions, feelings and ideas. Short sentences are punchy and intense. Long sentences are distancing, reflective and more abstract. Loose sentences point at the end. Periodic sentences point at the beginning, followed by modifiers and phrases. The inverted order of an interrogative sentence cues the reader to a question and creates tension between speaker and listener.
- 17. Short sentences are often emphatic, passionate or flippant, whereas longer sentences suggest greater thought. Sentence structure affects tone. 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 The Literary Superpower Tool of TONE
- 18. 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. DIDLS: The Key to TONE Diction - the connotation of the word choice. What 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 - concrete language. 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
- 19. to which they appeal to the senses. Details - facts that are included or those that are omitted . What details are 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 or fact-lets. 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
- 20. two clauses? Do they have multiple phrases? Are they choppy? Flowing? Sinuous like a snake? Is there antithesis, chiasmus, parallel construction? What emotional impression do they leave? If we are talking about poetry, what is the meter? Is there a rhyme scheme? HOW TO IDENTIFY TONE STEP ONE: Use DIDLS STEP TWO: Begin with a simple tone such as positive, negative, neutral, philosophical, satirical.
- 21. STEP THREE: Refine the tone by selecting an adjective that is more descriptive. Here is a short list of simple but helpful "tone words": Angry Sad Sentimental Afraid Sharp Cold Fanciful Detached Upset Urgent Complimentary Contemptuous Silly Joking Condescending Happy Boring Poignant Sympathetic Confused Apologetic Hollow Childish Humorous Joyful Peaceful Horrific Allusive Mocking Sarcastic Sweet Objective Nostalgic Vexed Vibrant Zealous Tired Frivolous Irrelevant Bitter Audacious Benevolent Dreamy Shocking Seductive Restrained Somber Candid Proud Giddy Pitiful Dramatic Provocative Didactic Lugubrious Sentimental ADD MORE OF YOUR OWN TONE WORDS BELOW!! LANGUAGE:
- 22. H101 Theatrical Analysis Example Basic Information Title: Full House Season 2 Episode 3 Creators: Jeff Franklin Genre: Drama, Comedy, and Family First Aired: September 22, 1987 Audience: Age 12-20 I watched Friends on 11/23/16 through YouTube Theatrical Elements Plot: Jesse and Joey are offered a full time job that pays well. The job will be long hours and take up most of their time. They will not have any more time to spend with the girls. The girls are sad about it. Jesse and Joey need to decide if they are going to accept the job position or find a different alternative to make the job and their duties as parents work. Characters: There are five main characters in this episode of Full House. First there is Danny Tanner, he is the biological father of the three girls. He is a clean freak and always well dressed and mannered. There is Joey, who is a comedian. He stands out with his wardrobe and his personality, he has agreed to help
- 23. Danny raise his three girls. Then there is Uncle Jesse, who is the rock n roll edgy uncle. His wardrobe is very rock n roll and he has more of a rebellious personality, he also has agreed to help Danny raise the three girls. The first daughter’s name is DJ Tanner, she is a normal child that lost her mom. She is the big sister. Then there is Stephanie Tanner who has a cute personality, she is funny and is the middle child. Last there is also Michelle Tanner, she is a toddler that is barely walking and can barely talk. Thought: To never forget what your priority duties are. Don not let something else that is not as important to distract you and pull you away from what your responsibilities are. Try to find an alternative to make things work. Diction: A lot of the talks in this episode were from the heart. It gave each character to be able what they felt about the situation. Joey used humor because that was the only way he knows how to communicate which I think lightened up the show a bit to take it away a little from the sadness. Spectacle: I think filming the scenes in the house and at the work office was great. Because it two
- 24. different places Joey and Jesse need to choose where they are going to spend the majority of their time at. The office because it means work and at the house because it shows side of the family and the love they have for the three girls and what they will miss out on. Song: I feel that the music that they chose for the scenes was right for each scene. When Joey and Jesse were at the office it was more the fun up lifting music. When they though aout the money and jut the excitement of getting the job offer, but once they cooled down and took time to really see what they were going to miss out on the music got sad. The music at the house was sad, because it is where Joey and Uncle Jesse saw what they were missing out with the girls. Conclusion: 1. I believe the message from the episode really shows how much love Jesse and Joey have for the three girls. Joey and Jesse ended up accepting the job but only if they were allowed to work from home to be able to spend time with the girls as well. I think the message shows that no matter what you get offered you need to make sure you are meeting up to the requirements of your priorities first before you accept or do anything else.
- 25. 2. I feel that the writer was trying to get through to the viewers to not forget your priorities especially because of work. Or in this case it was children and their duties as guardians.