Scribd
Upload
56 views2 pages

AP - How To Write About Tone Diction & Syntax

The document provides instructions for writing about tone, diction, and syntax in three sentences. It introduces a formula for writing sentences that describe an author's tone, diction, or syntax using their name, an adjective, the term, a verb, a brief description, and two quoted examples. Several adjectives are also provided for tone, diction and syntax. Students are assigned to write T-D-S sentences for upcoming readings using the formula.

Uploaded by

Toast Mgee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
56 views2 pages

AP - How To Write About Tone Diction & Syntax

The document provides instructions for writing about tone, diction, and syntax in three sentences. It introduces a formula for writing sentences that describe an author's tone, diction, or syntax using their name, an adjective, the term, a verb, a brief description, and two quoted examples. Several adjectives are also provided for tone, diction and syntax. Students are assigned to write T-D-S sentences for upcoming readings using the formula.

Uploaded by

Toast Mgee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

AP English Literature Mr.

Rausch
How to Write about Tone, Diction and Syntax
Here’s the deal…
In the course of many arguments with mom & dad, tearful heart-to-hearts with that special someone and
the 1.7 million advertisements an average American your age has seen, you will hopefully have noticed that
subtle differences in the way a person uses language can reveal that person’s background, personality and
intentions. Even if you’ve spent some time observing and thinking about these differences, however, you may
still find it difficult to discuss them with any specificity. This assignment is a first step toward writing about
tone, diction and syntax – three of the rhetorical elements that contribute most to each person’s unique use of
language.

The Magic Formula for Writing Sentences about Tone, Diction and Syntax…
In much the same way that professional musicians began with simple scales, we will begin writing about
rhetoric with simple, formulaic sentences. Over time you should revise and expand the formula to reflect your
growing understanding, but for now try following it as precisely as possible.

1. the author’s name (as a possessive adjective)


2. an appropriate adjective (e.g. sophisticated, childlike, humorous, objective, repetitive,
etc.)
3. the relevant term – tone, diction, or syntax
4. a strong verb (e.g. demonstrates, creates, emphasizes, generates, fulfills, advocates, etc.)
5. a very brief description of what these choices DO for the writing
6. two short examples quoted from the text you are analyzing

EXAMPLE ONE (tone):


Coffin’s folksy tone enhances the nostalgic portrait of Uncle Amos with phrases such
as “good solid pounds” and “averagest man.”

EXAMPLE TWO (diction):


Andrist’s snazzy diction recreates the dynamic personality of General Custer with
choices such as “flamboyant” and “teetotaler.”

A Few More Adjectives…

TONE DICTION SYNTAX

informal inventive parallel


light sparkling conversational
subjective balanced straightforward
informative flashy elaborate
impartial colloquial balanced
simple folksy convoluted
casual academic dense
reasoned overeducated fragmented
balanced nostalgic

The Assignment…
For each of the next several readings, write a T-D-S sentence following the “magic formula” above.
Please include these T-D-S sentences in your reading logs for these readings and be prepared to share your
sentences with the class.

You might also like