Diction

choice of words, especially with regard to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. Any of the four generally accepted levels of diction-formal, informal, colloquial, or slang-may be correct in a particular context but incorrect in another or when mixed unintentionally. Most ideas have a number of alternate words that the writer can select to suit his purposes. "Children," "kids," "youngsters," "youths," and "brats," for example, all have different evocative values

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Example:

Diction will be effective only when the words you choose are appropriate for the audience and purpose, when they convey your message accurately and comfortably. The idea of comfort may seem out of place in connection with diction, but, in fact, words can sometimes cause the reader to feel uncomfortable. You've probably experienced such feelings yourself as a listener--hearing a speaker whose words for one reason or another strike you as inappropriate."


(Martha Kolln, Rhetorical Grammar. Allyn and Bacon, 1999)
 
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Stylistic Techniques

I. Dress-Up




1. who-which clause
2. "ly"
3. because clause
4. strong verb
5. quality adjective
6. when, while, where, as, since, if, although clause



II. Sentence Openers



1. subject
2. prepositional
3. "ly"
4. "ing"
5. clausal
6. vss



(Advanced: @ "ed")



Minimum Rule: Each one in every paragraph as possible, no more than two of the same in a row.



III. Decorations



1. question 4. dramatic opening - closing
2. conversation 5. simile - metaphor
3. 3sss 6. alliteration



IV. Sentence Styles: Triple Extensions



1. word repetition
2. phrase & clausal repetition
3. repeating "ings" consecutive or spaced
4. repeating "lys" consecutive or spaced
5. repeating adjectives or nouns

6. repeating verbs consecutive or spaced

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Connotative Meaning

Connotative Meaning is the meaning of a symbol that is personal to an individual and not shared. For example, when I was a young child, my father was the warden of a small 3 cell prison located in the Montana wasteland near the Canadian border.

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Denotative Meaning

Denotative Meaning is the meaning of an symbol that is shared by a group of people. If you say the word,"dog," most English speakers will point to the same type of animal. Denotative meaning is what makes symbols work for communication.

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Rhetorical devices

Rhetorical devices and literary techniques are closely related to tone and style. In fact, an author’s style partly consists of selecting and using certain devices; an author’s tone is partially determined by the type of techniques an author uses.

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