Style: The tool we use to "study the masters of literature."* *The Elements of Style by WIlliam Strunk Jr. All images are borrowed from nataliedee.com

What is style?

The choices a writer makes regarding words, phrases, and sentences Style expresses meaning

Elements of Style: 1) Jargon 2) Words (Diction and Description) 3) Active versus Passive Voice 4) Syntax 5) Imagery 6) Literary Devices

Jargon Nonsensical, incoherent, or meaningless talk   A hybrid language or dialect The specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group. (Medical Journals) Speech or writing having unusual or pretentious vocabulary, convoluted phrasing, and vague meaning

What's the Importance of Jargon? To establish tone Used for Characterization (Benjy in The Sound and the Fury) Establish one's status in a community (Medical Journal) It's used purposefully (Huckleberry Finn) and subconsciously (Review your own writing)

  In the ascertainment of an excogitation of linguistic proclivity, one might ascribe to the mentation that a phratry exists in which some encyclopedists designedly cultivate a nonpulsed ambience hypothecated to befuddle the vox populi.

What did you just say?!?! Judging from the words some people use, you'd think they purposely write to confuse the average person.

Need another--perhaps personal--example?

Syntax, Syntax, Sytax Things to consider: --Active vs. Passive Voice --Sentence structure  --Parallel Structure --Punctuation

Active vs.Passive Voice  Active Voice: Doer          Action           Receiver The Lab technician filtered the solution   **Active voice creates vivid and expressive sentences. Very important for persuasion!**

Receiver Action (BY DOER) Passive Voice Receiver      Action (BY DOER) The Solution was filtered by the lab technician **Extensive use of the passive voice makes style dull and wordy. It can, however, be used as a stylistic device to set a tone.**

Sentences Sentences Simple Sentence: has a single independent clause.   Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson struggled to save the Union.

Compound Sentence Has two clauses, each of which could exist as a simple sentence if you removed the coordinating conjunction. Abraham Lincoln struggled to save the Union, and Andrew Johnson assisted him.

Two Clauses: one independent and one subordinate to the main clause. Complex Sentence Two Clauses: one independent and one subordinate to the main clause.   When the leaders of the Confederacy insisted that the rights of the states were more important than the maintenance of the Union, Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson struggled to save the Union and persevered

Compound-Complex Has defining features of both compound and complex sentences.   When the leaders of the Confederacy insisted tha tthe rights of the state were more important than the maintenance of the Union,  Abraham Lincoln struggled to save the Union and persevered, and Andrew Johnson assisted him. 

Let's Practice!!!

I found a tiny banana one day.

I was going to eat the tasty treat; however, I began to ponder the possibilities of the banana’s origin.

Struck by a sudden epiphany, I called a pomologist who directed me to an encyclopedia; upon close investigation, I discovered I had a rare and wonderful fruit in my hand: a rajapuri!

Although I was bewildered by its size, I decided it would make a tasty mid-day treat!

Why does this matter? A short simple sentence effectively makes a succinct point. A compound sentence shows how ideas are balanced and related in terms of importance. Compound and compound complex  sentences show complicated relationships between ideas.

Cumulative Sentences The main clause (sentence) is followed by a number of descriptive phrase. The walrus could live his entire life on an ice burg, curled, listening to music, pondering about life's absurdities, musing about the evening's meal........

Structural Distinction: Loose vs. Periodic Sentences A basic, simple sentence: Abraham Lincoln wept.   Loose Sentence: a basic sentence with details added immediately at the end of the basic sentence elements. Example: Abraham Lincoln wept, fearing the Union would not survive if the southern states seceded.

Periodic Sentence: additional details are placed in one of two basic positions: either before the basic sentence elements or in the middle of them. Example: Abraham Lincoln, alone in his study, lost in somer thoughts about his beloved country, dejected but not broken in spirit, wept.

Why do we use these sentences? 1) To understand meaning more clearly.   2) Loose sentences move quickly. Several loose sentences can make prose gallop along. Provides crisp, businesslike, and efficient sentences. 3) A periodic sentence works with delay--it postpones completing the sentence until after it has provided the details. Provides balanced, deliberate, and thoughtful sentences.

Creates a measured, deliberate, and balanced passage Parallel Structure Parallelism: when a passage, paragraph, or sentence contains two or more ideas that are fulfilling a similar function Creates a measured, deliberate, and balanced passage Expresses ideas in the same grammatical form

Examples In these moments, Rivka discovers the bitter truth that her husband had lived, her son had died, and Herman had deceived her about the letters. What happens to a leading writer after he gets a MacArthur genius grant, wins a Getty Fellowship, and has a book in the number-one position on the non-fiction bestseller list? (three elements as verbs followed by direct objects)

Punctuation: it regulates the flow of information Period: separates independent clauses with finality   Semi-Colon: provides a less distinct separation and indicates that a regulated thought will follow. This indicates equal phrases.

Colon: signals anticipation Colon: signals anticipation. Tells readers what comes next will define, illustrate, or explain what you have just read. Colons can be causal.   Comma: Allows sentences to flow. Separates parts of a sentence for a reason. Dash: sentence interrupter, used to announce a series or elaborate on a previous idea. 

Diction A writer's choice of words, particularly for clarity, effectiveness, and precision (thank you, google) Denotation and Connotation Parallelism  Antithesis  Repetition

Types of Diction General vs. specific (physical health benefits vs. cardiovascular benefits) Concrete vs. abstract (chair and eyeball vs. love and pride) Formal vs. informal (cease vs. stop) 

Schemes and Tropes

Balance Schemes Antithesis: engaged yet attached Parenthesis: When The Office is canceled--oh sorrowful day!--my life becomes a little duller. Appositives: Ms. Frohnaple, an Office zealot, needs a Dwight bobble-head.

Omission Schemes.....

Scheme: any artful variation from the typical arrangement or words in a sentence.   Trope: any artful variation form the typical or expected way a word or idea is expressed 

.... heighten and accelerate the rhythm of a sentence so that the readers will pay attention to the dramatic effect of the prose. Ellipses: any omission of words, the meaning of which is provided by the overall context of the message.   example.....

In a hockey play, if you pass the puck to the wing, and he to you, then you can close in on the goal. Asyndeton: an omission of conjuctions between related clauses Example: I skated, I shot, I scored, I cheered--what a glorious moment of sport!

Repetition Schemes Alliteration Assonance Anaphora: rep. of same group of words at the beginning of successive clauses: Exercise builds stamina in young children; exercise builds stamina in teenagers and young adults; exercise builds stamina in older adults and senior citizens.

Epistrophe: rep. of the same group of words at the end of successive clauses: To become a top-notch player, I thought like an athlete, trained like an athlete, and ate like an athlete.  Anadiplosis: rep. of the last word of one cluase at the beginning of teh following clause: Mental preparation leads to training; training build muscle tone and coordination; muscle tone coordination....

Climax: rep. of words, phrases, or clauses in order of increasing number or importance Excellent athletes need to be respectful of themselves; their teammates, their schools, and their communities.

Never FORGET Imagery Visual Auditory Tactile (sense of touch) Olfactory (sense of smell) Gustatory (sense of taste)