1. Focus Words Focus words are the most important content
words in a thought group!
Focus words are usually the last content word in each thought group or short sentence. I went to the MOVies.
2. Focus words are important parts of speech.

2. Focus Words
3. If there are several content words in a row, the last one gets the focus.
4. Adverbs at the end of the sentence that answer the questions where and when are often unstressed and fall in pitch.
Ex. I’m planning to leave now.

3. Focus Words
5. Structure words at the end sentences are unstressed and fall in pitch.
Ex. I’ll wait for you.
6. Speakers usually divide longer sentences with more than five or six words into more than one thought group with a focus word in each.
Ex. Some credit card COMpanies/ offer low Interest/ but they charge an annual FEE./

4. Guidelines for Shifting Focus
1. Use focus words to highlight new information.
Ex. I need some MOney. How MUCH money?
2. Use focus words to respond to a question.
Ex. Tom lost his KEYS. WHO lost his keys?

5. Guidelines for Shifting Focus
3.Use focus to disagree
Ex. Tom is going to win best actor or actress. I think Vicki is going to win.
4. Use focus to emphasize agreement
That was a great movie! That was a great movie.

6. Guidelines for Shifting Focus
5. Use focus to return a question
Ex. How is your FAMily? Fine, How is YOUR family?
6. Use focus to show contrast.
Ex. I’d rather COOK dinner than BUY it.

7. Guidelines for Shifting Focus
Use focus to show compound noun contrast.
Here is the CAR phone charger that you lost.
I lost the car PHONE, not the car phone CHARGER.
Practice p

8. Scene Work
Look at your scene. Mark the thought groups. Circle the focus words in each sentence or thought group.
Why did you choose that word?
Is it the basic focus pattern or a guideline for shifting focus? Which one?