1. What is style?
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not only what a writer says but, most importantly, HOW the writer says it…
word choice
varieties of language
imagery & figures of speech
tone & voice
sentence structure

2. word choice diction – word choice
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diction – word choice
choose precise words – descriptive adj. and vivid action verbs
be aware of denotation (dictionary meaning) and connotation (emotional meaning) of words

3. varieties of language Match language to audience and purpose
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Match language to audience and purpose
formal language (academic)
informal language (every day)

4. varieties of language: informal
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idiom – common expression whose real meaning differs from literal (raining cats and dogs; let cat out of the bag)
slang – used by members of a group; colorful; out of style quickly (was’ up, dawg?; you dig it; groovy, man)
jargon – specialized language used in business/profession (teacher: GPS, IEP, QCC, SST, formative/summative)

5. imagery & figures of speech
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imagery: pictures created in reader’s mind using the 5 senses
figures of speech: creative way of saying something, not to be taken literally
Avoid clichés – overused expressions (off the wall, green with envy, wrap it up)

6. figures of speech metaphor – comparing two unlike objects
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metaphor – comparing two unlike objects
simile – comparing two unlike objects using like, as, than
personification – giving nonhuman object human characteristics

7. tone & voice/sentence structure
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tone: writer’s attitude toward a subject (sarcasm, anger, humor, etc)
portrayed by word choice, sentence structure, imagery
voice: “sound” of work based on writer’s vocabulary, sentence structure, and figurative language

8. sentence structure Conveys your tone and voice length of sentences
short, choppy = excited, angered
longer, flowing = philosophical, calm
types (simple, compound, complex, compound- complex)
structure based on audience and purpose for writing
reflect writer’s voice by his/her commonly used structure