1. Writing a Diction Paragraph
How to construct concrete details and commentary for an analysis of diction

2. Review Terms
Tone, Diction, Connotation, Denotation

3. Writing a CD for a diction paragraph—after reading a specific passage
First, consider a tone/mood. Name it. You will have to consider the subject as well. Speculate on purpose. (This would actually be named in your thesis or topic sentence)
Find three words, phrases, or examples of figurative language whose denotations or connotations give insight into your tone, or that suggest a particular purpose.
Weave these words or phrases together into a CD sentence which identifies your tone from part A.

4. Example EX: Tones: disdainful; critical
EX: Tones: disdainful; critical
CD: For example, words like “dragged” and “torn”, and comparisons to Science as a “vulture” all serve to highlight Poe’s disdainful attitude toward Science.
CD: In contrast/In addition…words such as __________, and _______________ are indicative of Poe’s critical stance on Science as well.

5. Commentary
The goal of commentary here is to explain how/why the highly connotative words or phrases you selected in your CD sentence are indicative of a particular tone.
This can be accomplished through a discussion of the connotations and denotations of a given word or phrase.

6. Example Commentary
By metaphorically referring to Science as a “vulture”, Poe gives the impression that Science is attempting to pick apart the magic of the world, leaving only the bare bones of logic and fact. Also, the verbs “dragged” and “torn” both connote that the mystery of the world was removed by force and is therefore not desirable to Poe.

7. Topic Sentence Topic sentence (should give a focus to the paragraph)
Should include the word “diction” or a synonym
Name 2 complimentary or opposite tones
Mention the subject
Mention the purpose

8. Example TS
In a scathing critique of science, Poe’s diction and figurative language reveal his critical and disdainful attitude toward science, primarily for the reason that Science has taken some of the magic and mystery out of his world.

9. CS
A good CS will restate the tones and the TS, but not in the same exact way. CS is more reflective, and often, in a larger essay, includes a transition.