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!**
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.
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 midday 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.
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. 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)