AP Exam Resource: Analyzing Syntax, Diction, & Tone
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Analyzing Syntax, Diction, & Tone THINGS TO KNOW Avoid saying, “The author uses diction,” or, “… uses tone,” or, “…uses syntax,” in your analysis essays. Discuss HOW the author uses SYNTAX to create TONE, EMPHASIZE ideas, set PACING, or create MOOD. Discuss HOW the author uses DICTION to create TONE or PERSONA. Discuss HOW the author uses TONE to create MOOD or PERSONA. Use as many of these as you can in your daily conversation, grammar activity sentences, timed writes, etc. Memorize a list of 20 to 30 “go to” words that cover a range of meanings. SYNTAX WORDS (Only analyze syntax if it creates an effect.) simple sentence imperative sentence compound sentence interrogative sentence complex sentence interruption compound-complex sentence inversion declarative sentence juxtaposition exclamatory sentence loose/cumulative sentence periodic sentence balanced sentence parallel structure repetition rhetorical question short or long patterns MOOD WORDS (Sometimes tone can set a mood.) bleak dismal haunting dark eerie lonely delirious elegiac ominous reproachful satiric serene soothing suspenseful tense threatening uplifting whimsical SPEAKER WORDS (Sometimes you need to describe the speaker.) absorbed arrogant conceited dishonest aggressive bitter conniving easygoing aloof bored curious envious ambitious carefree deceitful exacting amorous careless demure frantic anxious cautious detached fretful apathetic churlish devious gregarious argumentative compassionate devoted intelligent irritable loquacious manipulative mendacious naïve nervous noble outgoing patient picky scrupulous self-involved sincere sloppy spontaneous suspicious talkative testy uninvolved unpredictable vindictive welcoming wise worried DICTION WORDS (The author uses this kind of diction…) abstract concrete euphonious informal academic connotative everyday insincere ambiguous conversational exact jargon biting crisp fanciful learned bombastic cultured figurative literal brusque curt flowery loaded cacophonous denotative folksy lyrical casual detached formal melodious caustic divisive grandiose monosyllabic colloquial emotional idiomatic nostalgic colorful esoteric inflammatory obscene common euphemistic inflated obscure offensive ordinary ornate passionate patriotic pedantic picturesque plain poetic political polysyllabic precise pretentious provincial romantic scholarly sentimental shocking sincere slang strong subdued symbolic tame technical trite unifying uppity vague vulgar abstract concrete elevated formal low informal peaceful playful quizzical TONE WORDS (…to create this kind of tone.) abhorrence cliché edgy abrasive clinical effective abrupt cold effusive abstract comic elated accusatory compassionate elegant admiring compelling elegiac admonitory complicated elitist affected complimentary eloquent afraid concerned embittered ambivalent conciliatory endearing amused concise energetic amusing condemning enlightening analytical condescending entertaining angry confident enthusiastic annoyed confiding erudite anxious confused exaggerating apathetic contemptuous exuberant apologetic contented facetious apprehensive contrived factual approving corny fanciful argumentative critical fascinated artful curious fearful audacious cynical flippant austere dark fluent authentic delightful focused authoritative dense forced awe derisive forceful awkward despairing foreboding baffled desperate forgettable bantering detached forgiving bemused didactic formal benevolent disappointed formulaic bitter disbelieving forthright blunt disdainful fresh bold disgusted frivolous bookish dismayed funny boring disparaging furious bucolic distinctive giddy callous disturbed gimmicky calm down-to-earth glib candid dramatic gloomy cautious dreamy graceful cerebral dreary grandiose ceremonial dull grim cheery earnest gritty childish economical grudging gutsy hackneyed happy harsh haughty haunting hollow hollow honest hopeful hopeless horrific humorous hyperbolic idealistic idiosyncratic imaginative impartial impassioned impulsive incisive incredulous indifferent indignant indulgent inflammatory informal informative insightful insisting insolent instructive instructive insubstantial intellectual interesting intimate inviting irate ironic irrelevant irreverent irritated joking jovial joyful judgmental labored lackadaisical lackluster laudatory learned light lighthearted lofty loving lucid lush lyrical matter of fact maudlin meditative melancholic melancholy melodramatic memorable mock-heroic mocking mock-serious moralizing morbid mordant mournful narrow nostalgic objective obvious offbeat offensive opinionated optimistic ordinary ostentatious outraged outrageous overdone paradoxical passionate patronizing peaceful pedantic pedestrian pejorative pensive persuasive pessimistic piquant pitiful plaintive playful poetic pompous preachy predictable pretentious profound prosaic proud provocative puzzled querulous questioning rambling reader-friendly realistic reflective refreshing regretful reminiscent repetitive repressed reproachful resigned respectful restrained revealing reverent rhapsodic sanctimonious sarcastic sardonic satiric satisfied scornful seductive self-indulgent sensuous sentimental serene severe shallow sharp shocked silly simple simplistic sincere sober solemn somber sophomoric spicy spiteful stiff strident striking substantive subtle superficial suspicious sweet sympathetic taunting thorough thoughtful threatening tiresome tolerant trite troubled underdone uneven unsympathetic urbane urgent vexed vibrant wary whimsical wistful witty wordy wry zealous
