Diction and Tone

SAT Writing / Diction, Style, and Tone

by Jordan Moore

​Diction, Style, and Tone

Goals:

• Understand style, tone and diciton

• To recognize some frequently confused words

• To recognize that idiomatic complements are tested​ on SAT

Style

the authors unique way of communicating with words

​

​Style includes diction and tone

​

​the style of the passages on the SAT are typically formal

Style

a formal style will typically avoid colloquialisms and will not contain words that are informal, slangy or otherwise inappropriate for the context

​

​colloquialism: a word or phrase that is not formal or literary

​

​gonna, wanna, whatcha

Multiple Choice

Does this sentence convey a formal style?

The Professor and his assistant were mortified to see the icky monster rise from the operating table.

• yes- it conveys a formal style

• no- it does not convey a formal style

​Style

​The Professor and her assistant were mortified to see the icky monster rise from the operating table.

​

​The Professor and her assistant were mortified to see the test subject rise from the operating table.

Multiple Choice

Does this sentence convey a formal style?

Despite her reservations, the Professor moved forward with her research.

• yes- it conveys a formal style

• no- it does not convey a formal style

​Diction

the choices of words and phrases in speech and writing

​Diction

​

SAT will test diction with an emphasis in

o   Denotation

o   Connotation

​

​Denotation

​

​the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas the word provokes

​

​a words dictionary definition

​Connotation

​

​the idea or feeling that a word invokes, in addition to its literal or primary meaning

Denotation vs. ​Connotation

gritty: ​having rough texture

• ​having rough texture is the denotation of the word gritty

This side of town is pretty gritty.

• what is the connotation of the word "gritty" in the sentence above?​

• ​hint: we aren't saying that the town has a rough texture

Denotation vs. ​Connotation

This side of town is pretty gritty.

• ​this connotation of gritty conveys a harsh, difficult or unpleasant side of town

• we are using "gritty" figuratively to say that this is a rough neighbourhood, perhaps with issues related to crime or poverty

Denotation vs. ​Connotation

The t-shirt was cheap enough for me to afford.

• ​denotation of the word cheap is low in cost

​The t-shirt was so cheap, it wore out in just a couple days

• ​the connotation of the word cheap is of poor quality

Denotation vs. ​Connotation

slender, scrawney, boney, gaunt

​

these words all have a similar denotation: they are synonomus with slim; they describe someone or something without much body fat

Multiple Choice

She was tall, slender, and stunning.

what is the connotation of slender?

• slim

• attractive

• a bank

• a lizard

Denotation vs. ​Connotation

slender literally describes someone who is slim; without much body fat

​

in the sentence

​She was tall, slender, and stunning.

​the connotation of the word slender is attractive.

​

​this is in addition to its literal meaning

Multiple Choice

What is the connotation of scrawny?

They didn't want him on their team because he was so scrawny.

• athletic

• slim

• weak

• a poodle

Denotation vs. ​Connotation

They didn't want him on their team because he was so scrawny.

​

the connotation of the word scrawny is weak

Multiple Choice

The host of the dinner party was stingy- the guests were required to bring their own drinks.

The writer is considering revising the underlined portion of the sentence. They wish to avoid appearing critical or negative. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

• cheap

• thrifty

• rich

• handsome

Multiple Choice

Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

I admire the man who jumped on the subway tracks to rescue a stranger. He was certainly .

• foolhardy

• rash

• courageous

• wreckless

​Connotation vs Denotation

​Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

I admire the man who jumped on the subway tracks to rescue a stranger. He was certainly courageous.

​

​Here we had to read the sentence for context. We know the writer admires the man, so we select the word that best fits that positive connotation.

​Tone

​The attitude the writer employs

​

​Assists in creating the mood or atmosphere of the writing

​

​Indicates the point of view of the writer

​Tone

The dinner party was fantastic.

• ​conveys a positive tone

The dinner party was terrible.

• ​conveys a negative tone

The dinner party was about as enjoyable as a root canal.

• ​conveys a sarcastic tone

The dinner party met the minimum requirements for fun as it featured both food and guests.

• ​conveys a formal tone (maybe a bit comical too)

Multiple Choice

The dinner party was good.

The writer wants to convey the impression that the dinner party was absolutely unbearable.

Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

• NO CHANGE.

• transcendent

• a living nightmare.

• less than satisfactory.

Multiple Choice

Living a vegan lifestyle has many benefits.

The writer wants to convey a pragmatic tone.

(hint: pragmatic means dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations)

Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

• NO CHANGE.

• is life changing.

• is a living nightmare.

• has pros and cons.

​Idiomatic Complements

​Words, often prepositions, that go with other words

​

Multiple Choice

A preposition is

• a word that conveys a relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word

• a sentence that contains a main and subordinate clause

• a person, place, or thing

• an action

​Idiomatic Complements

​Words, often prepositions, that go with other words

​

• ​a preposition is a word that conveys a relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word

• about, above, after, against, before, behind, down, during, for, from, in, like, near, of, off, on, out, over, past, through, towards, with, within

​

​Don't follow any set rule or logic and are heavily dependent on context and familiarity with the english language

​Idiomatic Complements

Jordan and Kyle argued about what to have for dinner.

​Jordan argued against having pizza again.

​Kyle argued for having pizza.

They argued over what to have for dinner.​

​Kyle argued with Jordan, and lost as usual.

Multiple Choice

Steve's application a loan should be approved.

• to

• for

• of

Multiple Choice

I was ashamed my parents.

• to

• for

• of

• with

Multiple Select

I fell in love September.

• with

• in

• during

​Idiomatic Complements

​I fell in love in September.

​

​I fell in love with September.

​

​​I fell in love during September.​

Multiple Select

It was getting cold outside, so Zeke asked a blanket.

• for

• of

• about

Multiple Choice

Jordan is famous his love of pizza.

• to

• as

• for