step by step stylistic analysis

step by stepstep by stepnon-fictionnon-fiction

stylistic analysisstylistic analysis

Arthur Hall

Nümbrecht, September 2010

for the mündliche Abitur

FirstlyFirstly

• We are going to go step by step

through the text with which we are now so familiar:

namelynamely ‘Racism in Europe’

• you will also notice that logical connectors are in light blue and key words bold and underlined

Secondly,Secondly,

• we can look at a clean copy of the text with analytic eyes

• our first task with that text will be to look generallygenerally at five points:

1. audience

2. theme & intention

3. methods of development

4. tone

5. emotion

audience

• Is the audience generalgeneral or are they a specificspecific group of people?

• What is the source?

• Does that tell us anything?

theme and intention

• What statement about the human condition is made?

• What is the writer’s purpose or

put another wayput another way, why did he or she write

this?

methods of development

• Find examples of the following (if they are there):

1. argument or persuasion2. narration3. description4. cause and effect5. comparison6. contrast7. process analysis8. analogy9. definition10. example11. classification

tone

• Which of the following adjectives describe the tone of the article?

• conversational, informal, exaggerated, ironic, formal (more written than spoken), forceful, vigorous, strong, concise (lacking in description), short, witty, satirical, figurative, rhythmic, full of imagery, sincere

emotion

• How has the writer achieved that emotion?

• What do you feel as you read it? Why?

• Do you think the writer has manipulated your emotions? How?

However,However,there is also the writing style to consider:

1. Consider his choice of words (which is called diction) and his sentence structure (which is called syntax)

2. Which techniques has the writer used? Provide an example

3. Explain why the example is an effective choice

an overall description of style

• Which of these best describes the whole text?

• colloquial, • humorous, • formal, • aggressive, • terse, • epigrammatic, • ironical, • satirical, • poetic, • earnest

diction

• Here are some examples of word usage.

• Decide –

1. Which choices has the author made?

2. Give examples

3. Explain why the choices are effective

How specific words build into or(develop) a style or tone (1)

• monosyllabic words

(simple: one syllable)

or

• polysyllabic words

(complex: more syllables)

• Does the length of words effect the style or purpose?

How specific words build into or(develop) a style or tone (2)

• Connotation– Do specific words imply anything– Do they have a specific purpose?

• Are the majority of words concrete and specific or are they abstract and general?

• Which effect does this create?• Euphony means the words sound pleasing

whereaswhereas cacophany means they sound harsh• How does the sound of words used develop the

idea?

How specific words build into or(develop) a style or tone (3)

• Are any words deliberately repeated?For what purpose?

• Are figurative language devices used? Give examples• Is imagery used? Give examples• What effect do these devices have?

syntax

• Here are some ways of describing sentence structure (syntax)

• Decide which choices the author has made, say if they are effective and give examples

• Are the sentences short and simple or long and complex?

• Is there a mixture of long and short ones?• What effect is achieved?• Are there any rhetorical questions? If soIf so what

effect did they have?

organisation

• Consider the broad pattern of development the author has used

• Give examples to show how it works

• How effective are thosethose examples?

introduction and conclusion

• Are they effective?

• Are they related?

• How?

logical order of development

• How have the events or points been ordered?

• Are they chronological?

• Are they ordered by importance?

• Where is the most important idea?

transitional devices

• How is fluency achieved in the text?

(logical connectorslogical connectors?)

• How are the ideas in the paragraphs linked?

perspective• What is the writer’s point of view?• Is it:

– first person (I)– second person (you)– third person (we)– detached (one)

• Why is this perspective effective?– What can you tell about the writer’s background? (if anything)

• Is the narrator reliable?– Why or why not?

Thank you for listening and participating…