Style Analysis: Style Analysis: DETAILSDETAILS

Part III: DETAILSPart III: DETAILS

Details are concrete description Details are concrete description (can include figurative language); (can include figurative language); think “imagery”think “imagery”

Who, what, when, whereWho, what, when, where Remember Remember

– Diction Diction connotative vocabulary connotative vocabulary– Details Details concrete description concrete description

Details are concreteDetails are concrete

Who? What? When? Where? Why?Who? What? When? Where? Why?

Example:Example:

““turned a little to watch what I would do”turned a little to watch what I would do”

This supplies CONCRETE detail to the This supplies CONCRETE detail to the reader; it helps us visualize the snake reader; it helps us visualize the snake turning around as it sits on the desert turning around as it sits on the desert sandsand

Group Practice:Group Practice:

Read “The Rattler” (again Read “The Rattler” (again )) With a different color pen or With a different color pen or

highlighter from what you used highlighter from what you used for the diction analysis, highlight for the diction analysis, highlight any examples of details or any examples of details or imagery that strike you as imagery that strike you as significantsignificant

Detail Paragraph: Detail Paragraph: Topic SentenceTopic Sentence The sentence should include the The sentence should include the

word detail and give a focus for word detail and give a focus for the paragraph.the paragraph.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: The author’s detail illuminates the The author’s detail illuminates the

standoff and subsequent duel standoff and subsequent duel between the man and snake.between the man and snake.

Detail Paragraph: Detail Paragraph: Concrete Detail Concrete Detail SentenceSentence Just as you did with diction, you will Just as you did with diction, you will

write an example sentence. There is write an example sentence. There is one difference in the CD: you will one difference in the CD: you will include only TWO quotations because include only TWO quotations because detail and imagery require more words detail and imagery require more words than diction to convey an idea:than diction to convey an idea:

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: The snake “[turns] a little to watch” The snake “[turns] a little to watch”

the man as it waits to see if he will go the man as it waits to see if he will go “back to the ranch house, [get] a hoe, “back to the ranch house, [get] a hoe, and [return].”and [return].”

Detail Paragraph: Detail Paragraph: Commentary Commentary SentencesSentences These should comment on the These should comment on the

images conveyed by the detail. images conveyed by the detail. Commentary does not mean Commentary does not mean paraphrasing the quotation paraphrasing the quotation sentence; it means thinking about sentence; it means thinking about the the EFFECTEFFECT of the images of the images suggested by the detail.suggested by the detail.

Sample Analysis for Sample Analysis for “The Rattler”“The Rattler”QuotationQuotation ““turned a little to turned a little to

watch”watch”

go “back to the go “back to the ranch house, [get] ranch house, [get] a hoe, and a hoe, and [return]”[return]”

CommentaryCommentary not afraid or not afraid or

hesitanthesitant casual reaction casual reaction

to trivial to trivial interruptioninterruption

calm watching of calm watching of a possible threata possible threat

Sample Detail Sample Detail ParagraphParagraph

The author’s detail illuminates the standoff The author’s detail illuminates the standoff and subsequent duel between the man and snake.and subsequent duel between the man and snake. The snake “[turns] a little” to watch the man as it The snake “[turns] a little” to watch the man as it waits to see if he will go “back in the ranch house, waits to see if he will go “back in the ranch house, [get] a hoe, and [return].”[get] a hoe, and [return].” The snake is not afraid, The snake is not afraid, hesitant, or easily unnerved because it knows its hesitant, or easily unnerved because it knows its own formidable power. It moves its head casually, own formidable power. It moves its head casually, glancing over to see what interesting but trivial glancing over to see what interesting but trivial intrusion has arrived.intrusion has arrived. After the man kills the After the man kills the reptile, he “does not cut the rattles off” but instead reptile, he “does not cut the rattles off” but instead lets the snake “drop into the bush.”lets the snake “drop into the bush.” He does not He does not want to take its life and feels no satisfaction in its want to take its life and feels no satisfaction in its death. The man’s respectful actions in response to death. The man’s respectful actions in response to the dignified presence of the snake are worthy.the dignified presence of the snake are worthy. As As he performs his distasteful yet necessary task, he he performs his distasteful yet necessary task, he mourns the loss of grandeur and nobility.mourns the loss of grandeur and nobility.

Paired Practice: Paired Practice: Henry James PassageHenry James Passage Read the Henry James passageRead the Henry James passage Underline, circle, or highlight the Underline, circle, or highlight the

details in the passagedetails in the passage Discuss/chart quotations and Discuss/chart quotations and

commentarycommentary Rough draft of paragraphRough draft of paragraph