WRITER’S VOICE

In The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Hazel’s bitingly sarcastic tone, reflected in her alternate use of elevated vocabulary and “teen speak,” reveals in no uncertain terms her distaste for her cancer support group.

In The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Hazel mixes elevated vocabulary with “teen speak” to reveal her bitingly sarcastic attitude towards her cancer support group.

DUCATS – analyzing author’s voice Diction refers to a writer’s (or speaker’s)

word choice with the following considerations: denotation / connotation degree of difficulty or complexity of a word monosyllabic / polysyllabic abstract / concrete colloquial / formal / informal / technical tone of a word (the emotional charge a word

carries) the above will often create a subtext for the text

DUCATS – analyzing author’s voice Unity refers to the idea that all of the ideas in a

written piece are relevant and appropriate to the focus. Some considerations: each claim (assertion, topic sentence) supports the

thesis each piece of evidence is important and relevant to the

focus of the paragraph or the piece of writing as a whole

occasionally, a writer may choose to purposely violate the element of unity for a specific effect (some humorists / satirists will sometimes consciously do this)

it is important to consider what has been omitted from a piece and examine the writer’s intent in doing so

DUCATS – analyzing author’s voice Coherence refers to the organization and

logic of a piece of writing; some considerations include: precision and clarity in a thesis and supportive

arguments the arguments ordered in the most effective way

for the writer’s intent the sentences and paragraphs “flow smoothly” for

the reader; there should not be any abrupt leaps or gaps in the presentation of the ideas or story (unless the writer makes a conscious choice for a specific and appropriate effect)

DUCATS – analyzing author’s voice Audience refers to the writer’s awareness of who

will be reading his or her piece of writing; some considerations are: Who are the targeted readers? How well informed are they on the subject? What does the

writer want the reader to learn as a result of this piece? What first impression is created for the reader and how does

the author’s voice shape this first impression? How interested and attentive are they likely to be? Will they

resist any of the ideas? What is the relationship between the writer and the reader?

Employee to supervisor? Citizen to citizen? Expert to novice? Scholar to scholar? Student to teacher? Student to student?

How much time will the reader be willing to spend reading? How sophisticated are the readers in regard to vocabulary and

syntax?

DUCATS – analyzing author’s voice Tone refers to a writer’s ability to create

an attitude toward the subject matter of a piece of writing. What does that attitude suggest about the

author? The subject? What effect is produced by the writing and

how is that effect produced? The tools a writer uses to create tone:

Diction, Figurative language, Characterization, Plot, Theme, Structure

DUCATS – analyzing author’s voice Syntax refers to the arrangement--the ordering,

grouping, and placement--of words within a phrase, clause, or sentence. Some considerations: Type of sentence Length of sentence Subtle shifts or abrupt changes in sentence length or

patterns Punctuation use Use of repetition Language patterns / rhythm / cadence How all of the above factors contribute to narrative

pace The use of active and/or passive voice

Two-word descriptions

Format: adverb adjective Interestingly light-hearted Depressingly dark

______ly ___________

Hayley Westenra’s version of “Wuthering Heights” is quietly desperate because of its melodic instrumentals and lack of volume changes.

Or

Because of its melodic instrumentals and lack of volume changes, Hayley Westenra’s version of “Wuthering Heights” is quietly desperate, while Kate Bush’s version is urgently despairing.

“Call Me the Breeze” Lynyrd Skynyrd/John Mayer“Running Up That Hill” Kate Bush/Placebo _______________’s version of “(song title)” is

____________ly ____________ because…(one/two reasons).

Or

Because of _______ (one/two reasons), _______________’s version of “song title” is ____________ly ____________, while _____________’s version is ___________ly ____________.

Author’s Voice Quiz – copy and complete the sentences.

1. D________ refers to _________.2. U________ refers to _________.3. C________ refers to _________.4. A________ refers to _________.5. T________ refers to _________.6. S________ refers to _________.

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

Find and highlight the following words: Presumably, devoted, abundant, veritably,

grazed, decrepit, recount, eking, exploiting Define them. Above each one, write a synonym. Read the sentence using the synonym

instead of the original word. What effect does the change in words have? Write your answer in the margins.

Are these words high (formal) or low (informal) diction?

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green Who is Green’s target audience? Highlight instances in which Green uses

words or phrases that help you understand who the target audience is. Hint: low diction I found 8 words/phrases, so you should find

at least that many.

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green Highlight any and all instances of

figurative language At the very least, you should find one

hyperbole and one allusion Why use a hyperbole? Rewrite the sentence

using a more concrete

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green Highlight instances of capitalization use

that is not normal. First letters of sentences don’t count Proper nouns don’t count

Note your thoughts about why Green chose to capitalize the words

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green In The Fault in Our Stars by John Green,

Hazel’s (two-word description using a form of the word “sarcasm) attitude towards her cancer support group is revealed through her (evidence to support tone assertion).

In The Fault in Our Stars, John Green uses (evidence to support tone assertion) to create Hazel’s (two-word description using a form of the word “sarcasm”) attitude towards her cancer support group.

Examples:

In Richard Preston’s The Hot Zone, the horrifically devastating effect the Marburg virus has on humans is revealed using careful placement of simple sentences and straightforward yet graphic diction.

In The Hot Zone, Richard Preston uses careful placement of simple sentences and straightforward yet graphic diction to detail the horrifically devastating effect the Marburg virus has on humans.

What’s wrong with this thesis?

In Richard Preston’s The

Hot Zone, he uses diction

and syntax to show the

reader what the virus does

to people.

Who?

Wow. Could you be less specific?

Duh. All authors use diction and syntax

Weak verb

Avoiding Unclear Pronoun Reference

In Richard Preston’s The Hot Zone, he uses diction and syntax to show

the reader what the virus does to people.

No! Even though we are smart and know that “he” refers to the author, it’s because

we’re smart, not because the sentence tells us. That pronoun “he” actually has no

antecedent as the sentence is written. “He” could be the author, but it could be

someone else. We don’t know. Here’s how to fix it:

In his book The Hot Zone, Richard Preston uses diction and syntax to

show the reader what the virus does to people.

In The Hot Zone, Richard Preston uses diction and syntax to show the

reader what the virus does to people.

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green In The Fault in Our Stars by John Green,

Hazel’s (two-word description using a form of the word “sarcasm) attitude towards her cancer support group is revealed through her (evidence to support tone assertion).

In The Fault in Our Stars, John Green uses (evidence to support tone assertion) to create Hazel’s (two-word description using a form of the word “sarcasm”) attitude towards her cancer support group.

Planning– basic info

Approach the passage chronologically. Each sentence and paragraph builds on the next, so

you don’t want to take things out of context. But avoid just paraphrasing the passage.

Always connect back to your point – how the diction reveals Hazel’s attitude towards her support group.

Decide what your major points are. You can work through the passage paragraph by

paragraph if you want, as long as you have a specific point for each.

Use transitions But stay away from “beginning, middle, end.” We’re

not in middle school any more.

Plan Page

Working title: Thesis: Body paragraphs

Point Evidence Analysis

Repeat PEA as needed One-sentence conclusion Better title

Plan Page Working title: The Marburg Virus Thesis: In The Hot Zone, Richard Preston uses careful

placement of simple sentences and straightforward yet graphic diction to detail the horrifically devastating effect the Marburg virus has on humans.

Body paragraphs Point – Use of second-person pronouns Evidence - “…you notice everything that is happening

inside the cabin.” Analysis – draws the reader in instead of letting

him/her stand detached Repeat EA as needed, then move to the next

paragraph One-sentence conclusion: In the end, Preston’s graphic

word choice and attention to sentence placement perfectly capture the deadly effects of the Marburg virus.

Better title: Virus on a Plane: Like Snakes, Only Deadlier