We are Learning...

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We are Learning...

• How to answer questions about word choice.

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• All writers choose words because of the
  particular effect of the word.
• In word choice questions you will be asked to
  look at individual words or phrases and identify
  why they were used by the writer and what effect
  they had in the passage.

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Writing about word choice

• When writing about why an author has used
  particular words and phrases we have to consider
• What is the effect of the word? Why is the word
  effective? Why is the word appropriate?
• What is the author trying to tell us?
• Why is the word interesting? Surprising?
• Does the word help to create a particular mood or
  atmosphere?
• Does the word help to convey the authors
  attitude or tone?
• What are the connotations of the word?

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The two step method

• 1. Identify the word or phrase.
• 2. Explain the effect of the word. Think about
  the connotations. Explain what the writer is
  trying to tell us.

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Important

• You must be aware of the difference between the
  denotation and the connotation of a word.
• Denotation the dictionary definition of a word.
• Connotation all the secondary meanings
  associated with a word.

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• For example,
• Denotation of the word home the place where
  someone lives and sleeps.
• Connotation of the word home a place of
  warmth, safety and security.

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Other things to be aware of
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• When studying questions about word choice, we
  must also be aware of some of the style choices
  that authors make in their writing.
• Informal v Formal language.
• Emotive language.
• Jargon.
• Dialect.
• Archaisms.

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We are Learning...

• About informal and formal language.

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Formal V Informal

• An important part of a writers style will depend
  upon their use of formal and informal language.
• What is the main difference?

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Formal Language

• Correct grammar, punctuation and sentence
  structure.
• No shortened forms of words, like shouldnt or
  dont.
• Is more likely to be written than spoken.
• Tends to deal with factual, more serious,
  subject matter. Serious tone. More emphasis on
  information and ideas.
• More precise and correct word choice.

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Informal Language

• Also known as colloquial or conversational
  language.
• Uses less precise sentence structure, grammar and
  punctuation.
• Uses abbreviations like cant and isnt
• Tends to be more personal in tone.
• Use of slang words.
• Use of personal pronouns like I and you.
• Sounds more like spoken English.

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We are Learning...

• About emotive language.

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• Emotive language is language that is designed to
  evoke/arouse emotions and feelings in the reader.
• The author will choose particular words and
  phrases to get an emotional reaction from the
  reader.
• An author will also use emotive language to
  convey his own feelings about something.

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Example

• 1. appalling weather
• v
• 2. very bad weather
• They both mean the same thing, but why is 1
  better than 2?

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• appalling means something that is shocking and
  horrifying. The phrase means that the weather was
  so bad that it could shock and horrify you.
• This is a more vivid and effective expression to
  use as it evokes strong emotions in the reader.

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We are Learning...

• How to identify jargon in a piece of writing.

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• Jargon is the technical language used in
  connection with a specialised field of study.
• Subject areas like Law, Medicine, Engineering,
  Science etc will have jargon words which are
  familiar to those within those subject areas, but
  the terminology will not be familiar to everyone
  else.

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Example

• However, if changing the antecedents is not
  successful in improving behaviour, it will be
  necessary to try to modify the pupils behaviour
  by changing the consequences. Behaviour
  modification takes two forms there are behaviour
  formation and behaviour elimination techniques.
  The former involves the use of positive
  reinforcement and the latter employs tactical
  ignoring.

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We are Learning...

• About writers use of dialect in their work

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What do we mean by dialect?
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• Dialect is the name given to the style of English
  spoken in a particular part of the English
  speaking world.
• For example, Scots is an example of a dialect,
  which is spoken alongside English in Scotland.
• All forms of English, that are not Standard
  English, are defined as dialects.

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Scots Dialect

• May be Standard English words pronounced and
  spelled differently.
• Or,
• May be completely different words.

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We are Learning...

• How to identify archaisms in writing.

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• An archaism is a deliberately old fashioned word
  that a contemporary author uses for a particular
  effect.
• E.g good morrow for good morning.
• farewell for goodbye.

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Questions
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1. Comment on the effectiveness of the word
geek in this paragraph (2)

• Mr Johnson responded avidly to the interviewers
  questions. He outlined his governments policies
  on housing with considerable clarity and
  dexterity, speaking intelligently, enunciating
  his words with precision and appearing to take a
  great deal of trouble to ensure that he was
  communicating as effectively as possible. Sets of
  statistics, percentages and other figures were
  reeled off effortlessly in his attempt to
  persuade his interlocutor that the departments
  policies in this area were sound. Yet it was
  impossible to resist the conclusion that despite
  his suave, polished performance, he was little
  more than just another numbers geek.

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• informal tone contrasts so strongly with the
  largely formal language in the rest of the
  paragraph.
• By using the word geek, with its associations of
  eccentricity and social awkwardness, the writer
  does not merely criticise Mr Johnson, he insults
  him

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2. Why does the writer choose the word
strolled? (2)

• The policeman strolled into the house.

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• Suggests that the policeman is relaxed, not in a
  hurry.
• Suggests that the policeman is in a happy mood.

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3. What does the word rocketed suggest about
the way that oil prices have changed?

• Oil prices have rocketed in recent years.

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• the writer wants to emphasise the sudden,
  dramatic , explosive rise in prices.

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4. What does the word glued suggest about the
way the girl was watching the t.v?

• The girls eyes were glued to the television.

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• Suggests that she could not take her eyes off the
  screen. She was unable to move.