Style Analysis

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Style Analysis

• Detail Paragraph

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Format is the same as for diction paragraph

• Topic sentence
• Integrated quote sentence as example (2 quotes
  from different places in the piece)
• Commentary
• Commentary
• Integrated quote sentence as example
• Commentary
• Commentary

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What is concrete detail?

• A literal or factual description
• Who, what, when, where

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How is this different than diction?

• Diction refers to connotative vocabulary
• Detail refers to literal description

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Imagery in concrete detail

• I often use imagery as a synonym for detail
  because AP tests have often used the two
  interchangeably.

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But I thought imagery was connotative?

• An image is a literal and concrete representation
  of a sensory experience or of an object that can
  be known by one or more of the senses.

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Here is a detail citation from The Rattler

• turned a little to watch what I would do

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How does this phrase supply concrete detail?

• It is important not for any connotations the
  words themselves may have but for the literal
  images of the scene between the man and the
  snake. This sentence helps us visualize the
  snake turning around as it sits on the desert
  sand.

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Process for detail paragraph

• Underline any examples of detail or imagery that
  strike you as significant
• Go back and read only underlined sentences
• What image do most of the underlined sentences
  convey?This should be a reasonable conclusion as
  to the authors purpose for the detail included
  in the passage.

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Example from The Rattler

• After sunsetI walked out into the desert
• Not drawn back to strike
• Turned a little to watch what I would do
• Not even rattling yet
• Children, dogs, horses at the ranchmen and women
• I went back to the ranch house, got a hoe, and
  returned
• Saw the hoe
• Tail twitched, the little tocsin sounded he drew
  back his head
• I raised my weapon
• Dense bush
• Shook and shook
• I listened for a minute
• Reached intobush with my hoe
• Dragged him out of it with his back broken
• His neck was broken
• I picked him up by the tail
• Gape and snap once more
• Blood in his mouth and poison dripping from his
  fangs
• I did not cut off the rattles for a trophy

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Topic sentence
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The authors detail illuminates the standoff and
subsequent duel between the man and snake.
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Example sentences

• Just as you did with diction, you will write an
  example sentence.
• There is one difference in the example
  sentence---you will include only two quotations
  because detail and imagery require more words
  than diction to convey an idea.

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Example

• The snake turns a little to watch the man as
  it waits to see if he will go back to the ranch
  house, get a hoe, and return.

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This quotation sentence integrates two separate
quotes taken from different parts of the passage.
This shows your reader that you have understood
the entire piece and are choosing quotations
thoughtfully.
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Commentary (analysis or interpretation)

• This should comment on the images conveyed by the
  detail you included in your example sentence.
• Commentary does not mean paraphrasing the
  quotation sentence it means thinking about the
  effect of the images suggested by the detail.

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QUOTATION COMMENTARY
turned a little to watch Not afraid or hesitant Casual reaction to trivial interruption
Go back to the ranch house, get a hoe, and return Calm watching of a possible threat
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Commentary Example

• The snake is not afraid, hesitant, or easily
  unnerved because it knows its own formidable
  power. It moves its head casually, glancing over
  to see what interesting but trivial intrusion has
  arrived.