understanding and writing anecdotes; the use of diction in description Flashcards
is a much-used narrative form. An anecdote may be embedded in a speech, an essay, or a biography, but it can be a unit in itself and stand alone as an interesting story.
anecdote
intends to inspire the readers or listeners. It includes anecdotes that explain a person’s struggle, the kind of obstacles they had to deal with, and how it altered their lives for the better.
inspirational anecdote
Anecdotes, like fables, are those that provide the audience with a moral or a lesson. They can be included in speeches or even be part of everyday conversation.
cautionary anecdotes
are commonly found in literary works. They can help portray a character and understand the various facets of the character.
characterizing anecdotes
is meant to provide a sense of nostalgia. These anecdotes also focus on practices or aspects that no longer exist.
A reminiscent anecdote
is meant to lighten the mood. It acts as a stress reliever and helps boost the aura of the entire audience. It need not necessarily have a lesson or a takeaway.
Humorous Anecdotes
Qualities of a Good Anecdote:
- It is BRIEF.
- NECESSARY DETAILS only.
- there is an element of SUSPENSE
- follows a DEFINITE PATTERN.
First, it gives the setting and the characters. Second, it creates suspense using complication. Third it interposes a sentence of two to increase the suspense. And fourth, it gives the point of the anecdote and then promptly stops.
is simply the words the writer chooses to convey a particular meaning.
diction
use of diction in desc
Effective –-diction is shaped by words that are clear, concrete, and exact. Good writers avoid words like pretty, nice, and bad because they are not specific enough. Instead, they rely on words that invoke a specific effect in order to bring the reader into the event being described.
example of diction
The dry autumn leaves fall on me, they rustle as I walk alone, wishing I was with you.
The autumn leaves danced in the breeze as they rustle while i walked alone the streets wishing i was with you.
Diction depends on the subject, purpose, occasion, and audience.
Subject
The subject often determines how specific or sophisticated the diction needs to be.
Diction depends on the subject, purpose, occasion, and audience.
purpose
Whether to persuade, entertain, or inform.
Words chosen to impart a particular effect on the reader reflect the writer’s purpose.
occasion
Formal diction is reserved for scholarly writing and serious texts. Informal diction is often used in narrative essays and newspaper editorials.
Colloquial diction and slang are typically used to capture the language of a particular time frame or culture.
audience
An author who uses sophisticated diction knows he is writing for an intelligent audience. An author who uses more informal diction knows he is writing for an audience of varied intelligence.
narrative structure of anecdote
should have a clear beginning middle and end
- exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution