Analyzing Word Choices Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: RL.8.4

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When you break apart another author's work you can instantly see a consistent tone which gives us an indication of the attitude and where-with-all the speaker. This creates a mood that sets the environment for the reader. Both the tone and mood of a work are set in motion based on the words that author chooses to present and the way in which those words are aligned. These worksheets will help students understand the word choice of several authors.

Analyzing Word Choices Worksheets:

Developing Character with Word Choice - From what you read, tells us all about Maggie's personality.

Communicating With Word Choice - Which words in the passage make you feel some emotion?

Analyzing Word Choice - We look at the concept of having a career in the military.

Choose Your Words Carefully! - Which one makes you feel the strongest? (Smoking, Fast Food, or Homework)

What's in a Word? - You will need to choose a topic that you are truly passionate about.

Word Choice for Effect - Analyze how Dickens' choice of words contribute to the tone.

Word Choice in Character Development - Describe the meaning and effect of each of the words listed.

Word Choice and Connotation - What does petrifying mean? Why is this an appropriate word choice?

Worse News - Explain how the words that James chooses convey this to the reader without him having to actually come out and say it.

Two Strange Adventures in Russia - What does the narrator mean when he says he had "sunk down to the churchyard whilst asleep?"

Lena - Why does Sylvester have a "harassed expression?"

Communicating With Word Choice - Without coming out and explicitly saying so, one paragraph should convey that you approve of the topic, and the other should convey that you disapprove of it.

Paradise? - What kinds of words does the author use to describe the abundance of the West Indies?

Word Choice and Audience - What do you think is the age group of this book's intended audience?

Rouge Gagne - How does Dickenson play upon the word poverty?

Analyzing Your Word Choices


Choice of words is one of the most important aspects of writing. Selecting a particular word from several other words is an important task that a writer has to perform before as well as during writing. Selection of a word should be done carefully as it conveys the writer's particular meaning. Here are a few aspects to keep in mind to analyze your word choices and make a final decision about the words you want to use in your writings:


Style of Writing


Before selecting a suitable diction, a writer has to focus on some important aspects that will influence diction. The principal element upon which the diction depends is the style of writing. There are mainly two styles of writing including formal and informal writing. Formal and informal writing need different choices of words to follow the proper pattern of both writing styles. E.g. “I want to travel”, this sentence contains formal use of words on the other hand “I wanna travel” contains informal use of the word “want”.


Audience for Writing


The selection of words also depends on the type of audience for whom a specific text is written. If the target audience of a writer is children, then the words the writer will choose should be less complicated and easily understandable. If the audience includes young generation then the author may choose slang and other informal words that are mainly popular among young people e.g. “R.I.P” instead of “Rest in peace”. The selection of words will be different if the author is writing for experts. It will include more sophisticated and complexed words.


Purpose of Writing


Choice of diction also relies on the purpose of writing. To compose a piece of writing, the author should know the reason behind writing it. If the purpose includes to persuade or to request the audience, the author will incorporate the words “please”, “plea” etc. On the other hand, if the purpose of writing is to give an order, then the writer will use straightforward words that will affect the audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Developing Character with Word Choice Preview