Rhetorical Choices Review Diction, Imagery, Tone, and Syntax • AP English Language and Composition

Diction

Deliberate word choice, influenced by topic, purpose, and occasion, affecting connotation and meaning.

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses, making experiences vivid through specific diction and details.

Tone

The writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward the subject, inferred from word choice, details, images, and sentence structure.

Syntax

The arrangement of words within sentences, influencing emphasis, pacing, and voice.

Visual Imagery

Imagery that appeals to sight, such as 'a silver sky'.

Auditory Imagery

Imagery that appeals to sound, such as 'rattling windows'.

Olfactory Imagery

Imagery that appeals to smell, such as 'smoky air'.

Gustatory Imagery

Imagery that appeals to taste, such as 'bitter coffee'.

Tactile Imagery

Imagery that appeals to touch, such as 'a rough blanket'.

Parallel Structure

Matching grammatical forms to balance related ideas, giving them equal weight, e.g. 'We came to listen, to learn, and to act.'

Semicolon (;)

A punctuation mark that links closely related independent clauses, giving them equal grammatical weight.

Colon (:)

A punctuation mark that directs attention to what follows, often clarifying or summarizing.

Dash (—)

A punctuation mark that creates interruption or emphasis, contributing to a casual, conversational tone.

Emphasis

The importance placed on certain ideas through varied sentence structures and punctuation.

Voice

The distinctive tone and style of the writer, shaped by diction, imagery, and syntax.

Effect of Short Sentences

Short sentences create emphasis and highlight key ideas, contributing to tone.