Identifying_Operative_Words

Page 1: Identifying Operative Words

Definition of Operative Words

• Operative words are essential for conveying the main theme of the story.

• They provide the gist of the content if read alone.

• Typically include the who, what, where, when, why, and how—nouns, adjectives, adverbs, titles, and names.

• Proper names should always be marked as operative the first time they appear.

Emphasizing Operative Words

Once identified, emphasize operative words using the following techniques:

• Volume: Adjust the loudness; increase to "punch" the word for impact.

• Pitch: Alter the highness or lowness of the voice for emphasis on operative words.

• Rhythm: Vary the rhythm; use pauses to highlight complex words or introduce new concepts.

• Tempo: Change the speed of delivery; quicken for less important sections and slow down for operative words.

Additional Marking Techniques

• Mark places in the text for breathing pauses.

• Identify all punctuation; it aids in delivery and comprehension.

• Create personal connections with images; leverage senses and emotional recall.

• Connect with all adjectives, adverbs, and verbs for clarity in meaning and action.

Page 2: Operative Word and Stress Rules

Guidelines for Word Stress

• Avoid stressing words that can be omitted without altering meaning.

• Stress new ideas; reduce emphasis on previously stated concepts.

  • Example: "This is my new Pet. Don't you like my new Pet?"

• Look for parallels and contrasts in construction.

  • Example: "Make new friends, but keep the old."

• Pay attention to context with words like "other", "more", or "less" illustrating implied parallels.

  • Example: "Don't you fish with worms? Other people do."

Specific Stress Considerations

• Pronouns and "not" should usually be unstressed but can be emphasized when necessary.

  • Example: "I will not go. I have not found it. Have you?"

• Word Pairs/Compound Words: Balance stress across both words for equal ideas.

  • Example: "Hard-hearted, Half-mast"

• Compound nouns typically stress the first part modifying the following noun.

  • Example: "Hard-hearted man"

• Word pairs indicating a single new idea get one stress allocation.

  • Example: "Afterwords, hardware, White House"

• Possessive words often receive greater stress for emphasis.

  • Example: "Jack's eyes have crows feet."

Phrase Types and Stress

• Primary phrases: Carry the essential information or argument.

• Qualifying phrases: Modify the main idea, providing context (who, what, why, when, where, how).

• Subordinate phrases: Secondary information that can be omitted without changing the meaning.