Diction

Lesson 3

Reading

Pages 44 through 74 in Lewis Turco's text, Dialogue

Writing Assignment

Suggested length: 50 - 200 words each

Write a paragraph using objective word order. For example, one of your characters could tell what another had said in an objective summarized way.
- "Jodi went on and on about her trip to Bermuda before she told us she had eloped. Even then, she drifted from the subject, telling us about the dancers on the beach and storm that took them by surprise. She would never look any of us in the eye while she talked, but everyone could see she had been crying."
Write a paragraph using either low, mean or high style, then write the same paragraph in another style or with dialect.
Examples:
- High style - To bed I go to rest my weary bones.
- Mean style - I go to rest my weary bones in bed.
- Low style - I'm gonna put my tired ass to bed.
"To Dallas I have never traveled in the summer months. The thought of extreme humidity sends a frosty shiver through my spine. The northeastern states are sensible for the sinuses. The north is a burden to those unable to afford proper clothing to survive the winters. The South is a suitable home for the impoverished."

"Ain't never been to Dallas in the summer. Can't take the dampness. I get shakes just thinking 'bout it. Better off up north where the air don't clog up my nose. It ain't a good idea to go north without a good coat and a couple pair of longjohns either ... better off staying south I guess."

Have Fun!