DIDLS: The Key to TONE Diction - the connotation of the word choice What words does the author choose? Consider his/her word choice compared to another. Why did the author choose that particular word? What are the connotations of that word choice? Images - vivid appeals to understanding through the senses - concrete language What images does the author use? What does he/she focus on in a sensory (sight, touch, taste, smell, etc.) way? The kinds of images the author puts in or leaves out reflect his/her style? Are they vibrant? Prominent? Plain? NOTE: Images differ from detail in the degree to which they appeal to the senses. Details - facts that are included or those that are omitted What details are does the author choose to include? What do they imply? What does the author choose to exclude? What are the connotations of their choice of details? PLEASE NOTE: Details are facts or fact-lets. They differ from images in that they don't have a strong sensory appeal. Language - the overall use of language, such as formal, clinical, jargon What is the overall impression of the language the author uses? Does it reflect education? A particular profession? Intelligence? Is it plain? Ornate? Simple? Clear? Figurative? Poetic? Make sure you don't skip this step. Sentence Structure - how structure affects the reader's attitude What are the sentences like? Are they simple with one or two clauses? Do they have multiple phrases? Are they choppy? Flowing? Sinuous like a snake? Is there antithesis, chiasmus, parallel construction? What emotional impression do they leave? If we are talking about poetry, what is the meter? Is there a rhyme scheme? DICTION: Laugh: guffaw, chuckle, titter, giggle, cackle, snicker, roar Self-confident: proud, conceited, egotistical, stuck-up, haughty, smug, condescending House: home, hut, shack, mansion, cabin, home, residence Old: mature, experienced, antique, relic, senior, ancient Fat: obese, plump, corpulent, portly, porky, burly, husky, full-figured IMAGES: The use of vivid descriptions or figures of speech that appeal to sensory experiences helps to create the author's tone. My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun. (restrained) An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king. (somber, candid) He clasps the crag with crooked hands. (dramatic) Love sets you going like a fat gold watch. (fanciful) Smiling, the boy fell dead. (shocking) DETAILS: Details are most commonly the facts given by the author or speaker as support for the attitude or tone. The speaker's perspective shapes what details are given and which are not. LANGUAGE: Like word choice, the language of a passage has control over tone. Consider language to be the entire body of words used in a text, not simply isolated bits of diction. For example, an invitation to a wedding might use formal language, while a biology text would use scientific and clinic.

1. DIDLS: The Key to TONE
Diction - the connotation of the word choice
What words does the author choose? Consider his/her word
choice compared to another. Why did
the author choose that particular word? What are the
connotations of that word choice?
Images - vivid appeals to understanding through the senses
- concrete language
What images does the author use? What does he/she focus on in
a sensory (sight, touch, taste,
smell, etc.) way? The kinds of images the author puts in or
leaves out reflect his/her style? Are
they vibrant? Prominent? Plain? NOTE: Images differ from
detail in the degree to which they
appeal to the senses.
Details - facts that are included or those that are omitted
What details are does the author choose to include? What do
they imply? What does the author
choose to exclude? What are the connotations of their choice of
details? PLEASE NOTE: Details are
facts or fact-lets. They differ from images in that they don't

2. have a strong sensory appeal.
Language - the overall use of language, such as formal, clinical,
jargon
What is the overall impression of the language the author uses?
Does it reflect education? A
particular profession? Intelligence? Is it plain? Ornate? Simple?
Clear? Figurative? Poetic? Make
sure you don't skip this step.
Sentence Structure - how structure affects the reader's attitude
What are the sentences like? Are they simple with one or two
clauses? Do they have multiple
phrases? Are they choppy? Flowing? Sinuous like a snake? Is
there antithesis, chiasmus, parallel
construction? What emotional impression do they leave? If we
are talking about poetry, what is
the meter? Is there a rhyme scheme?
DICTION:
Laugh: guffaw, chuckle, titter, giggle, cackle, snicker, roar
Self-confident: proud, conceited, egotistical, stuck-up, haughty,
smug, condescending
House: home, hut, shack, mansion, cabin, home, residence
Old: mature, experienced, antique, relic, senior, ancient
Fat: obese, plump, corpulent, portly, porky, burly, husky, full-

3. figured
IMAGES:
The use of vivid descriptions or figures of speech that appeal to
sensory experiences helps to
create the author's tone.
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun. (restrained)
An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king. (somber, candid)
He clasps the crag with crooked hands. (dramatic)
Love sets you going like a fat gold watch. (fanciful)
Smiling, the boy fell dead. (shocking)
DETAILS:
Details are most commonly the facts given by the author or
speaker as support for the attitude or
tone.
The speaker's perspective shapes what details are given and
which are not.
LANGUAGE:
Like word choice, the language of a passage has control over
tone.

4. Consider language to be the entire body of words used in a text,
not simply isolated bits of
diction.
For example, an invitation to a wedding might use formal
language, while a biology text would use
scientific and clinical language.
• When I told Dad that I had goofed the exam, he blew his top.
(slang)
• I had him on the ropes in the fourth and if one of my short
rights had connected, he'd have
gone down for the count. (jargon)
• A close examination and correlation of the most reliable
current economic indexes justifies the
conclusion that the next year will witness a continuation of the
present, upward market trend.
(turgid, pedantic)
SENTENCE STRUCTURE:
How a sentence is constructed affects what the audience
understands.
Parallel syntax (similarly styled phrases and sentences) creates
interconnected emotions, feelings
and ideas.
Short sentences are punchy and intense. Long sentences are
distancing, reflective and more

5. abstract.
Loose sentences point at the end. Periodic sentences point at the
beginning, followed by modifiers
and phrases.
The inverted order of an interrogative sentence cues the reader
to a question and creates tension
between speaker and listener.
Short sentences are often emphatic, passionate or flippant,
whereas longer sentences suggest
greater thought.
Sentence structure affects tone.
SHIFT IN TONE:
Good authors are rarely monotone. A speaker's attitude can shift
on a topic, or an author might
have one attitude toward the audience and another toward the
subject. The following are some
clues to watch for shifts in tone:
• key words (but, yet, nevertheless, however, although)
• punctuation (dashes, periods, colons)
• paragraph divisions

6. • changes in sentence length
• sharp contrasts in diction
The Literary Superpower Tool of TONE
Tone is defined as the writer's or speaker's attitude toward the
subject and the audience.
Understanding tone in prose and poetry can be challenging
because the reader doesn't have voice
inflection to obscure or to carry meaning. Thus, an appreciation
of word choice, details, imagery,
and language all contribute to the understanding of tone. To
misinterpret tone is to misinterpret
meaning.
DIDLS: The Key to TONE
Diction - the connotation of the word
choice. What words does the author
choose? Consider his/her word choice
compared to another. Why did the
author choose that particular word?
What are the connotations of that word
choice?

7. Images - vivid appeals to understanding
through the senses - concrete language.
What images does the author use? What
does he/she focus on in a sensory
(sight, touch, taste, smell, etc.) way?
The kinds of images the author puts in
or leaves out reflect his/her style? Are
they vibrant? Prominent? Plain? NOTE:
Images differ from detail in the degree
to which they appeal to the senses.
Details - facts that are included or
those that are omitted . What
details are does the author choose
to include? What do they imply?
What does the author choose to
exclude? What are the
connotations of their choice of
details? PLEASE NOTE: Details are
facts or fact-lets. They differ from
images in that they don't have a
strong sensory appeal.
Language - the overall use of
language, such as formal, clinical,
jargon. What is the overall
impression of the language the
author uses? Does it reflect

8. education? A particular profession?
Intelligence? Is it plain? Ornate?
Simple? Clear? Figurative? Poetic?
Make sure you don't skip this step.
Sentence Structure - how
structure affects the reader's
attitude. What are the sentences
like? Are they simple with one or
two clauses? Do they have
multiple phrases? Are they
choppy? Flowing? Sinuous like a
snake? Is there antithesis,
chiasmus, parallel construction?
What emotional impression do
they leave? If we are talking about
poetry, what is the meter? Is there
a rhyme scheme?

9. HOW TO IDENTIFY TONE
STEP ONE: Use DIDLS
STEP TWO: Begin with a simple tone such as positive,
negative, neutral,
philosophical, satirical.
STEP THREE: Refine the tone by selecting an adjective that is
more descriptive.
Here is a short list of simple but helpful "tone words":
Angry Sad Sentimental Afraid
Sharp Cold Fanciful Detached
Upset Urgent Complimentary Contemptuous
Silly Joking Condescending Happy
Boring Poignant Sympathetic Confused
Apologetic Hollow Childish Humorous
Joyful Peaceful Horrific Allusive
Mocking Sarcastic Sweet Objective
Nostalgic Vexed Vibrant Zealous
Tired Frivolous Irrelevant Bitter

10. Audacious Benevolent Dreamy Shocking
Seductive Restrained Somber Candid
Proud Giddy Pitiful Dramatic
Provocative Didactic Lugubrious Sentimental
ADD MORE OF YOUR OWN TONE WORDS BELOW!!
LANGUAGE:
Article Review – Rubric
These assignments will assist you in exploring contemporary
issues in business. Topics are given for each article review.
Your work will be submitted in Blackboard as an “Assignment”.
ASSIGNMENT:
Using a business publication, select an article that captures the
assigned topic and your interest. See weekly “Course Content”
for the assigned topic.
Write your report:
1. Include the source: title of article, writer, and date published
(15 pts)
2. Include the website link to your report OR name of printed
publication (5 pts)
3. Write a two-paragraph report on the article, including:
a. One paragraph summary of the article (30 pts)
b. One paragraph reflection/reaction to article (50 pts)
i. Why was the topic important?
ii. What did you learn?
iii. What was interesting, fascinating, intriguing, etc.?
4. Your report must be based on a recent news article (within
the last 3 – 6 months)

11. a. Up to 20 points deducted for using out-of-date articles
5. Do not use Blogs. Blogs are opinion-based and subjective.
a. Up to 40 points deducted for using a blog
6. No points will be given for articles that are off-topic.
SOURCES
Go to Blackboard, “Course Information” and click on “Business
Publications” OR use any other business-related publication.
The Literary Superpower Tool of
Theme is:
• Theme is the central, underlying, and controlling idea or
insight of a work of literature.
• Theme is the idea the writer wishes to convey about the
subject--the writer’s view of the world or
revelation about human nature.
Theme is NOT:
• Theme is not expressed in a single word
• Theme is not the purpose of a work
• Theme is not the moral
• Theme is not the conflict
To ascertain theme, the reader should first understand the plot,
characterization, and conflict. Use the
following five steps as a guide to help you write a theme for a
work.
1. Summarize the plot by writing one sentence descriptions for
the exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling
action, and resolution.

12. 2. Identify the subject of the work.
3. What was the insight or truth that was learned about the
subject?
• How did the protagonist change?
• What lesson did the protagonist learn from the resolution of
the conflict?
4. How did the plot present the primary insight or truth about
the subject?
5. Write one or more generalized declarative sentences that
state what was learned and how it was learned.
Theme litmus test
Is the theme supported by evidence from the work itself?
Are all the author’s choices of plot, character, conflict, and tone
controlled by this theme?
IDENTIFYING A THEME
IN FIVE STEPS
THEME
DIDLS: The Key to TONE
Diction - the connotation of the word choice
What words does the author choose? Consider his/her word
choice compared to another. Why did
the author choose that particular word? What are the

13. connotations of that word choice?
Images - vivid appeals to understanding through the senses
- concrete language
What images does the author use? What does he/she focus on in
a sensory (sight, touch, taste,
smell, etc.) way? The kinds of images the author puts in or
leaves out reflect his/her style? Are
they vibrant? Prominent? Plain? NOTE: Images differ from
detail in the degree to which they
appeal to the senses.
Details - facts that are included or those that are omitted
What details are does the author choose to include? What do
they imply? What does the author
choose to exclude? What are the connotations of their choice of
details? PLEASE NOTE: Details are
facts or fact-lets. They differ from images in that they don't
have a strong sensory appeal.
Language - the overall use of language, such as formal, clinical,
jargon
What is the overall impression of the language the author uses?
Does it reflect education? A
particular profession? Intelligence? Is it plain? Ornate? Simple?
Clear? Figurative? Poetic? Make
sure you don't skip this step.

14. Sentence Structure - how structure affects the reader's attitude
What are the sentences like? Are they simple with one or two
clauses? Do they have multiple
phrases? Are they choppy? Flowing? Sinuous like a snake? Is
there antithesis, chiasmus, parallel
construction? What emotional impression do they leave? If we
are talking about poetry, what is
the meter? Is there a rhyme scheme?
DICTION:
Laugh: guffaw, chuckle, titter, giggle, cackle, snicker, roar
Self-confident: proud, conceited, egotistical, stuck-up, haughty,
smug, condescending
House: home, hut, shack, mansion, cabin, home, residence
Old: mature, experienced, antique, relic, senior, ancient
Fat: obese, plump, corpulent, portly, porky, burly, husky, full-
figured
IMAGES:
The use of vivid descriptions or figures of speech that appeal to
sensory experiences helps to
create the author's tone.
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun. (restrained)
An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king. (somber, candid)

15. He clasps the crag with crooked hands. (dramatic)
Love sets you going like a fat gold watch. (fanciful)
Smiling, the boy fell dead. (shocking)
DETAILS:
Details are most commonly the facts given by the author or
speaker as support for the attitude or
tone.
The speaker's perspective shapes what details are given and
which are not.
LANGUAGE:
Like word choice, the language of a passage has control over
tone.
Consider language to be the entire body of words used in a text,
not simply isolated bits of
diction.
For example, an invitation to a wedding might use formal
language, while a biology text would use
scientific and clinical language.
• When I told Dad that I had goofed the exam, he blew his top.
(slang)

16. • I had him on the ropes in the fourth and if one of my short
rights had connected, he'd have
gone down for the count. (jargon)
• A close examination and correlation of the most reliable
current economic indexes justifies the
conclusion that the next year will witness a continuation of the
present, upward market trend.
(turgid, pedantic)
SENTENCE STRUCTURE:
How a sentence is constructed affects what the audience
understands.
Parallel syntax (similarly styled phrases and sentences) creates
interconnected emotions, feelings
and ideas.
Short sentences are punchy and intense. Long sentences are
distancing, reflective and more
abstract.
Loose sentences point at the end. Periodic sentences point at the
beginning, followed by modifiers
and phrases.
The inverted order of an interrogative sentence cues the reader
to a question and creates tension
between speaker and listener.

17. Short sentences are often emphatic, passionate or flippant,
whereas longer sentences suggest
greater thought.
Sentence structure affects tone.
SHIFT IN TONE:
Good authors are rarely monotone. A speaker's attitude can shift
on a topic, or an author might
have one attitude toward the audience and another toward the
subject. The following are some
clues to watch for shifts in tone:
• key words (but, yet, nevertheless, however, although)
• punctuation (dashes, periods, colons)
• paragraph divisions
• changes in sentence length
• sharp contrasts in diction
The Literary Superpower Tool of TONE

18. Tone is defined as the writer's or speaker's attitude toward the
subject and the audience.
Understanding tone in prose and poetry can be challenging
because the reader doesn't have voice
inflection to obscure or to carry meaning. Thus, an appreciation
of word choice, details, imagery,
and language all contribute to the understanding of tone. To
misinterpret tone is to misinterpret
meaning.
DIDLS: The Key to TONE
Diction - the connotation of the word
choice. What words does the author
choose? Consider his/her word choice
compared to another. Why did the
author choose that particular word?
What are the connotations of that word
choice?
Images - vivid appeals to understanding
through the senses - concrete language.
What images does the author use? What
does he/she focus on in a sensory
(sight, touch, taste, smell, etc.) way?
The kinds of images the author puts in
or leaves out reflect his/her style? Are
they vibrant? Prominent? Plain? NOTE:
Images differ from detail in the degree

19. to which they appeal to the senses.
Details - facts that are included or
those that are omitted . What
details are does the author choose
to include? What do they imply?
What does the author choose to
exclude? What are the
connotations of their choice of
details? PLEASE NOTE: Details are
facts or fact-lets. They differ from
images in that they don't have a
strong sensory appeal.
Language - the overall use of
language, such as formal, clinical,
jargon. What is the overall
impression of the language the
author uses? Does it reflect
education? A particular profession?
Intelligence? Is it plain? Ornate?
Simple? Clear? Figurative? Poetic?
Make sure you don't skip this step.
Sentence Structure - how
structure affects the reader's
attitude. What are the sentences
like? Are they simple with one or

20. two clauses? Do they have
multiple phrases? Are they
choppy? Flowing? Sinuous like a
snake? Is there antithesis,
chiasmus, parallel construction?
What emotional impression do
they leave? If we are talking about
poetry, what is the meter? Is there
a rhyme scheme?
HOW TO IDENTIFY TONE
STEP ONE: Use DIDLS
STEP TWO: Begin with a simple tone such as positive,
negative, neutral,
philosophical, satirical.

21. STEP THREE: Refine the tone by selecting an adjective that is
more descriptive.
Here is a short list of simple but helpful "tone words":
Angry Sad Sentimental Afraid
Sharp Cold Fanciful Detached
Upset Urgent Complimentary Contemptuous
Silly Joking Condescending Happy
Boring Poignant Sympathetic Confused
Apologetic Hollow Childish Humorous
Joyful Peaceful Horrific Allusive
Mocking Sarcastic Sweet Objective
Nostalgic Vexed Vibrant Zealous
Tired Frivolous Irrelevant Bitter
Audacious Benevolent Dreamy Shocking
Seductive Restrained Somber Candid
Proud Giddy Pitiful Dramatic
Provocative Didactic Lugubrious Sentimental
ADD MORE OF YOUR OWN TONE WORDS BELOW!!
LANGUAGE:

22. H101 Theatrical Analysis Example
Basic Information
Title: Full House Season 2 Episode 3
Creators: Jeff Franklin Genre: Drama, Comedy, and Family
First Aired: September 22, 1987
Audience: Age 12-20
I watched Friends on 11/23/16 through YouTube
Theatrical Elements
Plot: Jesse and Joey are offered a full time job that pays well.
The job will be long hours and take up
most of their time. They will not have any more time to spend
with the girls. The girls are sad about it.
Jesse and Joey need to decide if they are going to accept the job
position or find a different alternative to
make the job and their duties as parents work.
Characters: There are five main characters in this episode of
Full House. First there is Danny Tanner, he
is the biological father of the three girls. He is a clean freak and
always well dressed and mannered. There
is Joey, who is a comedian. He stands out with his wardrobe and
his personality, he has agreed to help

23. Danny raise his three girls. Then there is Uncle Jesse, who is
the rock n roll edgy uncle. His wardrobe is
very rock n roll and he has more of a rebellious personality, he
also has agreed to help Danny raise the
three girls. The first daughter’s name is DJ Tanner, she is a
normal child that lost her mom. She is the big
sister. Then there is Stephanie Tanner who has a cute
personality, she is funny and is the middle child.
Last there is also Michelle Tanner, she is a toddler that is barely
walking and can barely talk.
Thought: To never forget what your priority duties are. Don not
let something else that is not as
important to distract you and pull you away from what your
responsibilities are. Try to find an alternative
to make things work.
Diction: A lot of the talks in this episode were from the heart. It
gave each character to be able what they
felt about the situation. Joey used humor because that was the
only way he knows how to communicate
which I think lightened up the show a bit to take it away a little
from the sadness.
Spectacle: I think filming the scenes in the house and at the
work office was great. Because it two

24. different places Joey and Jesse need to choose where they are
going to spend the majority of their time at.
The office because it means work and at the house because it
shows side of the family and the love they
have for the three girls and what they will miss out on.
Song: I feel that the music that they chose for the scenes was
right for each scene. When Joey and Jesse
were at the office it was more the fun up lifting music. When
they though aout the money and jut the
excitement of getting the job offer, but once they cooled down
and took time to really see what they were
going to miss out on the music got sad. The music at the house
was sad, because it is where Joey and
Uncle Jesse saw what they were missing out with the girls.
Conclusion:
1. I believe the message from the episode really shows how
much love Jesse and Joey have for the
three girls. Joey and Jesse ended up accepting the job but only
if they were allowed to work from
home to be able to spend time with the girls as well. I think the
message shows that no matter
what you get offered you need to make sure you are meeting up
to the requirements of your
priorities first before you accept or do anything else.

25. 2. I feel that the writer was trying to get through to the viewers
to not forget your priorities
especially because of work. Or in this case it was children and
their duties as guardians.