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Creative Writing MELC 1

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ROWENA PALACIO
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
10 views

Creative Writing MELC 1

Uploaded by

ROWENA PALACIO
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Imagery, Diction,

Figures of Speech
and Specific
Experiences
SENSORY IMAGERY
Sensory imagery is a literary
device writers employ to engage
a reader’s mind on multiple
levels. Sensory imagery explores
the five human senses: sight,
sound, taste, touch, and smell.
TYPES OF SENSORY IMAGERY
1. Visual imagery engages the sense
of sight. This is what you can see, and
includes visual descriptions. Physical
attributes including color, size, shape,
lightness and darkness, shadows, and
shade are all part of visual imagery.
2. Gustatory imagery engages
the sense of taste. This is what you
can taste, and includes flavors. This
can include the five basic tastes—
sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami
—as well as the textures and
sensations tied to the act of eating.
3. Tactile imagery engages the
sense of touch. This is what you can
feel, and includes textures and the
many sensations a human being
experiences when touching something.
Differences in temperature is also a
part of tactile imagery.
4. Auditory imagery engages
the sense of hearing. This is the
way things sound. Literary devices
such as onomatopoeia and
alliteration can help create sounds
in writing.
5. Olfactory imagery engages the sense
of smell. Scent is one of the most direct
triggers of memory and emotion, but can be
difficult to write about. Since taste and
smell are so closely linked, you’ll sometimes
find the same words (such as “sweet”) used
to describe both. Simile is common in
olfactory imagery, because it allows writers
to compare a particular scent to common
smells like dirt, grass, manure, or roses.
6. Kinesthetic imagery (a.k.a
kinesthesia) engages the feeling of
movement. This can be similar to tactile
imagery but deals more with full-body
sensations, such as those experienced
during exercise. Rushing water, flapping
wings, and pounding hearts are all
examples of kinesthetic imagery.
DICTION
In writing, diction is the
strategic choice of words
based on the audience,
context, or situation. It can
also express additional
meanings or particular styles.
Diction determines the words you use,
which consequently determines the
writing style and type of tone you use.
Through diction, a writer can sound
friendly or serious, knowledgeable or
clueless, poetic or dry.
DICTION IN WRITING
VS DICTION IN SPEECH
Writing- correct choice of
words
Speech- enunciation or how
well a speaker pronounces a
word
DICTION VS SYNTAX
Diction is often confused with
another language concept, syntax.
While diction deals with the
choice of words, syntax deals with
the arrangement and organization
of words.
9 TYPES OF DICTION IN
WRITING
1.Formal diction uses the proper
definitions of words in a mostly
serious tone. This is the style of
workplaces, schools, and other formal
environments.
Ex. Respectfully, I must disagree.
2. Informal diction is the opposite
of formal diction; it involves the playful
use of words, including jokes and
wordplay. Informal diction is the way you
talk to the people closest to you.
Ex. No way, that’s not true at all.
3. Pedantic diction uses an excessive
amount of academic or “big” words, as if
the speaker is trying to prove how smart
they are. Pedantic diction comes across
as arrogant in real life, but it’s
nonetheless useful as a writing tool.
Ex. In examination of your stance, I have
identified some critical errors that I will now
expound on.
4. Pedestrian diction is considered the
opposite of pedantic; instead of trying to
sound smart, it’s trying to sound normal or
common. Pedestrian diction, which doesn’t
use fancy words or slang, is thought to be
how regular people talk.
Ex. I understand what you’re saying, but
there’s something very important that
you’re missing.
5. Slang is an extension of informal diction,
encompasses words and phrases that only a
particular type of person understands. Slang is
often divided by generation, such as “sussy,”
used by Gen Z, and “nifty,” used by baby
boomers. Slang can also encompass
business jargon, which is slang that’s understood
only by people in a certain profession or trade.
Ex. You’re full of it!
6. Colloquial diction refers to specific words or
phrases used in particular geographical locations.
For example, people in the Northeast and on the
West Coast of the US use the word “soda,” those
in the Northwest and Midwest say “pop,” and
those in the Deep South use “coke” as a generic
term
7. Abstract diction refers to discussing
something intangible, like an idea or
emotion. It’s hard to put abstract
thoughts into words, so abstract diction
often comes across as vague or
ambiguous.
Ex. What you said doesn’t feel right.
8. Concrete diction uses specific and direct
language with minimal ambiguity. Concrete
diction describes things as they are,
adhering to the proper definitions of words
and citing only the facts.
Ex. I understand that you believe you are correct,
but you are missing a necessary piece of
information.
9. Poetic diction makes use of rhymes,
rhythm, and phonetics to make words
sound pleasing together. While it’s out of
place in everyday speech and writing, it’s a
necessary element of many creative
outlets such as poetry, song lyrics, rap, and
to some extent speechwriting.
Ex. What a foolish and ignorant thing you just said
Hear my rebuttal and your cheeks will burn red
FIGURES OF SPEECH
Figures of Speech is an intentional
deviation from ordinary language,
chosen to produce a rhetorical effect.
It is a word or phrase used in a non-
literal sense for rhetorical or vivid
effect.
TYPES OF FIGURES OF SPEECH

1. Simile is comparing two


unlike things using like or as.
Example: Leon’s hair is as black
as charcoal.
2. Metaphor is comparing two
things without using like or as.
Example: The world is a stage
where we are merely players.
3. Personification is
giving life to non-living
objects or things.
Example: The windows
protested as it opened slowly.
4. Hyperbole is a term which
uses exaggeration to add a more
dramatic meaning to the
sentence.
Example: Maria’s bag weighs a
ton.
5. Irony is a statement which
conveys the opposite meaning
of what is literally said.
Example: The police station got
robbed.
6. Alliteration is when there is
repetition of sound within a
phrase or sentence.
Example: She sells seashells on
the seashore.
7. Antithesis is applying a
juxtaposition of ideas which
are contrasting in a
statement that is balanced.
Example: Man proposes, God
disposes.
8. Assonance is the similarity
in sound between vowels in the
middle of neighboring words.
Example: How now, brown cow.
9. Anaphora is when a word is
repeated multiple times within a
phrase.
Example: He had one apple, one
banana and one pear.
10. Apostrophe is a direct
address either to an absent
person or to a non-human entity.
Example: Come on trousers, you
have to fit me.
11. Euphemism is the substitution
of a mild or vague expression for a
harsh or unpleasant one.
Example: The former president
passed away. (died)
12. Onomatopoeia is the use of
words that imitate the sounds
associated with the objects or
actions they refer to.
Example: The tick tock of the clock
made the party stop.
13. Litotes is an
understatement which applies a
negative word to express the
meaning of the affirmative.
Example: The dress is not too
bad.
14. Metonymy is when a thing
is used to represent something
related to it.
Example: The crown has
spoken.
•Meaning: The king has spoken.
15. Synecdoche is when a part of
something is used to refer to the whole.
Example: Many wheels have passed
already.
• Meaning: Many cars have passed
already.
16. Oxymoron is apparently
contradictory terms that are
combined to produce a special
effect.
•Example: She had bitter-sweet
memories with her boyfriend.
Specific experiences are
also important to be included in
your writing for your readers to be
able to connect with the situation
or experience you shared to
whatever piece of writing you
make.

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