S Subject

What is the author’s topic? Think beyond the

title—what is it really about?
O Occasion
What event sparked the writing of this piece
(exigence)? What is the context? What was
happening around the construction of this
essay, article, or speech?
A Audience
For what audience was this piece intended?
Consider gender, ethnicity, age, level of
education, occupation, and station in life.
P Purpose
What is the author’s purpose or goal? With
what idea does the author want the audience to
agree?
S Speaker
Based on the passage, what information can
we gather about the writer? What biases
might this writer have? What does he or she
do to build trust with the audience?

STRATEGIES DEVICES

tone syntax

rhetorical figurative
modes language
imagery
organization
diction

point of view detail

irony
 RHETORICAL MODES DICTION
exemplification FIGURATIVE
connotation and denotation LANGUAGE
cause/effect formal and informal
classification/division cliché
colloquial, slang, and jargon idiom
extended definition
concrete and abstract apostrophe
argumentation
persuasion literal and figurative personification
description euphonious and cacophonous metaphor
comparison/contrast monosyllabic and polysyllabic simile
exposition analogy
process analysis POINT OF VIEW paradox
oxymoron
narration first person
juxtaposition
innocent eye
SYNTAX antithesis
stream of consciousness litotes
**PACE!** questionable/unreliable narrator
**EMPHASIS!** metonymy
second person synecdoche
(EYELINER!)
third person limited meiosis
telegraphic
short third person omniscient understatement
hyperbole
medium
long and involved
main/independent clause ORGANIZATION
dependent/subordinate clause spatial cause/effect sequential
loose sentence comparison contrast general to specific
periodic sentence order of importance advantages and disadvantages
balanced sentence problem to solution
split order sentence
natural order sentence
inverted order sentence
interrupted sentence 1. Read the prompt and underline what you’re
repetition
anaphora supposed to do.
anastrophe 2. Read the passage once and mark where the
antithesis
asyndeton tone shifts.
chiasmus 3. Sketch out SOAPS quickly.
epiphora/epistrophe
juxtaposition 4. Read the passage a second time looking for
parataxis and marking strategies and devices that help the
litotes
parallelism
author communicate his or her purpose.
polysyndeton 5. Draft a thesis statement using the tones
syllepsis
zeugma
and the author’s purpose. Depending on the type
of thesis you write, you can also offer a blueprint
DON’T GET LOST IN THE WEEDS! of the strategies and devices you’ll discuss.
Worry about pace and emphasis,
not esoteric vocabulary that 6. Write the essay on lined paper.
a college freshman would not have.
 Tone Words in Categories
Positive Neutral Negative Other
Kindness/Love Happiness Neutrality/Lack
Anger Criticism/ Fear
Affectionate Amused of Emotion Absurd
Acerbic Disapproval Afraid
Benevolent Awestruck Ambivalent Befuddled
Angry Accusatory Anxious
Compassionate Celebratory Agreeable Childish
Frustrated Argumentative Cautionary
Fond Cheerful Apathetic Concerned
Fuming Bitter Embarrassed
Infatuated Delighted Callous Confused
Hard-hearted Caustic Distressed
Sentimental Dreamy Cold Diffident
Incensed Critical Threatened
Sympathetic Expectant Compliant Dignified
Inflammatory Cynical Pensive
Tender Fanciful Conciliatory Evasive
Irritated Disapproving Uncertain
Giddy Factual Formal
Offended Disparaging Uneasy
Happy Impartial Abstruse
Outraged Hypercritical Worried
Approval Joyous Indifferent Frivolous
Resentful Farcical
Complimentary Merry Insipid Incisive
Vexed Faultfinding
Effusive Optimistic Detached Informal
Malicious Arrogance
Fawning Peaceful Diplomatic Inane
Sadness/ Mocking Condescending
Obsequious Playful Dispassionate Ironic
Fatigue Nasty Demeaning
Pleased Docile Intimate
Aggrieved Pessimistic Disdainful
Reassured Flippant Jaded
Bored Sarcastic Egotistical
Honesty/ Relaxed Hollow Learned
Depressed Sardonic Esoteric
Humility Relieved Informative Nostalgic
Disheartened Satirical Facetious
Apologetic Matter-of-fact Philosophical
Gloomy Scathing Indignant
Ardent Humor Objective Placating
Grim Scornful Narcissistic
Candid Comic Resigned Pragmatic
Guilty Sharp Mock-serious
Earnest Humorous Restrained Supercilious
Heartbroken Skeptical Moralistic
Frank Whimsical Serious Wretched
Lugubrious Suspicious Patronizing
Gentle Witty Tolerant
Pitiful Vindictive Pompous
Gullible Unbiased
Regretful Pretentious
Humble Force Proud
Remorseful Rebellion
Impressionable Aggressive Righteous
Self-pitying Belligerent
Modest Assertive Taunting
Solemn Contemptuous
Naïve Forceful
Somber Defiant
Reflective Impassioned Sorrowful Disdainful
Reticent Imploring
Sulking Incredulous
Reverent Intense
Tired Insolent
Submissive Passionate
Tragic Irreverent
Thoughtful Persuasive
Unhappy
Unassuming Urgent
Upset

You may also describe an author’s tone with more than oneword:

Calculated indifference admiring support excessive enthusiasm

Amused boredom veiled disdain masked disdain
Unmitigated delight growing anger reluctant approval
Mild condescension veiled distaste clear distaste
Apologetic embarrassment cold objectivity righteous indignation
Detached sympathy satisfied curiosity blatant intolerance
Amused affection concealed intolerance vigorousdenunciation