Words to Know

1. Words to Know A Speaker’s Tools

2. Slang A kind of language occurring mostly in casual and playful speech made up of short-lived coinages and figures of speech that are used in place of standard terms for added raciness, humor, irreverence, or other effect

3. When/How to use Slang Mostly used when speaking to an audience of peers; should not be used when speaking to a formal audience Should be used to relate to the audience and have an impact

4. Example of Slang “flipping out” is slang for “losing one's mind”

5. Formal Writing Writing in which The tone, vocabulary, and syntax is written in a way that is scholarly and academic; be confident and offer support Things to avoid: contractions, casual expressions/slang, and abbreviated words

6. When/How to use Formal Writing Formal writing is mostly used when speaking when in a position of authority, in academics, when writing letters in a businesslike manner and when talking to people who are considered to be over you

7. Example of Formal Writing This is to inform you that your book has been rejected by our publishing company as it was not up to the required standard. In case you would like us to reconsider it, we would suggest that you go over it and make some necessary changes.

8. Informal Writing Writing in which The tone, vocabulary, and syntax is written in a way that is relaxed and uses more of a regular vernacular

9. When/How to use Informal Writing informal writing is mostly used when speaking to someone you know or to reach an audience by speaking on their level and using their words

10. Example of Informal Writing You know that book I wrote? Well, the publishing company rejected it. They thought it was awful. But hey, I did the best I could, and I think it was great. I’m not gonna redo it the way they said I should.

11. Repetition Repeating or reiterating ideas or words

12. When/How to use Repetition used to reinforce important ideas or words that are supposed to make an impact on the audience

13. Example of Repetition “But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself in exile in his own land.”

14. Alliteration The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

15. When/How to use Alliteration Used to appeal to listeners and make the message easy to remember

16. Example of Alliteration "Somewhere at this very moment a child is being born in America. Let it be our cause to give that child a happy home, a healthy family, and a hopeful future." -- Bill Clinton, 1992 Democratic National Convention Acceptance Address

17. Metaphor a figure of speech concisely expressed by comparing two things, saying that one is the other

18. When/How to use Metaphor Used to make an impact on the listeners by comparing two things or associating two things that the audience can relate to or will have a desired effect on an audience

19. Example of a Metaphor "The streets were a furnace, the sun an executioner." Cynthia Ozick, "Rosa"

20. Imagery Creating mental images of a situation by choosing vivid verbs and descriptive adjectives and adverbs

21. When/How to use Imagery It is good to use imagery when you are trying to get your audience to relate to the situation you are describing or when you want them to get a mental image

22. Analogy A comparison based on similarities

23. When/How to use an Analogy To show how two things are similar. This is good to use to link two ideas listeners may not link otherwise. Plays on what the audience knows as familiar and associates it with something larger.

24. Compare and Contrast Showing how a situation is similar or different to another

25. When/How to use Compare and Contrast Many times using compare and contrast builds credit for your argument because you show the similarities in your argument using examples from other credible sources

26. Examples of Compare and Contrast John F Kennedy wanted to encourage American citizens to become more active in helping the country. He could have said “We all need your help” and it would have been forgotten two days later. Instead he used a contrast and said – “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”