CREATIVE WRITING

DICTION
Quarter 1 week 2

Prepared by:
ALFREDO B. MAYGAY III
OBJECTIVES:

• Recognize common mistakes in

writing; execute revisions on
diction; and formulate a real – life
scenario on home quarantine
experience.
PRETEST:

Direction: Put a check (✓) on statements

that you think has a complete thought, has
no unnecessary dangling phrases or has
no redundancy in descriptions. Put an X if it
is the opposite or the sentences need
revision. Write the answer on a separate
sheet of paper.
_____1.The old man looks at the young lady.
_____2. The old man gazes at the voluptuous young
lady.
_____3. President Duterte cracks a joke.
_____4. President Duterte shares witty statements to
ease the Filipinos dilemma on the pandemic.
_____5. The actor overjoyed as he sees friends
solicit cash and in kind to help him back on his feet.
_____6. The actor was deeply moved upon knowing that his friends
solicit cash and in kind to help him back on his feet.
_____7. The family was all ears and felt they were in cloud nine
when they received the (SAP) Social Amelioration Program.
____8. The family was happy when they received the (SAP) Social
Amelioration Program.
_____9. The COVID-19 pandemic causes deaths and affects the
economy worldwide.
_____10. The COVID-19 pandemic causes departing from life
people and affecting the economy worldwide.
1. What is Diction?
2. Why diction is important?
3. What are the types of
diction?
WHAT IS DICTION?

• Diction is a literary device used by writers to

convey their message in a specific style and
tone.
• In other words, diction encompasses
the distinct word choices, tone, and style used
by a writer.
• It is the style of speaking or
writing determined by the choice
of words by a speaker or a writer.
• It is the choice of words often
separates the good writing from
bad writing.
What is the Purpose of Diction?
• Diction is choosing
your words with care
to direct a story,
establish a
background, or set a
tone.
7 Types of Diction with Examples
 For example:
• In response to a request that
• Formal Diction you do something, formal
Formal diction word choices diction might sound like, “I will
are very specific and proper. address that issue right away.”
• Alternatively, using informal
diction, the response would be
more casual like, “You got it.”
• Both sentences mean the
same thing, but they convey
distinct tones.
• Pedantic Diction Sheldon Cooper of the hit
• Pedantic diction is when a sitcom The Big Bang
writer uses unnecessarily long Theory is an excellent
words, more complex example of someone using
sentence structures, or pedantic diction.
archaic words to show their
intelligence.
• This comes across as Here’s a glimpse of
pretentious, making the reader Sheldon’s pedantic diction in
feel like they’re being talked action:
down to, and also making
them less interested in what
the writer has to say.
• Sheldon: “I’m writing an • Sheldon: You tell me.
appeal to the faculty “Dear esteemed
senate so that I can colleagues. As you may
move on from string know, I have requested to
theory.” change my field of study.
My decision to do so is, I
• Leonard: “How’s it believe, in the best interest
going?” of science. At your
convenience, I’d be happy
to explain it to you in
words you’ll understand.”
Colloquial Diction
• Colloquial diction is the use of For example:
informal words or expressions • “She’s fixin’ to go to the store sometime
associated with a specific soon.”
• Fixin’ is a southern colloquialism that
region or time period. means getting ready.
• Now, writers use colloquial • For anyone not from the south, this
sentence translates to:
diction because it helps a
• “She’s getting ready to go to the store
sentence sound more natural soon.”
and relaxed — it also adds • Notice how the former sentence has more
personality to dialogue, depth and personality than the latter
sentence?  Also, did you picture two
making it rich and memorable. completely different speakers? That’s the
power of colloquial diction.
Slang Diction
• For example, slang from
• Slang is a type of informal the 1970s, like far
language originating with out or groovy for cool, is
one group of people that rarely heard today.
eventually makes its way • Some examples of current
into the greater lexicon. slang terms would
• Slang words tend to be be tea for gossip, shady fo
generational and last only r suspicious,
for a short period. or ripped for physically fit.
Abstract diction
• Abstract diction is the description of
emotions or ideas.
• For example, take
• Now, with abstract diction, you can these powerful words from
use metaphors and other figures of Aristotle:
speech to present concepts that • “Love is composed of a single
may be difficult to understand. soul inhabiting two bodies.”
• To illustrate this, let’s look at the
• See how something
concept of love.
• Love is intangible — you can’t as abstract and intangible as
describe its physical appearance love becomes
and it doesn’t have features you more concrete and tangible?
can highlight. But, as a writer, you
paint a picture of love with abstract
diction.
Concrete diction • For example, if you were telling
someone about the dinner, you had
• Concrete diction at the new restaurant in town, you
could say, “I had the steak.”
uses specific and • Or you could say, “I had the
marinated flank steak, sauteed
detailed words asparagus with aged gouda, and
to vivid imagery for roasted fingerling potatoes. Then
for dessert, we had butterscotch
the reader. banana splits. It was amazing!”
• Which description paints a more
detailed image of your meal?
Poetic diction • The poem Up In a Swing by
• Poetic diction is the use of Robert Louis Stevenson is a
language to evoke a mood or good example of poetic
feeling. diction.
• Specifically, poetic diction relies on
repetition, alliteration, figurative
“How do you like to go up
language, and other devices to in a swing,
create an emotional response in the
reader. Up in the air so blue?
• Although poetic diction is most
often used in poetry, it can be found
Oh, I do think it the
in other forms of writing, such as pleasantest thing
song lyrics or even advertising
copy. Ever a child can do!”
Activity 2:
REMEMBER: What word / phrases used affect the reader’s
perspective and understanding on you as a writer.

• Write on a separate sheet of paper a

significant scenario / event in your quarantine
home experienced during the COVID-19
pandemic. Be cautious on the word / phrase
usage as learned on the topic on diction.
Create a title to your writing.
Activity 3: COMIC STRIP (30 points)

• DIRECTION: The class will divided into 5

groups. In every group, make a comic
strip using the 7 kinds of diction. Choose
only 3 to 4 kinds of Diction and present to
the class after 20 minutes.
ASSIGNMENT:

• Research and write the types of

Figure of Speech. Write your
answer in a 1 whole sheet of
paper and also to your notebook
for your reference.