DIDLS are techniques essential to both the closed and open prompt.
DICTION: this is the analysis of single words. One must assess the elevation of the words; are they formal and sophisticated, or written colloquially? Regionalism and dialect also must be looked at; sometimes deliberate regional words and dialect are used to make an important point. Connotation is the things people associate with a certain word, while denotation is the actual dictionary meaning of a word. Concrete language is more exact, while abstract language is intangible and ambiguous. All of these things are utilized purposely by authors.
IMAGERY: Imagery appeals vividly to the senses. The pictures in the mind of the reader are fully formed, sensory, and create an interior feeling. One must pay attention to repetition of certain images.
DETAILS: Every detail in a work of literature is chosen carefully and purposefully by the author. Readers must pay attention the importance of every included detail.
LANGUAGE: Language is the devices such as similes, metaphors, and alliterations in a work. These devices are also carefully chosen by the author to contribute to the meaning or feeling of the piece.
SYNTAX: Syntax deals not with single words, but how those words are constructed into sentences. This includes simple repetition as well as things like asyndeton and polysyndeton. Syntax affects the tone, pace, and emphasis of the sentences in a work. Inverted sentences, pauses, questions, and exclamations are all part of syntax.
HOW TO WRITE
It’s extremely important that one spends time with the prompt before beginning to write the essays. It’s necessary to understand everything that’s being asked in the prompt (all of the goals), this includes techniques (DIDLS), effects, and meanings. The techniques are used to create a mood, or some effect on the reader. These effects contribute to the overall meaning of the piece. If an essay is asking for comparisons and contrasts, it’s important to do BOTH to answer the question entirely. For the open prompt the introduction should be organized as such: the first sentence should provide a general statement, a kind of introduction to the subject. The second should provide background information. The third should be the thesis, which provides an outline for the rest of the essay. It’s important to remember that THESIS ANSWERS PROMPT. The thesis should answer the question of the prompt, and the rest of the essay should provide evidence for the claims. Essays should be written in plain style: direct, clear, concise, NOT wordy. It’s also important to not structure an essay around techniques. A paragraph should not be centered on diction, but an idea and how diction contributes to this idea.
I think that the first step in writing any essay should be determining what you find the meaning of the piece to be. This is a more complicated question then it appears, and we don't really have much time for contemplation. I've found that you can write nearly any essay with a few choice texts, the two I like are "Brave New World" and "A Clockwork Orange". Maybe see if you can find a text you really understand and enjoy and spend some time thinking about it preparation for the AP.
ReplyDeleteI think i was a good idea to give DIDLS a post of its own. Besides reading novels, it is what we have spent the majority of our class learning and applying. As always, you do an excellent job organizing your post. One thing I may have added is how you use DIDLS different for each type of prompt. You did mention that it is essential for both open and closed prompts, but maybe expand that thought a little more. Good job.
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