A Father's Journey by Frank Bruni
The following is a brief DIDLS breakdown of the Fran Bruni article.
The Diction: wordlessly, discomfort, whisper, mulling are used to connote a rather pensive, quiet, and reflective tone; commandeered is used to connote a powerful, self-confident tone.
The Images : "He’d heard it said that peculiar upbringings turned children gay. “I thought about it a lot,” he said, “and I came to the conclusion that it had to be in your genes, in you, because I couldn’t think how the environment for you was any different than it was for your two brothers.”
The Details : Bruni highlights the personal, mostly one-on-one, interactions with his father. He describes these as light on discussion and heavy on the more subtle, yet infinitely more profound, messages that are shared through body language. He stresses the times where he and his father would eat together. The act of eating together seems to be the unspoken, sincere love that binds them together. It's his father's way of saying - without saying - that, "You are my son. You will always be my son and I will always be your father. I will always protect you, love you, and give you what you need."
The Language: Simple, yet emotional.
The Syntax : Bruni's use of short, antithesis sentences - "not in disgust but in discomfort, not in a huff but in a whisper "- and crisp simple sentences to end off paragraphs - "I saw a lot of his back" and, " A corner was turned" - leave the most resonance. The antithesis sentences provide a very powerful image of an "old school" male dealing very singularly and silently with the changing times. The simple sentences are incisive hammers that neatly sum-up the main message of the their respective paragraphs.
The following is a brief DIDLS breakdown of the Fran Bruni article.
The Diction: wordlessly, discomfort, whisper, mulling are used to connote a rather pensive, quiet, and reflective tone; commandeered is used to connote a powerful, self-confident tone.
The Images : "He’d heard it said that peculiar upbringings turned children gay. “I thought about it a lot,” he said, “and I came to the conclusion that it had to be in your genes, in you, because I couldn’t think how the environment for you was any different than it was for your two brothers.”
The Details : Bruni highlights the personal, mostly one-on-one, interactions with his father. He describes these as light on discussion and heavy on the more subtle, yet infinitely more profound, messages that are shared through body language. He stresses the times where he and his father would eat together. The act of eating together seems to be the unspoken, sincere love that binds them together. It's his father's way of saying - without saying - that, "You are my son. You will always be my son and I will always be your father. I will always protect you, love you, and give you what you need."
The Language: Simple, yet emotional.
The Syntax : Bruni's use of short, antithesis sentences - "not in disgust but in discomfort, not in a huff but in a whisper "- and crisp simple sentences to end off paragraphs - "I saw a lot of his back" and, " A corner was turned" - leave the most resonance. The antithesis sentences provide a very powerful image of an "old school" male dealing very singularly and silently with the changing times. The simple sentences are incisive hammers that neatly sum-up the main message of the their respective paragraphs.
DiDLS : AN ONGOING ANALYSIS
Test your skills identifying TONE and MEANING in a variety of prose selections; test your skills applying TONE to impact your own writing.
PART A
PART B
PART C
LITERATURE STUDIES EVALUATION : PART A
can identify important diction and comment on the importance (i.e. connotation)
1 2 3 4 5
can identify powerful and meaningful images within prose selections
1 2 3 4 5
can identify details and summarize details
1 2 3 4 5
can identify language style
1 2 3 4 5
can identify examples of effective syntax and comment on effectiveness
1 2 3 4 5
WRITING EVALUATION : PART B
can use diction effectively, accurately and creatively
1 2 3 4 5
can use syntax effectively, accurately and creatively
1 2 3 4 5
can use literary/poetic devices effectively, accurately and originally
1 2 3 4 5
can write a clear, organized, engaging, and original piece of prose
1 2 3 4 5
MEDIA STUDIES/ORAL EVALUATION : PART C
can use powerful, consistent images that capture the tone of a narrative within a media product
1 2 3 4 5
can use effective and powerful music/sound effects to enhance the media product
1 2 3 4 5
can use voice enhance the media product
1 2 3 4 5
PART A
- Over a three week period, read three robust and sophisticated prose articles / short stories from reputable publications (i.e. Walrus Magazine, The Globe and Mail, The Independent, The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker).
- Use the DIDLS method of analysis for each article/short story. Use the Frank Bruni example for style and format.
- Include author, title, source for each when you submit your DIDLS analysis.
PART B
- Consult the list you developed / compiled from the Diction part of the analysis.
- Choose 10 powerful and fresh words.
- Use the words as a Muse and write an original and creative piece of "storyish" prose.
- The prose must also use the basic sentence patterns, at least one rhetorical sentence pattern, and various literary/poetic devices.
PART C
- Create a book trailer that sells your prose. The trailer must include images/videos, voice, and music/sound effects.
- Part of the "story" must be dramatically read.
- The images must NOT be photostock watermarked.
- The images must be consistent in tone and content.
- The voice not be rushed or montone
LITERATURE STUDIES EVALUATION : PART A
can identify important diction and comment on the importance (i.e. connotation)
1 2 3 4 5
can identify powerful and meaningful images within prose selections
1 2 3 4 5
can identify details and summarize details
1 2 3 4 5
can identify language style
1 2 3 4 5
can identify examples of effective syntax and comment on effectiveness
1 2 3 4 5
WRITING EVALUATION : PART B
can use diction effectively, accurately and creatively
1 2 3 4 5
can use syntax effectively, accurately and creatively
1 2 3 4 5
can use literary/poetic devices effectively, accurately and originally
1 2 3 4 5
can write a clear, organized, engaging, and original piece of prose
1 2 3 4 5
MEDIA STUDIES/ORAL EVALUATION : PART C
can use powerful, consistent images that capture the tone of a narrative within a media product
1 2 3 4 5
can use effective and powerful music/sound effects to enhance the media product
1 2 3 4 5
can use voice enhance the media product
1 2 3 4 5