Writer’s Tool	Definition	Frames for Use In Your Analytical Writing
Allusion	A reference to pop culture, a piece of literature, or an actual historical event outside of the text.	The allusion to ______reinforces the idea that _____... The author alludes to ______ in order to ______...
Alliteration/Assonance	Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds; assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. Both contribute to the sound of the piece and can help create the mood or atmosphere of the piece. Other sounds might affect the mood of the piece, like onomatopoeia.	The alliteration of ______ contributes to the ______ mood of the poem… The alliterative quality of ______ assists in the ______... The poet uses assonance in the phrase “______” (citation) in order to ______...
Characterization	Portraying or describing characters through actions, exposition (description), physical characteristics and dialogue.	______ is characterized as ______, which is surprising because… The characterization of ______ as ______ reveals that… The ______ of the character reveals that he is a ______..
Figurative Language: Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Symbol, Hyperbole, Understatement	Figurative language creates comparisons, connects ideas in the text to concrete images, or distorts ideas in the text; figurative language intends to help the reader visualize or understand concepts in the text.	The ______ is a metaphor for ______, revealing that… The author communicates ______ metaphorically, connecting it to ______. The metaphorical _______ reveals that… The author’s comment on ______ is understated, meaning… The author personifies ______ in order to… This hyperbolic language of ______ reveals that… ______symbolizes ______, revealing that…
Foreshadowing	The author lays clues in the text that suggest future events.	The ______ foreshadows the story’s ending because… The foreshadowing of ______ prevents the reader from _______...
Irony	When the opposite of what the reader expects happens.	Ironically, ______ … The irony of ______ reveals that… It is ironic that ______...
Juxtaposition	An author puts two things next to each other in order to provoke thought, in order to have the reader make a connection.	The author juxtaposes ______and ______ in order to… The juxtaposition of ______and ______ creates…
Mood	The atmosphere, the feeling, created in a piece of literature. Like an author’s tone, mood is the result of a use of tools rather than a tool itself.	The mood created in ______ is one of ______, which ______..... The ______mood is created through ______...
Syntax	Sentence Structure: Authors may use fragments or long, run-on like sentences filled with dashes or semi-colons. Authors may use techniques such as listing, repetition, parallel structure in order to capture the reader (or to create a mood).	The author repeats ______in order to convey that ______. The author uses fragments in this passage to ______. The run-on like syntax in this passage creates a ______feeling, showing that ______.
Theme	The idea that a text is exploring or the author’s attitude (tone) towards a topic. Theme is not a tool, but what is revealed about the text as a result of the use of other tools.	The theme of ______ is ______... The novel’s theme, ______, … The theme of ______ is present throughout the text, as revealed by ______...
Tone	An author’s attitude towards a subject: angry, satiric, cynical, serious, sarcastic, light, happy, etc…Tone is created through the tools the author uses rather than a tool itself.	The ______tone of the essay is created through the use of _____. The author’s tone is ______, which is revealed by the use of ______...