By the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:
- Explain how diction and style influence the effectiveness of persuasive texts.
- Compare examples of diction used in different contexts to show their impact on audience reception.
- Compose short persuasive sentences using diction appropriate for specific audiences.
- Diction - the writer’s word choice that shapes meaning, tone, and effectiveness.
- Formal Diction - professional, precise, and grammatically correct word choice, often used in reports and speeches.
- Informal Diction - conversational and casual style, suitable for narratives and personal communication.
- Slang - very informal expressions used by particular groups, often playful or trendy.
- Style - the way something is written, affecting how the message is received.
- Tone - the writer’s attitude toward the subject or audience, revealed through diction and style.
- Target Audience - the specific group of people a persuasive text is meant to influence.
- Experts - individuals with specialized knowledge in a field.
- Laypeople - individuals with little to no technical knowledge of the subject.
- Managerial - people in authority, responsible for decisions and leadership.
- Rank-and-file - everyday workers or employees who perform operational tasks.
- Hypothetical Audience - an imagined group used for shaping a message conceptually.
- Persuasion - the act of convincing someone to believe or do something through reasoning or appeal.
Let’s Recall!
Directions: Read each sentence and
decide if the diction used is formal,
informal, or slang. Write your
answers in your notebook.
- “Compliance with the new policy is mandatory for all employees.”
- “We gotta stick to the rules if we don’t wanna mess up.”
- “The professor emphasized the significance of the research findings.”
- “That movie was sick, bro!”
- “The new system will help workers complete their tasks faster.”
Show Answer
- Formal
- Slang
- Formal
- Slang
- Informal
Diction and Persuasion
Diction is not just about word choice; it is the foundation of persuasion. When a writer chooses a particular word, that choice shapes the message, tone, and the audience’s reaction. Imagine two campaign posters:
- “Join us in building a brighter tomorrow.”
- “Get on board or be left behind.”
Both sentences attempt to persuade, but they do so differently. The first uses uplifting diction to inspire hope, while the second uses urgent diction to create pressure. Each appeals to emotions and directs the audience to take action, but the tone and style create distinct effects.
How Style Shapes Audience Perception
Style is more than sentence structure; it is the personality of writing. Writers use style to set the pace, mood, and credibility of their message. Short, direct sentences create urgency. Long, descriptive sentences invite reflection. Tone - serious, playful, optimistic, or harsh - signals how readers should feel.
Example:
- “We must address climate change immediately.” - urgent, formal style.
- “Hey, the planet’s heating up - we gotta do something.” - casual, slang-infused style.
Both share the same message, but style changes the perceived authority and seriousness of the text.
Formal, Informal, and Slang in Persuasion
Formal diction is essential when persuading audiences that value credibility and logic, such as experts or managerial groups. Reports, academic essays, and official speeches rely on it.
Informal diction connects with readers personally, creating a conversational flow. It is persuasive for general audiences or laypeople who prefer clarity over technical detail.
Slang diction appeals to specific groups, especially younger audiences. It creates belonging and relatability. However, slang may not always be persuasive outside the group it targets because not everyone understands it.
When students compose persuasive writing, they must evaluate which type of diction will work best with their target audience.
Diction, Tone, and Effectiveness
Tone emerges from diction. For example:
- “She completed the project.” - neutral tone.
- “She brilliantly completed the project.” - positive, praising tone.
- “She barely completed the project.” - critical tone.
A single word can shift the tone completely. Persuasive texts succeed when the diction produces the exact tone that motivates the audience. Advertisers, politicians, and leaders know this well.
Comparing Audiences
Consider how diction changes depending on who is addressed:
- Experts: “The study demonstrates a statistically significant correlation between the variables.”
- Laypeople: “The study shows a clear connection between the two factors.”
- Managerial: “The findings suggest a strategy that will increase efficiency in the next quarter.”
- Rank-and-file: “This plan will help make your work easier and faster.”
- Hypothetical: “If I were convincing undecided voters, I’d say the evidence proves this plan will work for everyone.”
Each example uses different diction to match the knowledge, expectations, and values of the audience.
Persuasion in Daily Life
Persuasion is everywhere: in advertisements, in classrooms, at home, and in social media posts. Each setting requires different diction and style.
- Advertisements: “Buy now! Limited offer!” (informal, urgent tone).
- Academic settings: “The data provides evidence supporting the theory.” (formal, precise).
- Everyday speech: “That game was awesome!” (informal or slang).
Recognizing these differences helps learners make conscious decisions about their own writing and speaking.
Cultural Perspectives
Language and persuasion vary across cultures. In African and Asian traditions, persuasive texts often reflect values of community, respect, and shared responsibility. Leaders use inclusive diction, such as “we,” “our,” and “together” to unify audiences.
Historical figures like Nelson Mandela and Jose Rizal used powerful diction and distinct styles to inspire change. Their words were persuasive not only because of logic but also because of emotional appeal and cultural resonance.
Applying the Lesson
When writing a persuasive text, students should:
- Identify the audience clearly.
- Choose diction (formal, informal, or slang) that fits the audience.
- Adjust style and tone to create the desired effect.
- Revise sentences to ensure consistency and clarity.
Practice: Rewrite this message for three audiences: “We need to support our school’s clean-up project.”
- Experts: “The environmental program demonstrates effective waste management strategies.”
- Laypeople: “Helping in the clean-up keeps our school neat and safe.”
- Managerial: “This initiative will improve our school’s reputation and efficiency.”
References
- Burg, B. (2011). The art of persuasion: Winning without intimidation. Tremendous Life Books.
- Frederick, P. (2011). Persuasive writing: How to harness the power of words. Pearson Education.
- Malek, C. (2014). Language acts: Rhetoric and writing I: Academic reading and analytical writing. Fountainhead Press.
- McGuigan, B. (2007). Rhetorical devices: Handbook and activities for student writers. Prestwick House, Inc.
- Quinley, E. (2005). Persuasive writing. Saddleback Educational Publishing.
- Peters, M. (2014). Grammar and style. Penguin Group Publishing.
Worked Example 1 - Changing Tone
Sentence:
“She entered the room.”
-
Mini-Tasks:
- Rewrite to show excitement.
- Rewrite to show anger.
- Rewrite to show nervousness.
- Rewrite to show authority.
- Rewrite to show fear.
Worked Example 2 - Matching Diction to Audience
Sentence: “The project was successful.”
-
Mini-Tasks:
- Rewrite for experts.
- Rewrite for laypeople.
- Rewrite for managerial audience.
- Rewrite for rank-and-file workers.
- Rewrite for a hypothetical audience.
Worked Example 3 - Formal vs. Informal
Sentence:
“We must follow the rules.”
-
Mini-Tasks:
- Rewrite formally.
- Rewrite informally.
- Rewrite using slang.
- Rewrite in a neutral style.
- Explain which audience each version would suit best.
Worked Example 4 - Emotional Appeal in Diction
Sentence: “The community needs to work together.”
-
Mini-Tasks:
- Rewrite to appeal with hope.
- Rewrite to appeal with fear.
- Rewrite to appeal with pride.
- Rewrite to appeal with urgency.
- Rewrite to appeal with compassion.
Worked Example 5 - Cultural and Persuasive Power
Sentence: “We must value our identity.”
-
Mini-Tasks:
- Rewrite in a formal, academic style.
- Rewrite in a speech to young people.
- Rewrite for a managerial report.
- Rewrite as if persuading a global audience.
- Rewrite in simple diction for a community flyer.
Show Answer
Sample Responses (varied answers accepted):
Example 1
- “She dashed into the room with a wide smile.” (excitement)
- “She stormed into the room, slamming the door.” (anger)
- “She crept into the room, eyes shifting nervously.” (nervousness)
- “She marched into the room with commanding presence.” (authority)
- “She tiptoed into the room, trembling with fear.” (fear)
Example 2
- Experts: “The project demonstrated statistically significant outcomes.”
- Laypeople: “The project worked really well.”
- Managerial: “The project increased productivity by 20%.”
- Rank-and-file: “The project made our tasks easier.”
- Hypothetical: “If I were telling students, I’d say the project proved teamwork pays off.”
Example 3
- Formal: “Adherence to the regulations is mandatory.” (experts or managerial)
- Informal: “We should stick to the rules.” (laypeople)
- Slang: “We gotta play by the book, or we’re toast.” (youth or friends)
- Neutral: “Following the rules is important.” (general audience)
- Answers vary depending on audience.
Example 4
- Hope: “Together, we can build a better tomorrow.”
- Fear: “If we don’t act now, our community will suffer.”
- Pride: “Our unity shows the strength of our culture.”
- Urgency: “We must unite immediately to face this challenge.”
- Compassion: “Let’s stand by each other and lend a helping hand.”
Example 5
- Formal: “Preserving cultural identity is vital for societal progress.”
- Youth speech: “Be proud of who you are - our identity is our strength!”
- Managerial: “Valuing identity strengthens organizational unity.”
- Global: “Cultural identity enriches diversity worldwide.”
- Flyer: “Love who we are - our culture makes us unique.”
Directions: For each item, identify the diction (formal, informal, or slang) and rewrite the sentence to suit a different audience (experts, laypeople, managerial, rank-and-file, or hypothetical). Write your answers in your notebook.
- “Compliance with regulations ensures efficiency.”
- “Yo, that speech was fire!”
- “We should work harder to meet our goals.”
- “The medication demonstrated efficacy in trials.”
- “This gadget makes cooking easier.”
- “We gotta stick to the rules, fam.”
- “The experiment validated the researcher’s hypothesis.”
- “The new system saves workers 15 minutes per task.”
- “The teacher totally roasted him in class.”
- “Strategic planning increased quarterly profits.”
- “The kids were buzzing about the latest video game.”
- “Our community must protect the environment.”
- “This course enhances leadership competencies.”
- “He bombed the test big time.”
- “The findings contribute significantly to modern science.”
Show Answer
Sample Responses (varied answers accepted):
- Formal - rewrite for rank-and-file: “Following the rules makes work smoother.”
- Slang - rewrite for formal audience: “That speech was excellent.”
- Informal - rewrite for managerial: “Improved productivity will help us achieve objectives.”
- Formal - rewrite for laypeople: “The medicine worked well in tests.”
- Informal - rewrite for experts: “The appliance reduces preparation time through efficient design.”
- Slang - rewrite for laypeople: “We should follow the rules to stay safe.”
- Formal - rewrite for rank-and-file: “The test proved the idea was correct.”
- Informal - rewrite for managerial: “The system improves overall productivity.”
- Slang - rewrite for formal: “The teacher strongly criticized the student.”
- Formal - rewrite for laypeople: “Planning helped the business earn more money.”
- Slang - rewrite for adults: “The children were very excited about the new game.”
- Formal - rewrite for laypeople: “Everyone should help take care of our surroundings.”
- Formal - rewrite for rank-and-file: “This class helps you become a better leader.”
- Slang - rewrite for formal: “He performed poorly on the test.”
- Formal - rewrite for laypeople: “The study adds important knowledge to science.”
Directions: Answer the following in your notebook.
Multiple Choice (Items 1-5)
-
Which of the following BEST shows informal diction?
- “Compliance with safety protocols is mandatory.”
- “We should stick to the rules so things go well.”
- “The algorithm achieves polynomial time complexity.”
- “Yo, that plan is sick!”
-
Which audience would understand the sentence
“The enzyme catalyzed the reaction efficiently”?
- Laypeople
- Experts
- Rank-and-file
- Hypothetical
-
The sentence
“This strategy will reduce costs by 20% this year” is
directed at:
- Laypeople
- Managerial audience
- Rank-and-file
- Hypothetical
-
Which type of diction is most suitable for persuading young people
in a campaign?
- Slang
- Formal
- Informal
- Technical
-
Which of the following sentences shows
tone created by diction?
- “She walked into the room.”
- “She stormed into the room.”
- “The room had four walls.”
- “There was silence in the room.”
True or False (Items 6-10)
- Slang can always be used in formal reports.
- Laypeople prefer simple and clear language.
- Formal diction avoids contractions and slang.
- Rank-and-file audiences prefer practical, relatable terms.
- Hypothetical audiences are real, existing groups of people.
Short Answer (Items 11-15)
- Rewrite “The experiment was successful” for a layperson.
- Rewrite “We gotta do this project, guys!” in formal diction.
- Give one example of how tone changes when you change diction.
- Write a sentence using formal diction to persuade a managerial audience.
- Explain why diction is important in persuasion.
Show Answer
Answer Key
Multiple Choice
- b) “We should stick to the rules so things go well.”
- b) Experts
- b) Managerial audience
- a) Slang
- b) “She stormed into the room.”
True or False
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
Short Answer
- “The test worked well.”
- “It is necessary to complete this project.”
- Example: “He walked into the room” (neutral) → “He tiptoed into the room” (sneaky).
- “This plan will increase efficiency and improve company outcomes.”
- Diction ensures clarity, builds credibility, and makes persuasion more effective.
Activity 1: Rewrite for Tone
Take the sentence: “He finished his work.”
- Rewrite it to show: pride, disappointment, relief, anger, and joy.
Show Answer
• Pride: “He proudly completed his work.”
• Disappointment: “He
barely finished his work.”
• Relief: “He finally got his work
done.”
• Anger: “He grudgingly slammed his work shut.”
•
Joy: “He happily wrapped up his work.”
Activity 2: Switch the Audience
Sentence: “The new system improves productivity.”
- Rewrite for experts.
- Rewrite for laypeople.
- Rewrite for rank-and-file workers.
Show Answer
Experts: “The system optimizes workflow and reduces task
redundancy.”
Laypeople: “The system helps things get done
faster.”
Rank-and-file: “The system makes your job easier.”
Activity 3: Spot the Slang
Identify the slang words in these sentences and rewrite them in formal diction:
- “That new gadget is dope!”
- “He bombed the test big time.”
Show Answer
1. Slang: “dope” → Formal: “That new gadget is excellent.”
2.
Slang: “bombed” → Formal: “He performed poorly on the test.”
Activity 4: Build Your Persuasion
Write two short persuasive sentences encouraging classmates to join a school activity:
- One using formal diction.
- One using informal diction.
Show Answer
Formal: “Participation in this school activity will enhance your
skills and teamwork.”
Informal: “Come join us - it’s gonna be
fun and exciting!”
Activity 5: Mini-Speech Challenge
Prepare a 3-4 sentence speech convincing people to recycle. Use diction that fits a managerial audience.
Show Answer
Sample: “Recycling reduces waste disposal costs, improves company sustainability, and strengthens our reputation as an environmentally responsible organization.”
Option 1: Write 3-5 Sentences
In your notebook, write 3-5 sentences explaining how diction and tone affect persuasion. Share an example of how changing a single word can make a sentence more powerful or less effective.
Option 2: Guiding Questions
- How does diction shape the tone of a persuasive text?
- Why should writers adjust their diction for different audiences?
- Which type of diction (formal, informal, slang) do you personally use most, and why?
Option 3: Self-Checklist (Tabular Form)
| Skill/Understanding | Yes (✔) | Not Yet (✘) |
|---|---|---|
| I can explain how diction affects persuasion. | ||
| I can compare diction choices in different texts. | ||
| I can rewrite sentences to change their tone. | ||
| I can match diction to a specific audience. | ||
| I can create persuasive sentences using appropriate diction. |
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