By the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:
- Analyze persuasive texts to determine how diction and style reveal the writer’s purpose.
- Differentiate between effective and ineffective diction in addressing specific audiences.
- Compose a short persuasive paragraph using diction that matches a chosen audience.
- 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.
- Effective Diction - word choice that fits the audience, purpose, and context, making persuasion stronger.
- Ineffective Diction - word choice that confuses, alienates, or fails to connect with the audience.
Let’s Recall!
Directions: Read each sentence and decide whether the diction is effective or ineffective for the intended audience. Write your answers in your notebook.
- “This policy demonstrates fiscal responsibility by minimizing expenditure.” (Audience: Managerial)
- “Yo, this medicine slaps! It’s awesome for your health.” (Audience: Laypeople)
- “The experiment yielded statistically significant results.” (Audience: Experts)
- “The new tool will cut down your work time by 15 minutes.” (Audience: Rank-and-file)
- “We respectfully request your presence at the meeting tomorrow.” (Audience: Managerial)
Show Answer
- Effective - matches managerial audience.
- Ineffective - slang is unsuitable for laypeople in health context.
- Effective - experts expect technical terms.
- Effective - practical and clear for workers.
- Effective - polite and formal for managerial.
Effective vs. Ineffective Diction
Persuasion is not just about using words; it is about using the right words for the right audience. Effective diction makes ideas clear, strong, and convincing. Ineffective diction makes a text confusing, weak, or even offensive.
For example:
- Effective: “This policy will improve productivity by 20% in the next quarter.” (clear, measurable, suited for managerial)
- Ineffective: “This policy is kinda cool, I guess.” (weak, uncertain, fails to persuade)
Good diction shows confidence and builds trust. Poor diction can cause readers to doubt the speaker or ignore the message.
Signs of Effective Diction
Effective diction is:
- Appropriate: fits the audience and the purpose.
- Clear: avoids vague words.
- Specific: uses details instead of generalities.
- Respectful: shows courtesy and awareness of audience values.
- Consistent: keeps tone steady throughout the text.
Example:
- “The research proves that recycling reduces waste by 40%.” → clear, specific, persuasive.
Signs of Ineffective Diction
Ineffective diction is:
- Too vague: “This thing is nice.”
- Too casual for the context: “Yo, this report is lit!”
- Too technical for the audience: “The plethoric analysis yielded inconclusive ramifications.”
- Inconsistent: mixing slang with formal terms in one sentence.
These mistakes can alienate the audience, weaken credibility, and make persuasion fail.
Comparing Examples
Sentence A: “The patient displayed acute symptoms of bronchitis, requiring immediate medical intervention.”
- Audience: Experts (Effective, uses technical terms).
- For laypeople, this is ineffective because the terms are too technical.
Layperson version: “The patient showed signs of lung infection and needed urgent care.”
- Effective because it uses simple words.
Sentence B: “The machine will increase efficiency and cut costs by 10%.”
- Effective for managerial.
- For rank-and-file, it may seem distant.
Worker version: “This new machine will make your work easier and faster.”
- Effective because it connects directly to their experience.
Matching Diction to Audience
Let’s review audience types and their expectations:
- Experts → technical, precise, advanced terms.
- Laypeople → simple, clear, everyday words.
- Managerial → results, data, strategy.
- Rank-and-file → practical, job-related terms.
- Hypothetical → imagined audience for practice.
When diction does not match, persuasion fails. Example:
- Using slang in a job application letter → Ineffective.
- Using formal tone in a friendly text message → Ineffective.
Tone and Purpose
Writers must also think about tone. Tone is shaped by diction. For example:
- Neutral: “He finished the project.”
- Positive: “He successfully completed the project.”
- Negative: “He barely finished the project.”
The purpose of persuasion decides what tone is needed. To inspire, words must be uplifting. To warn, words must be urgent. To convince, words must be confident.
Practical Application
Imagine writing about the same event for different audiences:
Event: A new school recycling program.
- Experts: “The program demonstrates sustainable waste management practices supported by research.”
- Laypeople: “This program helps keep our school clean and safe.”
- Managerial: “This initiative will boost the school’s reputation and reduce costs.”
- Rank-and-file (students/workers): “This program makes it easier for you to recycle and help the school.”
Each version is effective for its specific audience. If the wrong diction were used, the message might sound confusing or unconvincing.
The Role of Ineffective Diction in Persuasion Failures
History and everyday life show that poor word choice can ruin otherwise good arguments. Campaigns have failed because words sounded insincere. Advertisements have failed because the slang used offended people instead of attracting them.
Example: An ad said, “This product is savage!” Some young people thought it was cool, but older adults thought it was disrespectful and stopped buying. The diction was effective for one group but ineffective for another.
Student Tip: Editing for Effective Diction
When writing, always ask:
- Who is my audience?
- What words do they understand?
- What tone do I want to create?
- Do my words sound respectful and clear?
- Can I make this sentence more specific?
Practice editing:
- Draft: “This project is nice.”
- Edited for Managerial: “This project will improve efficiency by 15%.”
- Edited for Students: “This project will help us learn faster and make school cleaner.”
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 - Identifying Effective Diction
Sentence: “The research demonstrates a clear link between diet and health.”
- Mini-Tasks:
- Explain why this diction is effective for experts.
- Rewrite for laypeople.
- Rewrite for managerial audience.
Worked Example 2 - Spotting Ineffective Diction
Sentence: “Yo, this policy is fire, dude!” (Audience: Managerial)
- Mini-Tasks:
- Identify why this diction is ineffective.
- Rewrite it using formal diction.
- Suggest a tone that fits the audience better.
Worked Example 3 - Adjusting for Rank-and-file
Sentence: “This strategy increases quarterly profits by 25%.”
- Mini-Tasks:
- Explain why this is not effective for rank-and-file workers.
- Rewrite for rank-and-file.
- Rewrite for laypeople.
Worked Example 4 - Tone and Clarity
Sentence: “The results were okay, I guess.”
- Mini-Tasks:
- Identify why this diction is ineffective.
- Rewrite to sound confident.
- Rewrite to sound urgent.
Worked Example 5 - Persuading a Hypothetical Audience
Sentence: “If I were addressing future voters, I’d say unity makes us stronger.”
- Mini-Tasks:
- Rewrite for experts.
- Rewrite for managerial audience.
- Rewrite for rank-and-file.
Show Answer
Sample Responses (varied answers possible):
Example 1
- Effective because it is precise and technical.
- “Research shows that eating healthy keeps us strong.”
- “The study proves that healthy diets improve employee performance.”
Example 2
- Ineffective: slang is unprofessional for a managerial setting.
- “This policy will improve company efficiency.”
- Tone: formal, respectful, and confident.
Example 3
- Not effective: workers may not connect with profit data.
- “This strategy will make your daily tasks easier.”
- “This plan helps people save money and work faster.”
Example 4
- Ineffective: vague and uncertain.
- “The results clearly show success.”
- “The results demand immediate action.”
Example 5
- “The data indicates unity strengthens governance.”
- “Unity ensures sustainable growth and organizational progress.”
- “Working together will make our jobs easier and more successful.”
Directions: Identify whether the diction is effective or ineffective for the audience given. If ineffective, rewrite the sentence to make it effective. Write your answers in your notebook.
- “The fiscal policy reduced expenditure and stabilized growth.” (Audience: Managerial)
- “Yo, this machine is savage— it rocks your work!” (Audience: Rank-and-file workers)
- “The enzyme catalyzed the reaction efficiently.” (Audience: Experts)
- “We gotta hurry up with this project, fam.” (Audience: Managerial)
- “The new system will save each worker 10 minutes per task.” (Audience: Rank-and-file)
- “This initiative will increase the company’s productivity by 15%.” (Audience: Managerial)
- “That experiment was lit, bro!” (Audience: Experts)
- “The report highlights sustainable practices for waste management.” (Audience: Experts)
- “The school clean-up drive helps us learn responsibility.” (Audience: Laypeople)
- “The quarterly fiscal report was kinda cool, I guess.” (Audience: Managerial)
Show Answer
Sample Responses:
- Effective - formal and precise.
- Ineffective - rewrite: “This machine makes your work faster and easier.”
- Effective - technical terms for experts.
- Ineffective - rewrite: “Timely completion of this project is essential.”
- Effective - clear and practical for workers.
- Effective - result-oriented for managers.
- Ineffective - rewrite: “The experiment yielded excellent results.”
- Effective - technical and suitable for experts.
- Effective - simple and relatable.
- Ineffective - rewrite: “The quarterly report provides strong evidence of financial growth.”
Directions: Answer the following in your notebook.
Multiple Choice (Items 1-5)
- Which sentence is MOST effective for a managerial audience?
- “Yo, this policy is dope!”
- “The policy will improve efficiency by 20%.”
- “This policy is kinda okay, I guess.”
- “That policy slaps, fam!”
- Which of the following sentences uses diction that is TOO technical for laypeople?
- “The medicine helps lower blood pressure.”
- “The enzyme catalyzed the biochemical reaction.”
- “This machine makes work easier.”
- “The new system saves time.”
- Which is an example of ineffective diction?
- “The report demonstrates a clear trend in sales.”
- “That experiment was lit!”
- “This project helps students learn responsibility.”
- “The policy reduces costs effectively.”
- Which audience expects clear, simple, everyday words?
- Experts
- Laypeople
- Managerial
- Rank-and-file
- Which of the following best shows consistent tone?
- “The research was excellent, fam, and the results are swag.”
- “The research demonstrated positive results.”
- “The study was okay, I guess, but it slaps.”
- “Yo, this research is savage, bro!”
True or False (Items 6-10)
- Effective diction should always fit the audience and purpose.
- Ineffective diction can confuse or alienate the audience.
- Experts expect slang in scientific reports.
- Rank-and-file workers prefer technical jargon.
- Tone is shaped by diction.
Short Answer (Items 11-15)
- Rewrite: “Yo, this project is lit!” → for a managerial audience.
- Rewrite: “The results were kinda okay.” → to sound confident.
- Why is vague diction ineffective in persuasion?
- Give one sentence using effective diction for experts.
- Explain the difference between effective and ineffective diction.
Show Answer
Answer Key
Multiple Choice
- b) “The policy will improve efficiency by 20%.”
- b) “The enzyme catalyzed the biochemical reaction.”
- b) “That experiment was lit!”
- b) Laypeople
- b) “The research demonstrated positive results.”
True or False
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
Short Answer
- “This project will improve productivity and efficiency.”
- “The results clearly show success.”
- Because vague words do not convince or create trust.
- “The data provides statistically significant evidence of success.”
- Effective diction matches the audience, purpose, and context; ineffective diction confuses or weakens persuasion.
Activity 1: Rewrite for Clarity
Sentence: “The report was kinda good, I guess.”
- Rewrite it to sound confident.
- Rewrite it to sound urgent.
- Rewrite it to sound respectful.
Show Answer
Confident: “The report provides strong, clear results.”
Urgent: “The report demands immediate attention.”
Respectful: “The report presents valuable findings.”
Activity 2: Switch the Audience
Sentence: “The program demonstrates sustainable waste management practices.”
- Rewrite for laypeople.
- Rewrite for rank-and-file workers.
- Rewrite for managerial audience.
Show Answer
Laypeople: “This program helps keep our community clean.”
Rank-and-file: “This program makes recycling easier for everyone.”
Managerial: “This program strengthens the company’s reputation and reduces costs.”
Activity 3: Spot the Ineffective Diction
Identify what makes this sentence ineffective for a managerial audience: “Yo, the project was fire, bro!”
- Then rewrite it effectively.
Show Answer
Ineffective: Slang is unprofessional and unclear.
Effective: “The project improved efficiency and achieved positive results.”
Activity 4: Emotional Appeal Challenge
Write one persuasive sentence about joining a school clean-up drive in each tone:
- Hopeful
- Fearful
- Prideful
Show Answer
Hopeful: “Together, we can make our school a cleaner and brighter place.”
Fearful: “If we ignore this, our school will become unsafe and dirty.”
Prideful: “Joining proves we care for our school and community.”
Activity 5: Mini-Speech Rewrite
Original: “This policy is kinda okay.”
- Rewrite for experts.
- Rewrite for managerial.
- Rewrite for laypeople.
Show Answer
Experts: “This policy demonstrates measurable improvement in efficiency.”
Managerial: “This policy will increase productivity and reduce costs.”
Laypeople: “This policy helps make things easier for everyone.”
Option 1: Guiding Questions
- Why is it important to identify whether diction is effective or ineffective?
- How can ineffective diction weaken a persuasive text?
- Which audience type do you find easiest to address, and why?
- What strategies can you use to improve diction in your writing?
Option 2: Self-Checklist (Tabular Form)
| Skill/Understanding | Yes (✔) | Not Yet (✘) |
|---|---|---|
| I can identify effective diction. | ||
| I can explain why some diction is ineffective. | ||
| I can rewrite sentences to fit different audiences. | ||
| I can adjust tone by changing diction. | ||
| I can apply effective diction in my own persuasive writing. |
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