WIST: Word Choice and Imagery
Word choice analysis focuses on why authors select specific words to create particular effects. You're essentially becoming a detective, uncovering the hidden meanings and connotations behind their vocabulary choices.
Your technique should be precise: quote the shortest possible phrase, explain its connotations, then connect this to the writer's broader argument or description. Each quote plus explanation combination earns you one mark, so accuracy matters more than lengthy quotes.
Imagery analysis involves identifying similes, metaphors, and personification, then unpacking how these comparisons work. State the type of imagery, identify what's being compared to what, then explain the effect this creates.
💡 Quick tip: Keep your quotes minimal for word choice - sometimes a single word is enough to demonstrate your point effectively.