Analyzing Style and Voice in The Prophet Answers

Read the passage.Hesitantly, Alejandro stepped up to the plate and took a deep breath, squeezing his eyes shut to try to settle his nerves. Batting practice had been rocky at best lately, and he had already struck out once today. The embarrassment of that moment still burned in his cheeks, a stark crimson contrasting with his grass-green uniform.

Read the passage.Freckles were splashed across his nose and cheeks like stars, forming constellations—much like the ones he and his father used to hunt for while lying on the trampoline in their backyard. As he leaned toward the mirror, he examined the Little Dipper just under his left eye.

Which element of style do authors use when they vary sentence structures in a piece of writing?

Read the passage.The room exploded in laughter, filling Sanjay with a sense of pride. He was responsible for those laughs. It was a gift. A gift he’d had since childhood. As a young child, Sanjay had recognized his unique ability to brighten a room with his humor; as he got older, he honed his ability to sense when his peers needed a bit of healing laughter. It was a game to him: How many smiles can I produce today?

Read the passage.Celeste held her head high. She knew this information like the back of her hand. She had spent the last four weeks sacrificing her personal desires to instead focus on studying, committing everything possible to memory. Her mind had always been a dependable companion in high-stakes situations. It would not fail her now.

Read the passage.Alden watched from the window in front of his desk that looked out over the cul-de-sac. Snow was spread like icing on a cake as far as the eye could see. The snow’s endless white was broken only by the bright colors of the coats, scarves, gloves, and hats worn by the children who bounced around like beachballs in the first heavy snowfall of the year. He took off his glasses and clicked his eyes shut. He was a camera capturing the beautiful scene to hang forever in the room of his memory.

Read the passage.The violin sang its haunting melody, inviting the rest of the orchestra to respond. Soon, the timpani marched in, leading the other instruments to a crescendo.