Question: Words are the building blocks of sentences, paragraphs, and whole texts. One way that authors convey meaning in a text is through word choice, which also shapes tone. However, not all words are intended to be interpreted denotatively. In addition to word choice, authors use various literary devices to guide the reader to the intended meaning.

Discuss how literary devices and word choice shape meaning and tone.
How do authors use structure to weave the following elements to create a cohesive text?

a. connotative and figurative meaning
b. nuance
c. varying levels of intensity of related words

Be sure to clearly introduce the topic.

Read this excerpt from thomas paine's essay "common sense" mankind being originally equals in the order of creation, the equality could only be destroyed by some subsequent circumstance, the distinctions of rich, and poor, may in a great measure be accounted for, and that without having recourse to the harsh, ill-sounding names of oppression and avarice. oppression is often the consequence, but seldom or never the means of riches, and though avarice will preserve a man from being necessitously poor, it generally makes him too timorous to be wealthy but there is another and greater distinction, for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of men into kings and subjects. male and female are the distinctions of nature, good and bad the distinctions of heaven, but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest, and distinguished like some new species, is worth inquiring into, and whether they are the means of happiness or of misery to mankind what is thomas paine's central claim in this excerpt? a. there will always be a distinction between kings and their subjects. b. the equality that humans enjoyed during creation has been ruined because of war and famine c. not all people who belonged to the upper sections of society were cruel. d. the differences between the kings and the subjects were not religious or natural.