There's a technique of art called chiaroscuro in which an effect is created by using light and shade. Emphasis serves the reader in much the same way, giving value to a thought—calling attention to it, so it stands out from less important thoughts within the context as a whole. So, a thorough understanding of the overall content is essential, whether it's the Lesson-SermonIn the Christian Science Quarterly; you're reading from or a hymn. Good emphasis results from clearly understanding the meaning, highlighting the idea-words.
Sometimes we call idea-words to be emphasized "centers of attention." Centering is the mental process of focusing attention upon these key words, so they vocally stand out from other words in the unit of meaning. What are some centers of attention?
• A new thought, one appearing for the first time, is a center of attention.
