What you are trying to accomplish.  If you want limited leg work and are more interested in the distance you cover and the speed you do it in, you may prefer a mid-range stride or a shuffle.  As you become a more conditioned athlete, you might prefer a more aggressive workout on the legs.  An example of this would be to drive the thigh as high as possible with the arms pumping forward, while leaning the upper body forward and running on the toes as a sprinter would do.  Kick back of the legs should be kept to a minimum.  The arms pumping forward aggressively compensate for balance.  At a quick pace, this becomes a tremendous developmental routine.  It creates a greater demand on the whole cardio-vascular system including the heart and lungs.

If you are more comfortable with a mid-range work out, you might use a slower pace and shorter lift of the legs.  The leaning of the upper body is less pronounced.  Mid-distance runners doing distances of 440 yards/400 meters, 880 yards/800meters and up to a mile/1600 meters utilize these techniques and find they work very well.  They find that relaxing the arms and upper body while in motion helps them conserve energy without losing speed.  This is called "floating".  Master this and you will become more capable of doing longer distances. Multiple milers use a combination of  moderate lift, floating and speed to accomplish their goals.  As part of your routine, you should try prancing for fun.