Using Purple Words to give your Writing “Bling Bling” Word Choice Using Purple Words to give your Writing “Bling Bling”

Key Qualities of the Word Choice Trait The words paint pictures in the reader’s mind. The “just right” words make the message crystal clear. The words are accurate, specific, and powerful. The active verbs add energy and punch. The words and phrases have a marvelous sound.

Something to remember: WORD CHOICE is the cousin of Voice

How to paint a picture with your words: When you were in Kindergarten or 1st grade you had a box of crayons that 8 colors. Now that you are a fourth grader you have a box of 64 crayons. What is the difference between the 2 boxes?

Is there only one blue crayon in the box? More colors!!!! Now that you are older you have MORE WORDS to use, just like you have more colors to use! Is there only one blue crayon in the box?

“Shades of words” are like shades of colors There are many shades of blue in the box Turquoise Indigo Periwinkle Peacock Sky blue Cadet blue Shades of words = synonyms

Better words for BIG Huge Large Enormous Giant Gigantic Ginormous

Mother is Nice by a 4th grader My mother is a really nice person. Her hair is so nice. Her clothes are really nice. She is a fun person, too. When we go out, we have a really fun time. My mother is real nice to me. She smiles at me and says nice things. We have fun together because she is so fun and nice. She is really special to me.

This student overused the words nice and fun. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ This student overused the words nice and fun. I think he used them to death!!!!!

Let’s fix a few sentences: Max went out of the cabin door.

Max exploded out of the cabin door.

The horse ran through the gate.

The horse bolted through the gate.

The boy said, “I don’t feel like cleaning my room.”

The boy muttered, “ I don’t feel like cleaning my room.”

Group work: Brainstorming You and your group brainstorm better words for these overused words: Fun Mad Hot Cold Nice Happy Mean Small Ugly

We are so sad that we used these words so much that we killed them We are so sad that we used these words so much that we killed them. Boo Hoo!!! The words at the top of your lists are now “dead” to you. You may not use them until you have attempted to find a better word to use.

A & W by a 4th grader My mouth was watering and my stomach was growling when I got to A&W’s. As soon as I went inside. I could smell the greasy but delicious tasting food. I lined up in the noisy and crowded line. I ordered a Coney Dog and a medium french fries. The Coney Dog at A&W are hot dogs smothered with a tomato meat sauce in a hot dog bun. The Coney dog was a bit soggy because of the meat sauce. My first bit was worth the wait! I could taste the salty, spicy and tangy hot dog as it slipped down my throat. It was yummy! The fries were long and string and smelled greasy. It was crispy but had an oily taste and was too salty. I also ate some of my mom’s fried chicken. The chicken skin was crispy and the meat was tender and juicy. There were lots of people crunching and munching their food and slurping their drinks. I wish I could eat at A&W every day.

Word Choice Checklist This is the best way to say it. My words make pictures in the reader’s mind. I used words that are new ways to say common things. My verbs are powerful; my nouns and adjectives are specific and precise. Some words linger in your mind after reading them.

TABOO WORD CHALLENGE Brainstorm the top 5 words people would use to describe a messy bedroom.

TABOO WORD CHALLENGE What are the first 5 words people think of when they think about winter? Snow, cold, white, flakes, freezing Winter It’s snowing big white flakes. It’s cold. I’m freezing, I can see my breath. This is a pretty typical and ordinary description

Ahhhhhh! That is better!!! Now you get to try! TABOO WORD CHALLENGE Those 5 most common words are now taboo, or off-limits. The writer could not use them. Outside in the Winter My fingers and toes are numb. My red-face is stiff. Every time I breath in through my drippy nose, I feel miniature icicles forming in my nostrils. Ahhhhhh! That is better!!! Now you get to try!

TABOO WORD CHALLENGE Favorite food Messy bedroom Vacation Birthday party Lost and scared Embarrassing moment