Using Brush Strokes in Writing

Writers can paint images for the reader using brush strokes.

Absolute Brush Strokes Consists of a noun and an –ing verb to show action and description D1

Example: Jaws snapping, teeth grinding, the alligator lunged at the dog. D1

Identify the Absolute Brush Strokes. Mind racing, anxiety overtaking, the diver peered once more at the specimen. D1

The Absolute Brush Strokes Mind racing, anxiety overtaking, the diver peered once more at the specimen. D1

Identify the Absolute Brush Strokes. Jaws cracking, tongue curling, the kitten yawned tiredly, awaking from her nap. D1

The Absolute Brush Strokes Jaws cracking, tongue curling, the kitten yawned tiredly, awaking from her nap. D1

Adding Absolute Brush Strokes Before you write, zoom in close with your visual and imaginative eye. ________________, ________________, the puppy sprinted across the yard. D1

Adding Absolute Brush Strokes Before you write, zoom in close with your visual and imaginative eye. ______________, ___________, the skate boarder performed a stunt. D2

Adding Absolute Brush Strokes Before you write, zoom in close with your visual and imaginative eye. _____________, _____________, the father yelled at his son. D2

Appositive Brush Strokes – After a noun/pronoun in a basic sentence, you can add a descriptive phrase, setting it off with commas. D1

Appositive Brush Strokes The race car driver, an exhausted father who feared crashing, was relieved when the race was over. D1

Identify the Appositive Phrase The volcano, a ravenous god of fire, spewed forth lava and ash across the mountain. D1

Appositive Brush Strokes The volcano, a ravenous god of fire, spewed forth lava and ash across the mountain. D1

Identify the Appositive Phrase The fish, a slimy mass of flesh, felt the alligator’s giant teeth sink into its scales as it struggled to get away. D2

Appositive Brush Strokes The fish, a slimy mass of flesh, felt the alligator’s giant teeth sink into its scales as it struggled to get away. D2

Identify the Appositive Phrase The waterfall, a tilted pitcher, poured the fresh, pure spray into the creek. D1

Appositive Brush Strokes The waterfall, a tilted pitcher, poured the fresh, pure spray into the creek. D1

Add Your Own Appositive Phrase The runner, ___________________ ______________, couldn’t help but feel that he was too old for this type of activity. D1

Add Your Own Appositive Phrase The model,______, sashayed down the runway. D2

Add Your Own Appositive Phrase The soldier, _________ ___________________, returned from the war a changed man. D2

Participle Brush Stroke similar to an absolute brush stroke, but without the noun. an –ing word (or an –ing phrase) tagged onto the beginning, middle, or the end of a sentence. D1

Example of a Participle Phrase Brush Stroke Swinging from limb to limb, Tarzan believed he was the king of the jungle. D1

Example of a Participle Brush Strokes Drooling, yapping, and pacing, the dog hoped its owner would give it the treat he had just removed from the plastic container. D1

Identify the Participle Brush Strokes Melody froze, dripping with sweat, hoping with all her might that they wouldn’t hear the noise. A beam of light swung out into the darkness, searching. D1

Participle Brush Strokes Melody froze, dripping with sweat, hoping with all her might that they wouldn’t hear the noise. A beam of light swung out into the darkness, searching. D1

Identify the Participle Brush Stroke Flying through the air on the wings of a dream, the Olympic long jumper thrust the weight of his whole body forward. D1

Participle Brush Stroke Flying through the air on the wings of a dream, the Olympic long jumper thrust the weight of his whole body forward. D1

Identify the Participle Brush Stroke The clown, appearing bright and cheerful, smiled and did his act with unusual certainty for someone who had just injured a man. D2

Identify the Participle Brush Stroke The clown, appearing bright and cheerful, smiled and did his act with unusual certainty for someone who had just injured a man. D2

Add Your Own Participle Phrase The classic truck, _______________ ___________, landed between the trees. D2

Add Your Own Participle Phrase ____________ ____________, the python chewed the electric fence. D2

Add Your Own Participle Phrase ____________ ___________, the surfer tackled the mighty wave. D3

“Adjectives Out-of-Order” When you place Two or more consecutive adjectives AFTER a noun or pronoun D1

an adjective is a word that describes a noun or Pronoun What is an adjective? an adjective is a word that describes a noun or Pronoun Tall woman Scared child Dirty pond D1

Example of Adjectives Out-of-Order The cheetah, determined and hungry, chased the gazelle with relentless speed. D1

Identify the Adjectives Out-of-Order Matilda Smith, exhilarated, proud, and speechless, held her newborn great-grandson. D1

Adjectives Out-of-Order Matilda Smith, exhilarated, proud, and speechless, held her newborn great-grandson. D1

Rearrange this sentence, using “adjectives out-of-order.” His soiled, wrinkled, and calloused hands portrayed a life of hard labor. D1

Example of Adjectives Out-of-Order His wrinkled hands, soiled and calloused, portrayed a life of hard labor. D1

Rearrange this sentence, using “adjectives out-of-order.” Sad-eyed, goofy Jim couldn’t get a date to the prom. D1

Adjectives Out-of-Order Jim, sad-eyed and goofy, couldn’t get a date to the prom. D1

Fill in the blanks with “adjectives out-of-order.” The _______ student, ___________ and _____________, cried on her way home from school. D3

Create your own “adjective out-of order.” The gymnast clearly outclassed her amateurish opponents. D2

Create your own “adjective out-of order.” The boxer felt no compassion for his contender. D2

Review

Cloze Activity The following excerpt, taken from Ray Bradbury’s novel, The Sound of Thunder, contains FOUR of the five brush strokes. On your paper write the following colors: Blue Purple Red Orange And next to each color write which of the following brush strokes is being used: Action Verb Absolute Adjectives out of order Participle phrase Appositive Phrase

Example of all five brush strokes in one paragraph

Use this image for the closing paragraph on the next page

Cloze Activity Copy the following paragraph and fill in each brush stroke.