Precision, Elaboration, and Verb Empowerment Writing Practice Precision, Elaboration, and Verb Empowerment

Writing Warm-Up You’ve been jumped by that guy! It’s your job to write a description of the guy that jumped you to give to the police You must be as detailed and descriptive as possible Be creative; think outside the box… What did his voice sound like? What did he smell like? Did he have any scars? Etc. If you can’t remember a detail, make it up!

Elaboration Back to our mugger… Select one of your details and elaborate. For example: If you wrote that the mugger has green eyes, add what shade of green: The mugger has hazel green eyes with specks of gold around the dark, black pupils; the type of eyes often seen on a wild cat prowling for a mouse. Elaboration Explain activity – this is the way to practice writing on demand!

Be precise! Pick one of the details from your writing that is too general or vague. Make it more PRECISE! Ex: The mugger had a tattoo.The mugger had a tattoo of a vicious lion with fierce eyes and a mane that flowed in the breeze. PRECISION

Word Precision Practice : mini-lesson Can one THING hold all seven of the sophomores? Did you taste that THING that she cooked in her Culinary I class? Have you memorized that THING you need to know for the math test yet? Will you read that THING aloud for me? When will that THING be ready for use?

Pick out your precise “THINGS” and elaborate… Can one THING hold all seven of the sophomores? Did you taste that THING that she cooked in her Culinary I class? Have you memorized that THING you need to know for the math test yet? Will you read that THING aloud for me? When will that THING be ready for use?

Verb Empowerment (DEATH to Adverbs) You must KILL all adverbs Give the power to the verb of your sentence Ex: I ran quickly.  I sprinted.

Practice Empowering Your Verbs! I shouted loudly at my brother. Sara walked slowly down the hall.

More Word Precision Practice Extended and elaborated examples Example: dessert: warm dark chocolate brownie loaded with walnuts pizza t-shirt chore song room

Graveyard Words Let’s make a list of words to send to the “graveyard” Words that are overused Words that are not precise Ex: Thing(s), good, …

How do you write well? Teach a group of 1st graders how to write

Image Grammar Review Brushstroke Definition Example Action (Power) Verbs Verbs that do action Shook, glistened, slid Adjectives (Out-of-Order) Shift 2-3 adjectives after noun The old man, wrinkled and weary… Participles -ing or -ed Verb or phrase that acts as an adj. Shifting, submerged Absolutes Noun + Participle Gears grinding, heart stopping Appositives A noun that adds a second image The student, an angry senior, …

Practice using action verbs

Practice using out-of-order adjectives

Practice using participles

Practice using absolutes

Practice using appositives