WriteTraits WORD CHOICE

What is word choice? Word choice is choosing words that can make your writing a masterpiece. Word choice is choosing words that can make your writing a masterpiece.

An author needs to paint a picture in the mind of the reader. Word choice can add color to your masterpiece. An author needs to paint a picture in the mind of the reader. Word choice can add color to your masterpiece.

Collector of Words A writer is a serious collector of words A writer is a serious collector of words A word collection lets you select the words with the perfect shade of meaning to convey your idea A word collection lets you select the words with the perfect shade of meaning to convey your idea

How do I make good word choices? A serious collector will: Use nouns that create a picture Use nouns that create a picture Change dull verbs into colorful ones Change dull verbs into colorful ones

What are nouns? Nouns are names of people, places and things Nouns are names of people, places and things

Specific Nouns Nouns are used to show who, what, or where. Nouns are used to show who, what, or where. When using nouns think, could I be more specific? When using nouns think, could I be more specific? When using nouns be specific When using nouns be specific Dog – Dalmatian Building – School

What are verbs? Verbs are action words Verbs are action words Examples – running, walking, swimming, eating, thinking, talking, etc Examples – running, walking, swimming, eating, thinking, talking, etc

Colorful Verbs Choose verbs that create a picture in the mind of the reader. Choose verbs that create a picture in the mind of the reader. Stay away from is, are, was and were Stay away from is, are, was and were The day was hot. The day was hot. The July afternoon was scorching, it burned my feet on the sizzling sidewalk. The July afternoon was scorching, it burned my feet on the sizzling sidewalk.

Other Great Words! Colorful verbs and specific nouns are best as main ingredients in writing Colorful verbs and specific nouns are best as main ingredients in writing but you need to use adjectives and adverbs to add flavor to your writing but you need to use adjectives and adverbs to add flavor to your writing

What is an Adverb? Adverbs show where, when, or how. Adverbs show where, when, or how. nearly, slowly, fast, badly nearly, slowly, fast, badly Most end in ‘ly’ Most end in ‘ly’

What is an Adjective? Adjectives describe a noun. Adjectives describe a noun. red, fat, strong, old, colorful red, fat, strong, old, colorful

Why Use Adverbs and Adjectives? Use adverbs and adjectives to add color and flavour to your writing! Use adverbs and adjectives to add color and flavour to your writing!

How Do We Find the Right Word? A thesaurus! A thesaurus!

Using a Thesaurus You are looking up words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as the word you want to change. These words are called synonyms You are looking up words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as the word you want to change. These words are called synonyms

Synonyms You need to choose the right synonym You need to choose the right synonym Large and vast are alike but not identical Large and vast are alike but not identical You can order a large coffee but not a vast coffee You can order a large coffee but not a vast coffee Choosing the right word depends on context and the writer’s intended meaning Choosing the right word depends on context and the writer’s intended meaning Do not choose words at random from a thesaurus Do not choose words at random from a thesaurus

Looking up Synonyms Jerry Seinfeld (SeinLanguageBantam Books: 1993) “I always did well on essay tests. Just put everything you know on there, maybe you’ll hit it. And then you get the paper back from the teacher and she’s written just one word across the top of the page, “vague.” I thought “vague” was kind of vague. I’d write underneath it “unclear,” and send it back. She’d return it to me, “ambiguous.” I’d send it back to her, “cloudy.” We’re still corresponding to this day … “hazy” … “muddy”…” Jerry Seinfeld (SeinLanguageBantam Books: 1993)

We get out the Thesaurus Do we just look the word up? Do we just look the word up? No, first we need to know how the word is used in the sentence No, first we need to know how the word is used in the sentence Is it a a noun, a verb, an adjective or an adverb? Is it a a noun, a verb, an adjective or an adverb? Is the synonym similar in meaning to what the author meant? Is the synonym similar in meaning to what the author meant? Why? If you choose the wrong word, the meaning of the sentence will change. Why? If you choose the wrong word, the meaning of the sentence will change.

Let’s Practice Read the passage from Joan Bauer’s book, Hope Was Here. Hope, a self described word person, is using her thesaurus to help her work out her feelings. Read the passage from Joan Bauer’s book, Hope Was Here. Hope, a self described word person, is using her thesaurus to help her work out her feelings. Can you think of 4 synonyms for the verb ‘hope’? Can you think of 4 synonyms for the verb ‘hope’?

Word Choices The word choices you make as a writer will affect how your readers respond to your ideas The word choices you make as a writer will affect how your readers respond to your ideas Complete on your handout sheets: Complete on your handout sheets: - Practice: Lists of Choices - Shading the Picture - A Shade Too Dark

Practice: Lists of Choices Identify the part of speech for each word Identify the part of speech for each word Use a thesaurus or dictionary to find synonyms Use a thesaurus or dictionary to find synonyms

Shading the Picture You must think carefully about slight differences in meaning of synonyms You must think carefully about slight differences in meaning of synonyms Choose words that will change the meaning as little as possible Choose words that will change the meaning as little as possible Try to keep them the same ‘shade’ Try to keep them the same ‘shade’

A Shade Too Dark If you choose the wrong synonym, you are a ‘shade too dark’ If you choose the wrong synonym, you are a ‘shade too dark’

Thesaurus Search Use a thesaurus to look up synonyms for: Night – noun Night – noun Blizzard – noun Blizzard – noun Pure – adjective Pure – adjective Bad – adjective Bad – adjective Solitary - adjective Solitary - adjective

Thesaurus Search Gone Wrong The night before, Donald went to bed fervently wishing for a blizzard the next day. When he awoke he ran to the window and was met by pure sunshine. He searched sky and ground for evidence of bad weather, but could not find so much as a solitary hailstone. The night before, Donald went to bed fervently wishing for a blizzard the next day. When he awoke he ran to the window and was met by pure sunshine. He searched sky and ground for evidence of bad weather, but could not find so much as a solitary hailstone.

Excerpt from ‘Loser’ – Jerry Spinelli The night before, Donald went to bed fervently wishing for a blizzard the next day. When he awoke he ran to the window and was met by pure sunshine. He searched sky and ground for evidence of bad weather, but could not find so much as a solitary hailstone. The night before, Donald went to bed fervently wishing for a blizzard the next day. When he awoke he ran to the window and was met by pure sunshine. He searched sky and ground for evidence of bad weather, but could not find so much as a solitary hailstone.

Writing Weak in Word Choice For example, this piece could benefit from words that appeal to the senses - For example, this piece could benefit from words that appeal to the senses - Not: Not: Todd quickly ate a good sandwich. Todd quickly ate a good sandwich. But rather: Todd wolfed down a spicy Italian sausage sandwich stuffed with Graziano’s sausage and thick slices of mozzarella cheese. Todd wolfed down a spicy Italian sausage sandwich stuffed with Graziano’s sausage and thick slices of mozzarella cheese.

Make a Masterpiece! Make a masterpiece using words. Think of words as the paint and the paper as the canvas. By choosing the most colorful and exciting words your writing can be a work of art!

Things to Do Insert a piece of loose leaf and make a title page ‘WORD CHOICE’ in your writing notebook Insert a piece of loose leaf and make a title page ‘WORD CHOICE’ in your writing notebook After this put the following sheets: After this put the following sheets:-Alpha-boxes -Synonyms for said -Breathtaking Adjectives -Boring Word List Glue in writing prompt due next day Glue in writing prompt due next day Complete Boring Word list for next day Complete Boring Word list for next day