1. Captivate Your Readers
W3d Language

2. The Targets W3d: Language4
I can consistently and effectively use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language in a unique way to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters. 3
I can consistently and effectively use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters. 2
I can use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters but am inconsistent or ineffective. 1
I tell rather than show the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters.

3. Strong Verbs Bad Good Tell Adverbs Passive (be, have helpers) Show
The tiger ate the monkey.
The buffalo injured the hunter.
Adverbs
The lion ferociously ate the gazelle.
She walked quickly to class.
Passive (be, have helpers)
The man was run over by the bus.
I had an argument with the referee.
Show
The tiger devoured the monkey.
The buffalo gored the hunter.
Concise Verbs
The lion gobbled the gazelle.
She hustled to class.
Active
The bus smashed the man.
I argued with the referee.
I screamed at the referee.
I conferenced with the referee.

4. Strong Verbs
A few to try—what are some stronger verbs for each listed? What extra information do those verbs give? Discuss.
To walk
To run
To sleep

5. Sensory Details
Help reader be in the story via sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound
Example: caught in a forest fire
See: flames lick the tree tops
Smell: acrid smoke hits me
Taste: it’s as if ash settles in my mouth
Touch: heat waves scald my skin
Hear: flame roars and branches crack

6. Sensory Details What would we sense during a fist fight? See Smell
Taste
Touch
Hear

7. Language Tricks Alliteration: repeating consonant sounds
They grappled across the ground, gouging at each other’s eyes.
Metaphor: comparing two unlike things
Like a tiger to her prey, she ripped claws across the hero’s back.
Personification: giving non-human things human characteristics
The air itself screamed in protest at the horror of the fight.

8. Language Tricks
How might we use language tricks to describe an argument between father and son?
Alliteration
Metaphor
Personification