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

3. 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!

4. 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!

5. 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

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. 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.

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

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

11. 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, …

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

13. 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, …

14. Practice using action verbs

15. Practice using out-of-order adjectives

16. Practice using participles

17. Practice using absolutes

18. Practice using appositives