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In the restaurant of life—or,
rather, of writing—Word Choice provides the
flavor. Effective use of just the right word
can be compared to adding the perfect topping to a stack of golden,
delicious pancakes. Blueberry topping or warm maple syrup? It’s the
writer’s choice, and it’s one of the many ways the writer can provide a
special touch and elevate his/her piece to a memorable level.
Word Choice can be as
simple as using an ordinary word in just the right way. But this trait can
also involve making the exact right choice of a word that might not be so
ordinary.
Word Choice can include the
following, for starters:
Vivid verbs
Precise nouns
Specific detail
Alliteration
Repetition (in poetry)
Similes
Metaphors
Personification
Onomatopoeia
Imagery, including descriptions that appeal to the 5 senses and that appeal
to the emotions of the reader.
Activity
One of the best ways to encourage young writers who are trying to improve
their craft is to enjoy a poem, picture book, or passage from a piece of
writing in which rich language is modeled. The students can then highlight
their favorite “Word Choice Words” and share them aloud or in pairs. They
may be asked specifically by the teacher to find examples of the 5 senses,
alliteration, etc. They can circle, highlight, or use keys such as a star
or triangle for certain types of examples. They might use an eye for
imagery appealing to sight, an ear for sound, etc.
The class could then write an
interactive passage modeled after the passage that was shared. Or the
teacher might introduce a new topic. Nature topics lend themselves
beautifully to rich description. The students might write about a storm, a
river, the wind, or fall leaves.
Another way to create an entire
roomful of passages rich in Word Choice is to have everyone in the class,
including the teacher, write about a topic after the class has brainstormed
all sorts of vivid verbs, similes, etc., for the topic. Or the entire class
could write a passage or poem similar to the one the class has examined and
highlighted. The teacher should share her/his piece and then walk around the
class reading the best part of what each student is writing. The students’
ideas will influence each other, and soon each person’s language seems to
flow much more freely. In addition, the students experience pride from
hearing their words read aloud and recognized as demonstrating Word Choice.
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