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Writing Basics WRITING MODES (FOUR MODELS) While all writing is a mixture of elements, four generalized purposes for writing, called “modes”, can be identified. Description is painting word pictures, but these pictures should be considered multi-sensory. In description, the writer, in assorted combinations communicates moods and movements, sights and sounds and smells, tastes and textures. Drama often contains serious elements of description, but goes further, including characters placed in situations of interest that require some resolution, or at least beg for resolution. In short, when people are put in a place with problems, and are in search of solutions, drama results. Writing to explain, sometimes called expository writing, is text that seeks to inform or teach. Endorsement, or argument, no doubt will include explanation, and may include description and drama, but maintains a first purpose of persuasion. Of course, the endorsement mode may also seek to inspire. While no piece of writing is completely void of endorsement, certainly there are special times when movement, persuasion and conversion are openly sought. DESCRIBE (Descriptive) I can call back the solemn twilight and mystery of the deep woods, the earthy smells, the faint odors of the wild flowers, the sheen of rain-washed foliage, the rattling clatter of drops when the wind shook the trees, the far-off hammering of woodpeckers and the muffled drumming of wood-pheasants in the remoteness of the forest, the snap-shot glimpses of disturbed wild creatures scurrying through the grass — I can call it all back and make it as real as it ever was, and as blessed. I can call back the prairie, and its loneliness and peace, and a vast hawk hanging motionless in the sky, with his wings spread wide and the blue of the vault showing through the fringe of their end-feathers. I can see the woods in their autumn dress, the oaks purple, the hickories washed with gold, the maples and the sumacs luminous with crimson fires, and I can hear the rustle made by the fallen leaves as we plowed through them. —Mark Twain from “Childhood Memories.” DRAMATIZE (Narrative, Story-Telling) I held a florin tightly in my hand as I strode down Buckingham Street towards the station. The sight of the streets thronged with buyers and glaring with gas recalled to me the purpose of my journey. I took my seat in a third-class carriage of a deserted train. After an intolerable delay the train moved out of the station slowly. It crept onward among ruinous houses and over the twinkling river. At Westland Row Station a crowd of people pressed to the carriage doors; but the porters moved them back, saying that it was a special train for the bazaar. I remained alone in the bare carriage. In a few minutes the train drew up beside an improvised wooden platform. I passed out on to the road and saw by the lighted dial of a clock that it was ten minutes to ten. In front of me was a large building which displayed the magical name. ---James Joyce from “Araby.” EXPLAIN (Expository, Informative) Despite e.e. Cummings' affinity for avant garde styles and for unusual typography, much of his work is traditional. Many of his poems are sonnets, and he occasionally made use of the blues form and acrostics as well. Cummings' poetry often deals with themes of love and nature, as well as satire and the relationship of the individual to the masses and to the world. But, while his poetic forms and even themes show a close continuity with the romantic tradition, his work universally shows a particular idiosyncrasy of syntax or way of arranging individual words into larger phrases and sentences. Many of his most striking poems do not involve any typographical or punctuational innovations at all, but purely syntactic ones.—Wikipedia entry on e.e. cummings ENDORSE (Argumentative, Persuasive, Inspirational) Overachievers don't generally become writers because the skill set is so different. As I tell my writing students, if you want to be a writer work on the finer points of gossip, eavesdropping and voyeurism; basically the pastimes of the underachiever, ways to while away the hours. If you care to add smoking, drinking and carousing to your repertoire, you wouldn't be the first (though you might want to watch the whining that can sometimes be a consequence of the drinking — it's more unattractive than you think). At its best, genre writing can transcend its given genre. Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain and Dashiell Hammett wrote little crime noir classics that often threw an unwelcome light on the ways a person will treat another person given the right circumstances. And Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind" blew the bodice off almost all other romance novels. But if you 1 aren't compelled to write, because you're maybe an overachieving future investment banker, then a paint-by-number approach might be the way to go, bookwise. –Whitney Otto from “Unoriginal Sins” in The New York Times May 12, 2006 SENTENCE STARTS AND STYLES 1. The short sentence style of six words or less. (Seven words sound long) Violence kills. Remember the Alamo! He couldn’t 2. The prepositional phrase start. (List of prepositions: aboard, above, about across, after, against, along, among, around, at, get it right. before, behind, below, beneath, beside, besides, between, beyond, by, concerning, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like, near, of, off, on, out, over, past, since, through, throughout, till, to, toward, under, underneath, until, up, upon, with, within, without) Through a thousand setbacks she kept her hopes. Beneath the elm branches and beside the bard, the dog slept. Down the street and into our hearts went the marching band. 3. Adjectives (singular or multiple) start. Weather-beaten, wind-blown, and remote, the lighthouse clung to the cape like a tired child cleaves to a comforting mother. Shy and reserved, the young boy could not bring himself to look at his teacher. 4. Adverbs (singular or multiple) start. Gracefully the Heron took flight. Fearlessly, the diminutive quarterback went to the ball 5. Infinitive start. (An infinitive is the word “to” placed before a verb.) To win the game, defend. To make a mark on the world, 6. Transitional word start. (A list of transitional words: accordingly, also, besides, consequently, finally, first, for example, for and barked out his signals. do not neglect character. instance, furthermore, however, in addition in conclusion, in summary, indeed, in fact, in other words, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, on the contrary on the other hand, on the whole, second, similarly, therefore, third, thus) Moreover, the protagonist broke his own rules. On the other hand, a vacation camping in the mountains doesn’t seem too bad either. 7. Subordinating conjunction start. (List of subordinate conjunctions: after, although, as, as if , as long as, before, if, in order that, since, so that, then, though, unless, until, when whenever, where, wherever, while) Before time slips away, let’s get the chores done. 8. Side-by-side short sentence style. The king laughs; the peasant weeps. 9. Noun with appositive start. (Appositives rename the noun, usually within a modifying phrase.) His hair, a white shock of curly links, gave him the mad scientist look. 10. Participle start. (participles are verb forms which serve the function of adjectives.) Kicking and Screaming, the protestors would not be consoled. Encouraged by the poll results, the candidate found new energies. 11. Gerund starts. (Gerunds are verb forms which act like nouns.) Training for the US Marine Corp is no picnic. Sketching realistic human hands is a significant challenge. 12. Parallel style. (Putting things in balanced series.) Everybody needs something to do, something to dream, and something to love. In everything he did he was firm, fair, friendly, and usually first. 13. The front shift style. Lost were our dreams. Fresh fell the May petals. Red set the sun. 14. Juxtaposition style. (Sentences that place contrasting ideas side-by-side, usually in parallel.) His intensity made him difficult, but his compassion made him winsome. Rather than accept the inevitable, she worked and studied, and in the end, the inevitable never happened. GRAMMAR PROBLEM AREAS 1. NON-FUNCTIONING SENTENCES are those without one or more of the criteria which make sentences function: subject, verb, complete thought. 2. The DEPENDENT CLAUSE is a group of related words containing a subject and its verb which is incapable of standing alone as a complete-thought sentence. (When the scholar first read the Constitution.) 3. A SIMPLE SENTENCE is comprised of a single independent clause. (The students read the document.) 4. A COMPOUND SENTENCE is composed of two or more independent clauses. (The students read the document and each prepared a report.) 5. A COMPLEX SENTENCE is comprised of a single independent clause with one or more attached dependent clauses. (When the scholar first read the constitution, he was surprised by the terseness of the document.) 6. A COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE is comprised of two or more independent clauses, with at least one of them having an attached dependent clause. (When the scholar first read the Constitution, he was surprised by the terseness of the document, and later he wrote an essay reflecting upon his observations. 2 7. THE NOMINATIVE CASE PRONOUN is used as subjects of verbs or as predicate nouns. (I, YOU, HE, SHE, IT, WE, THEY, WHO) 8. THE OBJECTIVE CASE PRONOUN is used when it is not the subject in a sentence or in the predicate noun position. (ME, YOU, HIM, HER, IT, US, THEM, WHOM) 9. THE POSSESSIVE PRONOUN is used to show possession. (MY, YOUR, HIS, HER, ITS, OUR, THEIR, WHOSE) 10. SINGULAR PRONOUNS must follow SINGULAR ANTECEDENTS. (Each student received his (not their) grade.) PUNCTUATION PROBLEMS THE COMMA: 1. Used to set off explanatory elements in a sentence. (Einstein, the great physicist, was present during the discussion.) 2. Used to set off parenthetical words. (The physicist, however, didn’t speak.) 3. Used to set off introductory material. (Seeing him stand, the audience rose to its feet.) 4. Used between an independent and dependent clause. (After the judge read the argument, his decision was made quickly.) 5. Used to separate items in a list of three or more items. (He had the job of separating arguments, evidence, and circumstantial events.) 6. Used between two identical words. (Whatever it was, was wrong.) THE COLON: 1. Used to introduce statements. (The Senator began his speech with these words: “Greed must go.”) 2. Used to introduce formally announced lists, when the last word before the list is a noun. (We shall teach the following subjects: reading, writing and arithmetic.) 3. Used between the basic sentence and a closely related explanatory note. (The magazine attempts to serve in a double capacity: as entertainment and as instruction.) THE SEMI-COLON: 1. Used between independent clauses which do not have a coordinating conjunction. (Mrs. Jones may dodge the issue; Mrs. Jones won’t.) 2. Used as a “major comma” to set off a series of items when one or more of the items contains a comma. (The Sports Hall of Fame inducted three new members: Larry Plane, the basketball star; John Seat, the great baseball catcher; and Wayne Jetski, the hockey sensation.) THE DASH: 1. Used between changes in thought. (If you should find yourself in such a predicament—please don’t—be sure to call.) 2. Used as a “super comma” for emphasis. (She was the statesman—the statesman the entire nation needed.) THE PARENTHESIS: 1. Used around non-essential explanatory material within a sentence. (The dentist from Russia (formally the Soviet Union) gave the lecture.) 2. Used for clarifying insertions. (The foul shot expert (a 95% shooter) offered some tips.) THE QUOTATION MARK: 1. Used to indicate quoted material. (“Hey,” she said, “look out!”) 2. Used to enclose titles of materials that are considered as “parts of wholes.” (The article “Government and the Public” from Time caused quite a stir.) THE UNDERLINE: 1. Used to enclose titles of materials that are considered “wholes.” (Morrissey’s new album Ringleader of the Tormentors hit number one on the charts.) 2. Used on occasion for emphasis. (He ate the whole thing.) VOCABULARY LIST 1 3 ABASE to humiliate; degrade ASCENDANT rising COGNIZANT aware ABATE to lesson; diminish ASPERSION slanderous remark COLLATE to put together in proper ABET to aid; encourage ASSAY to analyze chemically; to test order ABHOR to hate ASSIDUITY care; diligence COLLUSION secret agreement to ABOMINATE to abhor ASSUAGE to make less severe; to calm defraud another ABROGATE to abolish 5 COMMENSURATE proportionate ABSCOND to flee secretly ASTUTE shrewd COMMODIOUS spacious ABSOLVE to pardon ATHEIST one who denies existence of COMPASSION pity for distress of ABSTRUSE hard to understand; recondite God another ACCRUE to accumulate ATROPHY to waste away COMPLACENT content AGGRANDIZE to enlarge ATTEST to confirm COMPUNCTION uneasiness; remorse AGILITY quickness; nimbleness AUDACIOUS bold CONCLAVE secret meeting AGNOSTIC one who believes God is AUGMENT to increase 9 unknowable AUGUR to predict CONCOMITANT accompanying AGRARIAN pertaining to farming AUGUST majestic; imposing CONDOLENCE expression of sympathy ALACRITY liveliness AUSPICES protection CONGENITAL existing at birth but not 2 AUSPICIOUS favorable inherited ALLAY to reduce the intensity of; to calm AUSTERITY severity CONGRUENT agreeing ALLEGORY narrative using figurative AUTOCRATIC arrogant CONJECTURE to guess; to suppose language AUTONOMY self-government CONNOTE to suggest; to imply ALLOCATE to set aside; to apportion AVARICE greed CONSTERNATION sudden confusion; ALLUDE to refer to indirectly BADGER to harass; to nag panic ALTERCATION angry dispute 6 CONSTRICT to constrain; bind ALTRUISM unselfish devotion BANAL meaningless; commonplace CONTIGUOUS adjacent; touching AMELIORATE to improve BELLICOSE warlike CONTINGENT conditional; dependent; AMIABLE pleasant; kind BENIGNANT kindly; gentle possible AMNESTY pardon BICKER to quarrel CONTUMELY rudeness ACERBITY bitterness, severity BIENNIAL occurring every two years CONUNDRUM riddle ACRIMONY acerbity BLAND mild CONVIVIAL sociable; jovial ADAMANT immovable; unyielding BLATANT objectionably CONVOKE to call together ADJUDICATE to decide (a case) BLITHE carefree COPIOUS abundant ADJUNCT assistant BLUSTER to speak boastfully 10 ADMONISH to warn BOTCH to ruin through clumsiness COROLLARY inference; result 3 BOURGEOIS pertaining to the middle CORPULENT fat ADROIT skillful class CORROBORATE to strengthen; to ADULATION praise BROACH to introduce a topic confirm ADVOCATE to recommend BRUSQUE abrupt in manner COVERT concealed; secret AESTHETIC pertaining to beauty BUFFOON clown COWER to cringe in fear AFFABLE friendly; courteous BURNISH to polish CREDIBLE believable AFFINITY attraction 7 CULPABLE deserving blame AFFLUENCE wealth CAJOLE to coax CURSORY superficial AFFRONT insult CALUMNY a false accusation; a slander DANK chilly and wet ANACHRONISM something out of its proper CAPITULATE to surrender DAUNT to discourage time CAPRICE an impulsive change of mind DEBASE to lower in rank ANARCHY absence of government CAPTIOUS finding fault DEBAUCH to corrupt ANATHEMA ban; curse CAPTIVATE to fascinate DEBILITY weakness ANIMOSITY hatred CAREEN to swerve DECREPIT weakened by age ANOMALY irregularity; straying from the CARP to complain constantly DEFERENCE respect norm CASTIGATE to punish 11 ANTIPATHY dislike CATHARTIC cleansing DELETERIOUS harmful ANTIPODES opposite side of the earth CAVIL to quibble DELINEATE to describe 4 CENSURE to criticize sharply DEMEANOR behavior ANTITHESIS direct opposite CHAFF worthless matter DEMURE shy APATHY indifference; lack of interest CHAGRIN embarrassment DEPLORE to regret APHORISM brief statement; proverb CHARLATAN faker DEPRAVED sinful APLOMB self-confidence 8 DEPRECATE to disapprove of APPALL to terrify; to shock CHIDE to scold DERISION ridicule ARCHAIC no longer in use CLANDESTINE secret DESIST (desist from) to stop doing ARDUOUS difficult COERCE to force something ARREARS (in arrears) in debt COGENT convincing DESULTORY disconnected; rambling ARTICULATE (adj.) distinct; (V) to express COGITATION act of reflecting; DICHOTOMY division into two parts clearly meditation DIDACTIC instructive ARTIFICE trickery COGNATE related DIFFIDENT lacking confidence 4 DIGRESS to stray from the main subject possible truth DILEMMA difficult situation FELICITY great happiness MENDACIOUS untruthful 12 FERVENT emotional; ardent MENIAL servile; low DILIGENT industrious FLAGRANT notorious; shocking MERETRICIOUS showily attractive; DISCONCERT to disturb FLAMBOYANT showy tawdry DISCONSOLATE without hope FLAUNT to show off METAMORPHOSIS change of form DISDAIN to scorn FOIBLE minor weakness METAPHYSICS philosophy of spiritual DISPARAGE to belittle FRUGAL thrifty and physical DISPARITY difference METE to allot DISSEMINATE to spread widely MICROCOSM world in miniature DISSIDENT disagreeing 16 MISANTHROPE hater of mankind DIVEST to deprive FURTIVE stealthy; foxy MOLLIFY to appease DOCILE easy to handle; submissive GAMUT entire range MORIBUND dying DOGGEREL poorly written verse GARRULOUS talkative MUNDANE worldly; earthly DOGMATIC dictatorial GLIB fluent; smooth 20 DOLOROUS mournful GREGARIOUS sociable MYRIAD very great number DOLT stupid person HALLOW holy, sacred NARCISSISTIC self-love DORMANT asleep; temporarily inactive HAUGHTY pompous, stuck-up NEBULOUS vague; indistinct 13 HEINOUS hateful; abominable NEFARIOUS extremely wicked DOUR gloomy HUBRUS unconquerable pride NEOPHYTE beginner; convert DUCTILE easily molded HUMANE benevolent, gracious NIGGARDLY stingy DULCET pleasing to the ear; melodious HYSTERIA wild panic with a dose of fear NURTURE to feed; to bring up DUPLICITY deception ICONOCLAST destroyer of images OBDURATE stubborn DURESS constraint IGNOMINIOUS shameful OBEISANCE show of respect EBULLIENT enthusiastic IMMUTABLE unchangeable OBSCURE not clear ECLECTIC selecting the best from various IMPALPABLE vague; not understandable OBSEQUIOUS overly submissive sources 17 OBSTREPEROUS noisy; boisterous ECSTATIC extremely happy IMPECUNIOUS penniless; poor OBTUSE stupid EFFERVESCENT bubbling; vivacious INDIGENT poor OBVIATE to prevent EFFRONTERY impudence INDOLENT lazy ODIOUS hateful; disgusting EGREGIOUS outrageous INEXORABLE unyielding 21 EMACIATE to make thin INHERENT inborn OFFICIOUS meddlesome EMULATE to try to equal or excel INIQUITOUS unjust OMINOUS threatening ENERVATE to weaken INNATE inherent OPPROBRIOUS shameful ENNUI boredom INNOCUOUS harmless OPULENCE wealth 14 INSIDIOUS treacherous OSTENTATIOUS pretentious ENSCONCE to place securely; to conceal INSIPID dull OSTRACIZE to banish ENTITY something that exists independently INTREPID fearless OVERT not concealed EQUANIMITY calmness INTRINSIC essential PALATABLE tasty EQUIVOCATE to mislead by using ambiguous INVEIGLE to entice PALPABLE obvious language INVIDIOUS causing ill will; offensive PANACEA cure-all ERUDITE very learned IRASCIBLE easily angered PARADOX seemingly absurd statement ESCHEW to avoid 18 that is nevertheless true ESOTERIC for a select few JOCOSE joking; humorous PARAGON model of excellence ETHEREAL airy; delicate JUXTAPOSE to place side by side PARITY equality EULOGY praise for a dead person LACONIC using few words; concise PARODY humorous imitation EXPIATE to atone for LANGUID lacking in spirit or interest PARSIMONY stinginess EXTANT in existence LATENT hidden; dormant 22 EXTOL to praise highly LETHARGIC sluggish PECUNIARY monetary; financial EXTRADITE to surrender a prisoner to LITHE bending easily; flexible PEDANT one who possesses mere book another authority LITIGATION lawsuit learning; narrow-minded teacher EXTRANEOUS not belonging LOQUACIOUS talkative PERDITION hell EXTRICATE to free LUCID shining; easily understood PEREMPTORY dictatorial; unconditional 15 LUDICROUS ridiculous PERENNIAL continual; enduring FABRICATE to construct; to devise (a LUGUBRIOUS mournful PERFIDIOUS treacherous deception) MACHIAVELLIAN crafty; cunning PERFUNCTORY mechanical ; indifferent FACADE front part of a building; false front MAGNANIMOUS generous; noble PERNICIOUS destructive FACETIOUS humorous; flippant MALEVOLENT wishing evil; malicious PERPETUATE to cause to continue FACILE easy 19 PERSPECTIVE relation of parts to one FACTITIOUS artificial MALIGN to slander another and to the whole FASTIDIOUS hard to please MALINGER to pretend sickness PERT bold; saucy FATUOUS foolish MAUDLIN tearfully sentimental PERUSE to read with thoroughness FEASIBLE capable of being accomplished; MAXIM short statement of a general PERVADE to go or spread throughout 5 PETULANCE impatient irritation REPRISAL retaliation stealthy way PHILISTINE lacking in culture; commonplace REPROACH blame SURVEILANCE supervision 23 REPROBATE villain SUSTENANCE nourishment PHLEGMATIC sluggish RESPITE delay SYCOPHANT flatterer; parasite PIQUANT stimulating to the taste; exciting RETICENCE silence TACIT silent interest RETRIBUTION retaliation; revenge TACITURN almost always silent PIQUE to irritate REVILE to abuse; to slander TANGIBLE capable of being touched; PITHY terse RIBALD indecent; vulgar perceptible PLACATE to pacify ROBUST brawny; vigorous TANTAMOUNT equivalent PLACID calm 27 TAWNY yellowish-brown PLAGIARISM claiming another's work as ROTUND round TEMERITY foolish boldness one's own RUDIMENTARY elementary; TEMPORAL lasting only for a certain PLATONIC purely spiritual; not sensual undeveloped time; temporary POIGNANT piercing SAGACITY wisdom TENACITY persistence PORTEND to warn; to foreshadow SALACIOUS lewd; obscene TENUOUS slender; flimsy POSTERITY succeeding generations SALIENT important; conspicuous TERSE brief POTPOURRI mixture SALUBRIOUS wholesome TIRADE long, vehement speech PRAGMATIC practical SANGUINE optimistic 31 PRATE to talk much and to little purpose SAPIENT wise TORRID very hot; scorching PRECLUDE to shut out SARDONIC derisive; sneering TRANSITORY lasting but a short time 24 SATURNINE gloomy; very serious TRAVESTY ludicrous treatment of a PREDILECTION preference SCATHING bitterly severe serious subject PREROGATIVE privilege SCHISM split; discord TREMULOUS quivering PRISTINE unspoiled SCINTILLATE sparkle TRIBULATION trouble PROCRASTINATE to delay SCOFF ridicule TRUCULENT cruel PRODIGIOUS extraordinary in size; force, etc. SCRUTINIZE to examine closely TRYST meeting PROFLIGATE shamelessly immoral; extremely 28 TURBID muddy wasteful SCURRILOUS abusive; coarse TURGID swollen PROFUSE overabundant SECULAR wordly; nonreligious UBIQUITOUS occurring everywhere PROGENY descendants SEDENTARY inactive UNCTUOUS oily; excessively suave PROGNOSTICATE to forecast SEDITION rebellion UNMITIGATED not lessened; absolute PROLETARIAN worker; citizen of lowest class SEDULOUS industrious UPBRAID to scold PROMONTORY peak of high land jutting out SEETHE to boil; to be disturbed URBANE refined over water SHUNT to turn aside VITUPERATE to USURY excessive rate of interest PROPENSITY tendency scold 32 PROPINQUITY nearness SKEPTIC one who doubts VACILLATE to sway to an fro; to show PROPITIOUS favorable SLOTHFUL idle; lazy indecision PROSAIC commonplace; dull SOLILOQUY talking when alone VENIAL excusable 25 SOMBER dark; gloomy VENERATE to respect greatly PROSODY study of poetic meters and SOMNOLENT drowsy; sleepy VERBOSITY wordiness versification SONOROUS loud; resonant VERITY truth PROTOTYPE original or model SORDID vile; dirty VERNACULAR pertaining to common PSEUDONYM assumed name to conceal SPECIOUS misleading language of a land identity SPORADIC infrequent; irregular VICARIOUS substitute PSYCHE soul; spirit; mind SPURIOUS counterfeit; false VICISSITUDE change; variation PULCHRITUDE beauty 29 VINDICATE to justify PUNDIT learned man STAID sedate; serious VOCIFEROUS shouting PUNGENT sharply penetrating STILTED pompous VOLATILE evaporating rapidly; flighty PURLOIN to steal STOICISM repression of emotion VOLITION act of determination PURPORT to give the appearance of STOLID having little emotion; VORACIOUS very greedy QUALM misgiving impassive ZEALOT fanatic QUERULOUS complaining STRIDENT harsh-sounding RANCOR hatred SUBJUGATE to conquer REBUKE to reprimand; to blame SUBSERVIENT inferior; humble RECALCITRANT not obedient SUCCINCT concise RECIPROCAL interchangeable SUCCOR to aid 26 SUCCULENT full of juice RECONDITE concealed; profound SUPERCILIOUS haughty; arrogant RECONNOITER to survey a region SUPERSEDE to replace RECTITUDE honesty SUPPLE flexible REDOLENT fragrant 30 REMONSTRATE to protest SURREPTITIOUS acting in a secret, REMUNERATION compensation 6 WRITING THE DETAILS Put specific details in your writing. Consider this sentence: The shelter fell over. The sentence communicates something, but only vaguely. Search for specifics. Consider the same sentence written in a new way. The adobe hut, caught unexpectedly in a desert twister, rattled mud and dirt through nearby saguaro trees and then tumbled humbly to the ground. Directions: Take each of the sentences below that appear vague and unspecific and give them interesting details. Each of your new sentences should be at least 20 words long. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. The policeman was upset by his actions. She was very tired. It was a cold day. The test she gave was hard. Jeff did not like the game. The vacation was over too fast. Mary led the parade down the street. That made her mad. The car came to a stop. He sang the song. The jacket was insufficient for the weather. Refreshments were brought in after the dance. The citizens would not accept the decision. The meeting went too long. Birds flew over the river. The hunter shot the animal. The alarm clock woke the camper. The committee reviewed the situation. The papers fell to the ground. He quit the sport. The musician bought the CD. He read the newspaper thoroughly. The book was long and boring. The cyclist raised his arms when he crossed the line. The computer accepted the software. The plane flew through the fog. Music made her sad. Pets were his delight. She went forward without another thought. The flute sounded from off stage. The boat sounded its horn and steamed in. The finish line had been crossed. They climbed the mountain. The view was tremendous. Her voice was clear. She loaded the water gun and aimed. Summer at last came. The man shoveled the snow. Workers harvested the crop. 7 8