Download 6+1 Traits of Writing Word Choice

6+1 Traits of Writing
Word Choice
Word Choice
• What do we mean by word choice?
• Why is it important?
• What kinds of words are we talking about?
• It is about the use of rich, colourful, precise
language that communicates not just in a
functional way, but also in a way that moves
and enlightens the reader.
• In good descriptive writing strong word choice
clarifies and expands ideas.
• In persuasive writing, it moves you to a new
vision of things.
• In narrative writing, it creates images in your
mind that are so real, you feel like you are part
of the story itself.
• Strong word choices can lift a piece of writing
from the ordinary and mundane to writing
that has clarity, feeling, imagery, accuracy or is
persuasive.
• Beware of technical language or acronyms
that may not be universally understood.
• Be wary of vocabulary lists, teaching words in
isolation will not create rich vocabulary. Students
need to explore the real role of words in the
context of writing-to create meaning and to
satisfy the reader.
• Its not about using big words. Students need to
learn to use the appropriate word for each
situation. ‘ ....steer them away from exceptional,
impressive language and toward the skill to use
everyday words as well
“ I am surrounded by repetitive redundancies. In
fact I am completely surrounded. Even more than
that, I am completely surrounded on all sides.”
Richard Lederer
Very unique
“The six+1 traits is an epic learning instrument. It
taught me how to span out my lofty vocabulary. I
greatly appreciate this lofty opus.”
Megan, 8th grade
•
•
• “ A touch of class, a flash of elegance can mark
the difference between unremarkable clarity
and a thought so elegantly shaped that it not
only fixes itself in the mind of our readers
forever, but gives them a moment of pleasure
when they recall it”
Joseph M. Williams
Teaching Word Choice
• Striking Language: sharpening student’s
descriptive powers
• Exact language: using lively verbs, precise
nouns, and accurate modifiers
• Natural Language: making it sound authentic
• Beautiful language: choosing colourful words
and phrases
Striking Language: sharpening
student’s descriptive powers
•
•
•
•
Start with a connection
Make a picture in your mind
Focus on details
Look for the unusual
Exact language: using lively verbs,
precise nouns, and accurate modifiers
• Nothing works harder in a sentence than a verb.
Use active verbs for more impact.
• Adverbs: Mem Fox says “In the same way that
weak nouns require adjectives to pep them up,
weak verbs scream out for adverbs to help them
along.”
• Connotations: Word choice can present different
shades of meaning. What message do we want to
convey?
What a difference a word makes!
Exact language: using lively verbs,
precise nouns, and accurate modifiers
I am selective.
You are choosy.
She is fussy.
I am energetic.
You are jumpy.
He is unable to sit still.
I am confident.
You are cocky.
He is conceited.
Natural Language: making it sound
authentic
• Have children build list of their own words.
• Have them find words from texts that they like
and that they use.
• Substituting words from a thesaurus does not
make for improved writing.
• But we do need to encourage them to find
new words to incorporate into their usage.
• We want children to fall in love with words.
Beautiful language: choosing colourful
words and phrases
• Expanding small phrases to bigger ones.
Kendra was ten minutes late for breakfast.
Kendra huffed to the breakfast table ten minutes
late, flung herself into her chair, and snagged
the Cheerios.
The wind was strong.
The wind fumed and shrieked about the house,
yanking an the loose shingles.
Beautiful language: choosing colourful
words and phrases
The dog was hungry.
The house was empty.
My sister got mad.
The rain came down.
My shoes were tight.
Teaching Word Choice
• Give children time and space to experiment with
this trait.
• Provide opportunities to play with words, over
use them, show them why some work and some
don’t.
• They need to learn to use precise language t
accurately deliver their message. (Think about
persuasive texts.)
• We need to help them find just the right word!