Elaboration in Action

1
Elaboration in Action

• What does it mean and how can I use it to improve
  my writing?
• Adapted from Dr. Keen Babbages presentation at
  the February 23rd Reading and Writing Academy at
  Leestown Middle School

2
Start with something small

• He walked.
• He walked slowly.
• He walked slowly, yet confidently.
• He walked slowly, yet confidently and with a look
  of determination.

3
Build on it.

• He walked slowly, yet confidently and with a look
  of relentless determination as he crossed the
  floor.
• He walked slowly, yet confidently and with a look
  of relentless determination as he crossed the gym
  floor.

4
Then, keep building on it.

• He walked slowly, yet confidently and with a look
  of relentless determination as he crossed the gym
  floor knowing that these free throws were
  important.

5
Then, keep building on it.

• He walked slowly, yet confidently and with a look
  of relentless determination as he crossed the gym
  floor knowing that these two free throws could
  turn a one point loss into a one point win.

6
Start with something small

• She spoke.
• She spoke sincerely.
• She spoke with a powerful sincerity.
• She spoke with a powerful sincerity and a smile.

7
Build on it.

• She spoke with a powerful sincerity and a
  convincing smile.
• She spoke with a powerful sincerity and a
  convincing smile as she told of her high school
  accomplishments.

8
Then, keep building on it.

• She spoke with a powerful sincerity and a
  convincing smile as she told the scholarship
  committee of her many high school accomplishments
  in hopes they would select her for the award.

9
Now, you try it!

• Take the following story starter, and create a
  full paragraph that elaborates on the beginning
  sentence.
• It crept.