WORD CHOICE

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WORD CHOICE

• Many students have the misconception that
  writers write with words, language detached from
  information. They think that words are pretty
  balloons filled with air. But writing that is
  read has words that are firmly anchored to
  meaning. Donald Murray

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Listen to the words!

• Feathers and Fools
• By
• Mem Fox

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How important are the words?

• Write an advertisement for this catalog item that
  will make everyone want to buy it!

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What is word choice?

• Accuracy
• Precision
• Everyday words used in fresh ways
• Avoidance of jargon
• No ponderous,let me impress you language
• Fits audience, purpose
• Lively verbs
• Words that paint picture

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Word Choice and the Writing Process
Prewriting
Drafting
Publishing
Word Choice
Sharing
Editing
Revising
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TWO FACES OF WORD CHOICE

• Creative and Personal
• Memorable and Lyrical
• Create pictures in the readers mind
• Strong verbs
• Natural language

• Informational
• Precise words and terminology
• Technical terms defined or clarified
• No jargon or hard to penetrate phrasing
• Simple, natural, clear language

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Focused Lessons

• Read, Read, Read
• Encourage students to collect
• Brainstorm alternatives
• Keep personal dictionaries

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TEACHING IDEAS

• No, Not Again
• Too Vague
• Flat Words
• Word Play

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More Teaching Ideas

• At A Glance
• Listen For Favorite Words
• Fictionary
• Linear Array
• Changing A Paragraph
• Insectlopedia

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Scoring for the TraitWord Choice

• A Great Book
• A Strange Visitor
• Student Writing

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Troubleshooting

• Problem 1
• The vocabulary is too simple, too general, too
  vague. It just doesnt say anything.

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Troubleshooting

• Problem 2
• The student suffers from thesaurus-chained-to-the
  desk syndrome. Reading this is like being
  force-fed fudge.

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Troubleshooting

• Problem 3
• The language is not well suited to the topic or
  the audience.

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Remember How To Build A Lesson?

• Choose any piece of writing or
• Design a writing activity that emphasizes this
  trait
• or
• Use lessons from this session or
• Model through your own writing

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Tips For Success

• Keep a Journal
• Collect Quotations
• Think of Another Way to Say It

• Think Verbs
• Make a Picture
• Cut the Fat

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Word Choice

• Dont say the old lady screamed.. Bring her on
  and let her scream!
• -Mark Twain