Details & Precise Language - Part 1

Aim: IWBAT develop the topic with supporting details and precise verbs, nouns, and adjectives to paint a visual image in the mind of the reader.

Tasks:
1. Do Now: Subject/Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns:

• For sentences, type the verb (exactly!) that correctly agrees with the subject.
• For indefinite pronouns, type singular, plural, or depends, to indicate whether the indefinite pronoun is always singular, always plural, or is a wishie-washie (it depends on the prepositional phrase that follows the pronoun).
• If you finish going through all 53 cards, you may change the study mode (in the bottom right corner of the Quizlet box) and continue practicing.

2. Think About It! Compare these two passages. Which one is more interesting, and why? Answer this question on Google Moderator.

DESCRIPTION #1:
The accident happened at the stoplight.  After the cars hit one another, there was a lot of chaos and confusion.  Both cars were damaged very badly.  By the time the police arrived in their police car with their lights on, one of the driver’s was standing outside her car.  She was holding a baby in her arms.  The baby was so scared that it had started crying.  It was crying very hard as they stood there. Other cars continued to drive past down the road.

DESCRIPTION #2:
Two cars collided with a loud crunch at the stoplight.  Afterwards, pieces of sharp glass sparkled on the ground.  As the drivers stepped out, sirens blared and a police car screeched to a stop beside the accident.  One of the drivers held a baby whose cheeks were red and salty with tears.  Other cars continued to whiz and flash past.

3. Learn about using precise language:

• Precise means specific, detailed, exact, and expressive
• Specific = giving details
• not vague (lacking in detail, too general)
• Concise = using few words to say a lot
• not verbose (using a lot of words to say a little)
• Precise language makes our writing clearer, so we can say exactly what we want to say. Plus, it can make our writing more interesting!

4. Revise a journal entry for precise language:

• Open Google Drive
• Click your Writing Portfolio 
• Open the document called "Revising for Precise Language"
• In the document:
1. First, identify words and phrases that are overused, boring, or lack detail or precision--parts that do no give us a clear visual image of what is happening.
2. Then, revise (write directly over) these parts to make language more specific and concise.
3. Finally, highlight your changes.

5. Make a Oh-No-You-Don't! Thesaurus:

• Some words that we use frequently are boring, dull, and imprecise. We need to get rid of these.
• In your classwork document ("Revising for Precise Language"), make lists of synonyms for each of the dull/imprecise/overused words. You will work with your teammates to create a comprehensive thesaurus.
• Identify other words that are dull, imprecise, and overused.

6. Revise your own writing for precise language:

• Open one of your recent writing projects (choose one: the memo to Deng Xiaoping, the response to literature, the education essay, or another essay/project) in the Writing Portfolio of Google Drive.
• Complete the same procedure as you did in Task #4, in your own writing:

1. First, identify words and phrases that are overused, boring, or lack detail or precision--parts that do no give us a clear visual image of what is happening.
2. Then, revise (write directly over) these parts to make language more specific and concise.
3. Finally, highlight your changes.

If you finish early:

• continue practicing with the Do Now activity (Task #1)
• complete today's TeenBiz3000 activity

 Homework: Using Precise Language