#13 Brushstrokes

Image Grammar –

Using Brushstrokes

Adapted from Harry Noden’s Image Grammar

Intro

Write a sentence about the cat on the first line in your notes.

Brushstrokes (You do not need to copy this down…)

Just as visual artists learn different techniques with paints and brushes, writers need to employ different brushstrokes in their writing.

Brushstrokes help a writer’s words and phrases become descriptive and detailed

Brushstrokes in writing link to grammatical structures: words, phrases, clauses and syntax (word order)

We will learn 5 brushstrokes:1. Participles

2. Absolutes

3. Appositives

4. Adjectives out of Order

5. Action Verbs

Building Blocks

Noun – person, place, thing, or idea

Verb – conveys action, occurrence,

or state of being

Adjective – describes, identifies, or

further identifies a noun

A complete sentence (independent

clause) must include a subject

(noun) and a predicate (verb).

Ex. Sam runs.

Copy down Chart…

Brushstroke Definition Examples

Participles(and phrases)

Absolutes

Appositives(and phrases)

Adjectives Out of Order

Action Verbs

How to take notes

1. Fill in the chart with definition and your own original example.

2. After you are finished with the presentation, write a 3-5 sentenceparagraph summary of what you learned.

Brushstroke #1

Painting with Participles

Participle Definition

A Participle is an “-ing” or “-ed” verb tagged on to the beginning or ending of a sentence (sometimes just after the noun).

Example:

Base Sentence: The diamond-scaled snakes attacked their prey.

Painting with Participles: Hissing, slithering, and coiling, the diamond-scaled snakes attacked their prey.

Participial Phrase

Definition

A participial phrase: a participle along with modifier (more detail).

Example:

Base Sentence: Hissing and coiling, the diamond-scale snakes attacked their prey.

Painting with participial phrases: Hissing their forked red tongues and coiling their cold bodies, the diamond–scale snakes attacked their prey.

Participle Practice

Write onesentence using at least one participle or one participial phrase about the clown.

Brushstroke #2

Painting with Absolutes

Absolute Definition

A two word combination that is a noun + participle (“ing”or “ed” verb) OR noun + participial phrase added onto a sentence. Absolutes help add to the action of an image.

Example:

Base Sentence: The cat attacked the dog.

Painting with Absolutes: Claws digging, feet kicking, the cat attacked the dog.

Absolute Practice

Write a sentence about the USA hockey team using oneabsolute.

Brushstroke #3:

Painting with Appositives

Appositive Definition

An appositive is a noun that adds a second detail/image to a preceding noun. It is set off with commas (note: commas plural!).

Examples:

Base Sentence: The raccoon enjoys eating turtle eggs.

Painting with Appositives: The raccoon, a scavenger, enjoys eating turtle eggs.

Appositive Phrase

Definition

Appositive phrase: an appositive with added detail.

Examples:Base sentence: The raccoon, a midnight scavenger, enjoys eating turtle eggs.

Painting with appositive phrases: The raccoon, a midnight scavenger who roams lake shorelines in search of food, enjoys eating turtle eggs.

Appositive Practice

Write onesentence using an appositive or an appositive phrase about the homeless woman.

Brushstroke #4:

Adjectives Out of Order

Adjectives out of

Order Definition

Adjectives out of order amplify the details of an image; they create a spotlight and intensify the image by creating a different rhythm; usually used in fiction.

Examples:

Original Sentence: The large, red-eyed angry moose charged the intruder.

Painting with Adjectives Out of Order: The largemoose, red-eyed and angry, charged the intruder.

Adjectives out of order

Practice

Write a sentence about the carousel using adjectives out of order

Brushstroke #5:

Action Verbs

action Verbs

Definition

This is the process of eliminating the “passive voice” and verbs of being and replacing them with more active verbs.

Examples:Original Sentences:

The runaway horse was ridden into town by an old, white-whiskered rancher. The grocery store was robbed by two armed men.

Painting with Action Verbs:The old, white-whiskered rancher rode the runaway horse into town. Two armed men robbed the grocery store.

Action Verb Practice

Write onesentence using an action about the Mission Impossible Scene.

Wrap up

Rewrite your sentence about the cat in your notes using as many brushstrokes as possible!

So……. Why do writers paint with words?

Readers want a vivid picture. An amateur tells a story, but a professional shows it.

Traits of Showing:Considers using all the five senses Includes specific details Uses vivid verbs, adjectives, and adverbsUses comparisons such as similes

3-5 Sentence Summary

Something that is becoming

clear about writing with

brushstrokes is…