Word Choice

CartoonCartoon

Word Choice

• Natural• Active, energetic

verbs• Precise, concrete

nouns and modifiers• Simple language

used well• Paints pictures

• Precise, accurate vocabulary

• Minimal redundancy• Creative expression• Memorable combinations

of words• Correct use of domain-

specific vocabulary

Word Choice

““The difference The difference between the right word between the right word and the nearly right and the nearly right word is the same as word is the same as that between lightning that between lightning and the lightning bug.” and the lightning bug.”

Mark TwainMark Twain

Word Choice

Key Question:Key Question:

Do the words and Do the words and phrases create vivid phrases create vivid pictures and linger in pictures and linger in

your mind?your mind?

Word Choice

““I do not choose I do not choose the right word. the right word.

I get rid of the I get rid of the wrong one.wrong one.

A.E. HousemanA.E. Houseman

Word Choice

Don’t say dog. Say cocker spaniel. Don’t say dog. Say cocker spaniel. Don’t say house. Say cottage. Or Don’t say house. Say cottage. Or Vicarage. Or split-level. Or shack. It’s Vicarage. Or split-level. Or shack. It’s not a fighter plane; it’s an F16…A not a fighter plane; it’s an F16…A mist that “curls” around a boat is mist that “curls” around a boat is more intriguing than one that simply more intriguing than one that simply “covers” it…A piano that sits in the “covers” it…A piano that sits in the middle of the room “glowing from a middle of the room “glowing from a rubdown of cactus oil” is a piano I rubdown of cactus oil” is a piano I won’t soon forget.won’t soon forget.

David L. David L. CarrollCarroll

Word Choice

Nice writing isn’t enough. It isn’t enough to Nice writing isn’t enough. It isn’t enough to have smooth & pretty language. You have have smooth & pretty language. You have to surprise the reader frequently; you can’t to surprise the reader frequently; you can’t just be nice all the time. Provoke the reader. just be nice all the time. Provoke the reader. Astonish the reader. Writing that has no Astonish the reader. Writing that has no surprises is as bland as oatmeal. Surprise surprises is as bland as oatmeal. Surprise the reader with the unexpected verb or the reader with the unexpected verb or adjective. Use one startling adjective per adjective. Use one startling adjective per page.page. Ann Bernays Ann Bernays

Writer on Writing,Writer on Writing, 1990 1990

Word Choice

BlooperBlooperss1. A virgin forest is a place where 1. A virgin forest is a place where

the hand of man has never set the hand of man has never set foot.foot.

2. It is bad manners to break your 2. It is bad manners to break your bread and roll in your soup.bread and roll in your soup.

3. Running is a unique experience, 3. Running is a unique experience, and I thank God for exposing me and I thank God for exposing me to the track team.to the track team.

Word Choice

BlooperBlooperss4. To be a good nurse, you must 4. To be a good nurse, you must

be absolutely sterile. be absolutely sterile.

5. A triangle which has an angle of 5. A triangle which has an angle of 135 degrees is called an obscene 135 degrees is called an obscene triangle.triangle.

6. The President of the US, in 6. The President of the US, in having foreign affairs, has to have having foreign affairs, has to have consent of the Senate.consent of the Senate.

Word Choice

Use strong, Use strong, energetic verbsenergetic verbs

John Henry sang and he hammered and theair danced and the rainbow shimmered and the earth shook and rolled from the blows of the hammer. Finally it was quiet. Slowly thedust cleared.

Word Choice

Teaching Word Choice to Teaching Word Choice to StudentsStudentsStep Step

1...1...Use LiteratureUse Literature

Read literature Read literature excerpts. excerpts.

Feathers and Fools by Mem Fox, Crazy English by Richard Lederer, “I Have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Word Choice

Step Step 2...2...

Writing Writing ActivitiesActivities

Word WheelsWord WheelsForbidden Forbidden WordsWords

A.A.B.B.

Appeal to Appeal to SensesSensesMouthwatering Mouthwatering MenusMenus

C.C.DD..

Word Choice

Step Step 2...2...

Writing Writing ActivitiesActivities

Paragraph of One Paragraph of One Syllable WordsSyllable Words

Can you construct a Can you construct a paragraph at least three paragraph at least three sentences long using only sentences long using only one syllable words?one syllable words?

Word Choice

Step Step 2...2... WritingActivitWritingActivit

iesiesBig words can make the way dark for those Big words can make the way dark for those who read what you write and hear what you who read what you write and hear what you say. Small words cast their clear light on big say. Small words cast their clear light on big things--night and day, love and hate, war things--night and day, love and hate, war and peace, and life and death. Small words and peace, and life and death. Small words are the ones we seem to have known from are the ones we seem to have known from the time we were born, like the hearth fire the time we were born, like the hearth fire that warms the home.that warms the home. Writing Magazine,Writing Magazine, March March 19941994

The 50 most common words in written English are each made up of a single syllable.

Word Choice

The paradox of our time in history is thatwe have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; We spend more but have less;We buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but less solutions; more medicine, but less wellness.

Word Choice

Step Step 3...3...

Sample Sample PapersPapersLook at and Look at and

discuss rubric discuss rubric A.A.

Evaluate anonymous Evaluate anonymous papers papers

B.B.

Read story togetherRead story together

Evaluate individually, then as small groupEvaluate individually, then as small group

Share score with large groupShare score with large group

Discuss the reasoning for the scoreDiscuss the reasoning for the score

1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

4.4.

Word Choice

Pets are ForeverPets are ForeverMany pet owners worry about that difficult day when Many pet owners worry about that difficult day when

they must say goodbye for the last time. A new method of they must say goodbye for the last time. A new method of preservation could make that day a whole lot easier. It’s a sort preservation could make that day a whole lot easier. It’s a sort of mummification of the 90s, minus the fuss of wrapping and of mummification of the 90s, minus the fuss of wrapping and the mess of embalming fluid. The new method, believe it or the mess of embalming fluid. The new method, believe it or not, involves freeze drying your pet. It’s clean, relatively not, involves freeze drying your pet. It’s clean, relatively affordable (compared to the cost of a live pet), produces affordable (compared to the cost of a live pet), produces authentic results, and enables you to keep Fluffy beside you authentic results, and enables you to keep Fluffy beside you on the couch forever, if you wish.on the couch forever, if you wish.

Freeze drying is really a simple procedure. First, highly Freeze drying is really a simple procedure. First, highly trained technicins remove all the pet’s internal organs. They dotrained technicins remove all the pet’s internal organs. They do

Word Choice

leave muscle tissue and bones intact, however, so there will be leave muscle tissue and bones intact, however, so there will be something to freeze dry. They replace the eyes with lifelike something to freeze dry. They replace the eyes with lifelike glass marbles in the color of choice. A special procedure glass marbles in the color of choice. A special procedure temporarily reverses the effects of rigor mortis, allowing the temporarily reverses the effects of rigor mortis, allowing the owner to pose the pet as he or she wishes--sitting, lying down, owner to pose the pet as he or she wishes--sitting, lying down, curled by the fire, about to pounce, and so on. It is important to curled by the fire, about to pounce, and so on. It is important to work quickly before the effects of rigor mortis resume. As a work quickly before the effects of rigor mortis resume. As a finishing touch, the technician uses special blow dryers with a finishing touch, the technician uses special blow dryers with a fine nozel to make the pet look more lifelike. One client posed fine nozel to make the pet look more lifelike. One client posed her cat in the litterbox; apparently, that was her most striking her cat in the litterbox; apparently, that was her most striking memory of “Tiger.”memory of “Tiger.”

Word Choice

Freeze drying costs from $500 to $1,000, depending on Freeze drying costs from $500 to $1,000, depending on the size of the pet and the complexity of the final pose. “About the size of the pet and the complexity of the final pose. “About to strike” is more expensive than, say, “napping by the to strike” is more expensive than, say, “napping by the woodstove.” The entire procedure takes about six months, but woodstove.” The entire procedure takes about six months, but satisfied clients claim the wait is worth it. After all, once the pet satisfied clients claim the wait is worth it. After all, once the pet is returned, you have him or her forever--maintenance-free is returned, you have him or her forever--maintenance-free except for occasional re-fluffing of the fur. Technicians report except for occasional re-fluffing of the fur. Technicians report that freeze-dried pets hold up best in a relatively low-humidity, that freeze-dried pets hold up best in a relatively low-humidity, dust-free environment.dust-free environment.

Experts also offer one final piece of advice: It is not Experts also offer one final piece of advice: It is not recommended that pet owners try freeze drying their own pets. recommended that pet owners try freeze drying their own pets. Proper equipment and experience are essential. See your Proper equipment and experience are essential. See your veterinarian for information.veterinarian for information.

Word Choice

I’m writing an essay on my favorite music. My music comes from Latin America. It is called salsa. It has a really nice beat to it. They also play with lots of different kinds of instruments They really sing nice to.

One of the reasons why I like it is because you can do any type of movements you what to when you are dancing to these type of music.

Another reason why I like it is because it has been around for a long time. Also because they really know how make music back then. It can be a lot of fun if only you make it fun if you don’t make it fun that I guess you will not have fun. These are the reasons why I like salsa music.

Salsa MusicSalsa Music

Word Choice

Coaching Coaching ChecklistChecklist

1. Do you have favorite words or 1. Do you have favorite words or expressions in this piece? Show me. expressions in this piece? Show me.

2. Are there any words you used for the 2. Are there any words you used for the first time? Which ones?first time? Which ones?

3. Are there any words you weren’t sure 3. Are there any words you weren’t sure of? Which? Shall we look them up?of? Which? Shall we look them up?

Word Choice

Coaching Coaching ChecklistChecklist 4. Did you use thesaurus or dictionary? 4. Did you use thesaurus or dictionary?

Tell me about that.Tell me about that.

5. Are there any words or phrases you’re 5. Are there any words or phrases you’re not happy with? Shall we brainstorm not happy with? Shall we brainstorm some other ways to say it?some other ways to say it?

6. The word or expression which caught 6. The word or expression which caught my attention was…. (explain it to the my attention was…. (explain it to the writer)writer)

Word Choice

Step Step 4...4...

Peer Peer responrespond/editd/edit

Teacher Teacher Assesses Assesses PaperPaper

Step Step 5...5...

FluencyFluency

“Salsa Music”

Word Choice

FluencyFluency

Dear Parent,

We have established a special phone communication system to provide additional opportunities for parent input. During this year, we will focus on giving added emphasis to the goal of improved communication, utilizing a variety of means to accomplish this goal. Your inputs, from the unique parental perspective, can assist us in planning and implementing an educational program configured to meet the needs of your child. An open dialogue, feedback and interfacing of information between parents and teachers will enable us to work with your child in the most productive manner.Dr. Harold R. SmithAdministrative Leader

Can you write this more clearly keeping the intended audience and purpose in mind?