My Thanksgiving Break

1. My Thanksgiving Break Word Picture

2. What is a Word Picture? TAKE NOTES • A word picture captures an image through vivid description and strong verb choices. • Verbs are ACTION words – either physical, mental or emotional. • Word pictures can be a few sentences or an entire paragraph. • Try to appeal to the reader’s senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.

3. Ideas TAKE NOTES • When writing it is important to be specific with your ideas. • You do not want your ideas to be too broad or too narrow. • Try using a brainstorming technique to find an idea that will allow you to express your creativity and help capture the readers attention.

4. Magnifying TAKE NOTES • What I did on my vacation… • Walked on the beach • Cleaned out the garage • Began work on my new job • Choose one of the ideas and cross out the remaining two. Write your own 3

5. Circle the idea that you want to illustrate in your writing TAKE NOTES • Walked on the beach • Cleaned out the garage • Began work on my new job • Now write three details for your idea – remember you want to be able to expand on the idea by appealing to the reader’s senses!

6. Cleaned out the garage TAKE NOTES • Mountains of clutter • Scary guy who picked up the donations • “Aunt” who did not want to throw anything away • Now choose one detail to use in your writing – be careful to not be so specific that your writing is too narrow and lacks enough support to be interesting.

7. Combining ideas TAKE NOTES • Mountains of clutter • Scary guy who picked up the donations • “Aunt” who did not want to throw anything away • It is acceptable to combine your details if you can make them blend in a way that supports your idea without making it too broad.

8. Word Picture NO NOTES • I slowly took a deep breath, steeled my shoulders back and strode through the garage door. I gasped at the sight before me. This was not a garage; it was a junk yard. Mountains of toys, bins and exercise equipment sprawled out before me, covered in dust and cobwebs. Everywhere I looked I saw action figures without heads, toy cars without wheels, and bin upon bin overflowing with “stuff”. I shuddered at the thought of making sense out of the chaos.

9. Remember your verbs! NO NOTES • I slowly took a deep breath, steeled my shoulders back and strode through the garage door. I gasped at the sight before me. This was not a garage; it was a junk yard. Mountains of toys, bins and exercise equipment sprawled out before me, covered in dust and cobwebs. Everywhere I looked I saw action figures without heads, toy cars without wheels, and bin upon bin overflowing with “stuff”. I shuddered at the thought of making sense out of the chaos.

10. When use a Word Picture? TAKE NOTES • Use a word picture in the introduction to capture the reader’s attention. • Use a word picture in one of your main body paragraphs to help support your point. • Word Pictures are great tools but be careful to not over use them – remember you need to make your points and use other methods of supporting your ideas!