S i x T r a i t W r i t i n g

1. SixTraitWriting Word Choice

2. MPS Comprehensive Literacy Framework

3. COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY FRAMEWORKArea = WritingContext = SchoolAudience = Teachers

4. Components of Effective Writing Ideas Organization Voice Word Choice Sentence Fluency and Variety Conventions Presentation

6. “When you teach me, teach me one thing at a time.”-Albert Einstein

7. Word Choice Definition= The purposeful selection and use of effective words and phrases

8. What are the (Teachable) Components of Word Choice? • The words are specific and accurate. • The author has included striking words and phrases. • The language is natural, effective, and appropriate to the audience and purpose. • The author has used lively verbs, specific nouns, and modifiers. • The language clarifies and enhances the meaning of the writing.

9. A Helpful Extended Metaphor to Think About Compare Word Choice to Clothing

10. Effective Word Choice • Adapts to audience and purpose

11. Formalvs.Informal

12. When you are dressing for an event you need to consider: • Who will be there? (audience)

13. For Example • Describe the audience that would most appropriately match the word choice of this sentence. After Artie cleaned the ketchup off of his trousers with a tissue, he closed the ice box and went to relax on the davenport. *How might you craft this same message for a younger crowd?

14. When you are dressing for an event you need to consider: • What’s the occasion? ( purpose) To Persuade To Describe To Inform To Entertain

15. Another Example of Figurative Language… His word choice was as lush and crisp as vibrant green grass. (a simile) or not…

16. Examples from Literature

17. Amos & Boris- by William Steig • The author uses language that reflects the theme of the story—beautiful friendship.

18. House on Mango Street- by Sandra Cisneros • The author demonstrates how the use of fine-crafted, chiseled words can make a good story great. • * See the handout titled “Eleven”.

19. Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and Falling Up- by Shel Silverstein Poetry Speaks to Children- Edited by Elise Paschen

20. The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou- by Maya Angelou • Poetry is all about precise word choice.

21. Charlotte’s Web – by E.B. White Many passages in this book beg to be read out loud.

22. Another Example Stella Luna – by Janell Cannon “In a warm and sultry forest far, far away, there once lived a mother bat and her new baby. Oh, how Mother Bat loved her soft tiny baby. “I’ll name you Stellaluna,” she crooned. Each night, Mother Bat would carry Stellaluna clutched to her breast as she flew out to search for food.”

23. Effective word choice appeals to the senses. Fragrant-Rustic-Squeaky-Smooth-Bitter-Coarse-Meandering-Tantalizing-Exotic

24. Now you try… If you could only use six words to describe this picture… which words would you choose?

25. Words are like money. $$$$ We will spend our words wisely.

26. When the Word Choice is Right the Message Works! • Political Messages • Movie and Book Reviews • How-to Manuals • Bumper Stickers • Billboards • Editorials • Menus • Letters of Request • Resumes • Brochures • Restaurant Critiques • Commercials • Emails • Business Signs • Sports Broadcasts

27. Word Choice in Student Writing • Now let’s look at a piece of student writing. • See the Student Writing Sample titled “Chicken”. • We will use the Word Choice Rubric for younger students. • Let’s read the piece together, then discuss and determine if it is stronger than weak or weaker than strong in the trait of Word Choice.

28. APPLICATION • Find the Student Writing Sample titled “Crabmeat”. • Work with another person. • Use the Word Choice Rubric for younger students. • Discuss. • Your goal is to come to consensus on feedback. • Keep the feedback specific and positive. It should be crafted to allow the writer to transfer the feedback to other writings and improve as a writer--not only this particular piece. • Be able to communicate why you chose to start with these comments--what lead you to decide which components of word choice to address first?

29. Providing Effective Descriptive Feedback: Now Individually… • Choose one of the other student writing samples. • Use one of the word choice rubrics to develop descriptive feedback that would help a student enhance his or her use of word choice. • Do not give a number. Just write effective descriptive feedback designed to encourage and nudge--not overwhelm--the writer.

30. Other Samples to Use to Look at Word Choice: • Beefaroni • New Third Grader • Mashputadow • Changing Places With My Mother • New Student • My Dad • Friendship

31. Next Steps… Activities to use with students

32. Lessons for Word Choice Focus on Using: • Fresh and unique words and phrases • Words that paint pictures • Simple language used well • Language written to inform or entertain—not to impress • Every word or phrase crystal clear—or defined for me • Strong, active verbs

33. To Help Students Continue to Enhance Their Ability to Use Effective Word Choice • Correct Use of Words (Grammar & Usage) • Flexible Use of Vocabulary (Judging and Adapting) • Precise Use of Words and Phrases (Bigger Doesn’t Always Equal Better) • Understanding the Derivation of Words (Tracing Their Origins) • Interesting Use of Figurative Language (Similes, Metaphors, Alliteration, Personification, etc.) FOCUS ON:

34. Key Strategies:Help Students Learn to: • Use words in appropriate contexts • Evaluate the use of everyday words in the writing • Look for limited and dull words • Select specific and precise words • Match word choices to the intended level of formality • Identify weak words and find stronger ones • Use powerful words to provide energy

35. Something Specific to Use In the Classroom *See the Handout Titled “Word Collector” • Student instructions: Use the space in the boxes below to collect words you might like to use in the future. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

36. Something Specific to Use In the Classroom *See the Handout Titled, “What did they say and how did they say it?” • Have students practice adapting word choice to specific audiences and purposes. • Example: said • (in a soft way = whispered; in a mean way= commanded; in a loud way = bellowed) • In a scared way = _______________ • In a proud way = ________________ • In a sad way = __________________ • In an excited way= _______________or___________

37. To Summarize. . .

38. Word Choice . . .Encourage Students to Ask Themselves: • Did I use interesting words? • Do my words convey a clear message? • Did I use precise words? • Did I use descriptive words that help paint a picture? • Do my words match my audience and purpose? • Did I use the correct words?

39. How can you emphasize word choice in your classroom writing lessons?

40. Here’s What You Can Do: • 1. Read aloud from a variety of works. Point out how the author matches the word choice to the audience and purpose. • 2. Help students identify an audience and write for that audience using appropriate word choice (talk about why and how the writing should adapt to the audience and purpose). • 3. Teach students how to correctly use a thesaurus and a dictionary (proper usage affects the intended message).

41. Remember:

42. MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Our Goal: Word Choice All students have the knowledge and skills needed to hit the target!