Do you “have a plan” or have you “hatched a scheme”? Are your students writing about the “circulation” of the blood or about how the blood “circulates”?
Do they understand how to use specific adjectives? Do they know the power of connotations? Do they turn sluggish nouns into working verbs? Do they define their terms?
Enjoy these nine tutorials that teach all of these things and much more. They will instruct your students in the finer art of using the elegant English language. Now students are not just writing; they are communicating.
Appropriate for 7th-12th graders. Use the lessons now or bookmark them for future use.
It’s time to dive into the splashy end of the pool . . .
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1. Specific word choice
Students will focus on word choices in this post where they rewrite a boring paragraph and then use specific words and images to focus their readers.
It contains two writing activities and one free printable.
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2. Change sluggish nouns into vivid verbs
In this prompt, students read some indecipherable paragraphs from the Johnson Space Center Handbook and learn
the importance of changing their nouns into verbs.
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3. The punch of one-syllable words
Students learn the punch and power of one-syllable words in this fun prompt.
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4. The power of connotations
Is it a blob of tissue or is it a baby? Did you tell a lie or simply a divergent reality?
Students learn what connotations are in this tutorial and then have a choice of four writing activities to cement the idea in their heads.
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5. The attraction of alliteration
Do your students know the delight of alliteration?
Give them some practice in this writer’s device in this prompt that begins with a sad, sorrowful Sesame Street story.
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6. And while we’re on the topic of alliteration . . .
James Whitcomb Riley’s famous poem “When the Frost Is on the Punkin” is the basis for this tutorial.
Students will learn about and practice alliteration, assonance, and consonance. It’s buy one, get two free!
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7. Define your terms
Students read examples of one term with two very different definitions. Then they practice this essential skill.
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8. Be specific
One very important skill writers need to develop is being specific with their words and images.
They’ll learn more about that here.
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9. Adjectives
Looking for a fun way to introduce your students to adjectives or review them? You’ve come to the right place!
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Looking for fun middle school prompts? Follow this link. >>
Would you like engaging high school prompts. Follow this link. >>
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