Brushstrokes: Painting a Verbal Picture with Padlet by Veronica Gray

Veronica Gray's Learning Segment

vjewels8 — 2013-12-04 11:00:29 UTC

I have uploaded a very detailed learning segment (lesson plan) on the

teaching of writing vividly with rich descriptive detail using a

grammatical technique called "brushstrokes." This technique comes

from Harry R. Noden's Using Grammar Structures to Teach Writing.

How to Get the File?

vjewels8 — 2013-12-04 11:06:37 UTC

Simply click on the image of the learning

segment, and it display. On the upper

right hand corner there is an arrow that

points to the upper right corner, this will

take you to a Google Docs version of the

file. This should enable to print and/or

download the learning segment. If for some

reason this does not work for you, please

feel free to email me at vjewels8@gmail.com,

and I will make sure to send you a copy.

Boring Writing

vjewels8 — 2013-12-04 11:11:47 UTC

Who likes to read writing that is boring? When you are writing something, you should always consider your audience. By using brushstrokes in your prose, you will be better able to increase your reader's visualization of your work instead of boring them. For example, instead of writing “Jenny was annoying,” try "Jenny’s voice, high pitched and shrill, came piercing through the wall. She then entered the room, perkily demanded my attention as would a toddler soaked in sugar and coffee, and asked: ‘whatcha up to?’" Why write that someone is annoying when you can show how and why they are annoying? You want to make the reader feel the character's annoyance.

An Example of Writing with Brushstrokes

vjewels8 — 2013-12-04 11:13:03 UTC

From out of the depths of the dark, nebulous abyss came the most terrifying monstrosity that ever walked upon the surface of our little blue-green planet. It had a large furrowed brow that hung above gloomy drooping eyes. This abominable creature, trudging forward in a daze, stepped into Central Park with a determined look of ferocity in its eyes. It climbed a nearby tree, eagerly awaiting its next victim, eyes dilated, saliva dripping from its mouth. And suddenly it struck, leaping downwards and latching its fangs onto the neck of a man passing by. The man screamed, but it was too late. The poison seeped through his skin and swirled through his veins. It was only a matter of time before he too would transform into a hideous creature of the night, lurking from shadow to shadow, preying on unwary victims, in a vicious effort to convert all of humankind into bloodthirsty horrors. The plague had begun and soon, zombie squirrels would roam the earth. --Andrew Clark (SSU Student)

Show Don't Tell

vjewels8 — 2013-12-04 11:16:42 UTC

Don't forget to show rather than tell; show your reader how something is beautiful instead of telling them that it is beautiful. Extra Credit (Up to 3 points -- 5 sentences minimum): Try describing the picture shown here. Who can do it the best using brushstokes???

gROUP a

vjewels8 — 2013-12-06 02:42:43 UTC

laDY gAGA,