Nancy Prozito Writing Tools 2

Nancy Prizito
Writing Tools
presented
by
Steve Barrish
REMEMBER: 
• Writing is a two
step process!
– The hardest step
is to THINK of
what you want to
write (say).
– The EASIER step
is to figure out
HOW you want to
write (say) it!
Alliteration:
•Are near-by words
in a sentence using
the same beginning
sound.
•Remember, it is the
sound that rhymes
and not the letters.
Example:
• A winning wonderful
attraction would be
Water World.
• Abraham Lincoln was
tall, tough and talented.
Use Strong Verbs
• Replace
everyday,
common verbs
with creative,
ear-capturing,
action verbs.
Example:
• We went to Walt Disney

World.
• We visited Walt Disney
World.
• Michael walked with
Stephanie.
• Michael strolled with
Stephanie.
Use Captivating
Color Words
• Color words are
adjectives that
enlighten and enhance
the words they
describe.
• They cause the brain to
remember them better.
Example:
• We took the rough and
ready flume ride down
the mountain.
• His raincoat was
fluorescent yellow with
glowing green stripes.
Metaphor and
Simile
Through
the poet/writer
them... presents images,
or ideas, to help
the
reader/listener
see/hear as the
poet/writer does.
A Simile is a comparison
of two unlike
things.
The
words... “like” or “as”
are used to
make the
comparison
l e
p
a m
E x
: The fire burned as
brightly as the sun.
It the fire to
compares.. the sun by
. telling they
both burn
brightly.
A metaphor...
is a comparison that
does not use the
words “like” or “as”.
Onomatopoeia
-
are words that
sound like
natural sounds.
Example:
The firecracker
went pop.
Clever
Creative
Character
Names • Creates
humor and
personality
in your
essay.
• Lex Luthor
• Wonder Woman
• Peter Parker
• Steve Barrish
• Cow’s Steakhouse
• Lady Gaga
Use
HYPERBOLE:
• HYPERBOLE
is the use of
over
exaggeration.
Examples:
• For the millionth time
I’m telling you to do it!
• I am so hungry I could
eat a horse!
• That building is as tall
as a mountain!
Use
SPECIFICITY:
• SPECIFICITY is
using exact
names of people,
places and
things.
Examples:
• Mr. Steve Barrish
• Southern Oaks Middle School
• Dell Computer
• McDonald’s
• Islands of Adventure
• Rave Motion Picture Theatre
Use
POWERFUL
VOCABULARY
• This is your
chance to
use great
and strong
words
Examples:
• Magnificent
• Incredulous
• Audacity
• Tenacious
• exasperating
Use
SPECIFIC
EMOTION
WORDS:
• These are exact
“feeling” words.
Examples:
• Nervous
• Calm
• Anxious
• Jittery
• tense
Use
SENSORY
• These are words that
words use the 5 senses.
– Touch
– See
– Hear
– Taste
– Smell
Examples:
• Rough
• Stench
• Yummy
• Loud
• beautiful
Try to
TALK
• This method
TO
engages the
YOUR
reader.
READER
• It makes the
reader want to
read on.
Examples: (sentence starters)
• Let me tell you…

• Picture this…
• I know you won’t
believe this but,…
• Oh, I almost forgot…
• Did I mention…
Use
DEFINITIONS
• Give the meaning

of an unusual
word or phrase.
• Place it in
parenthesis after
the word.
Examples:
• Moola (money)
• The bomb (best)
• Mahi-mahi (dolphin fish)
Use
APPOSITIVES
• They rename or
further identify
the subject of the
sentence.
• Place the
appositive
between commas.
Examples:
• My teacher, Mr. Steve
Barrish, is a wonderful
man!
• Drew Brees, the
quarterback for the New
Orleans Saints, ran the
ball in himself.
Use DIALOGUE
• Use dialogue to
personalize an
experience (like
in DRAPES
method)
Examples:
• “Yum, yum”
• “Bummer!”
• “Hooray!”
• “I found it.”
Use
ELLIPSIS…
• Indicates a pause in
dialogue.
• Shows left out
words.
• Says that there is
more to follow
Examples:
• “That’s…fantastic, I
think,” uttered Jose
Jimenez.
• “Say the magic words…”
and the genie appeared.
• I will list the following…
Use
ANADIPLOSIS
• Used for emphasis / drama in

a sentence.
• It repeats a word or phrase
from one sentence into the
next sentence.
• The last word used in one
sentence is the first word
used in the next sentence.
Examples:
• They say hard work makes a

man. A hard-working man is a
success!
• He was caught, caught like a rat
in a trap.
• Everything burned in the fire.
Fire was the only reason he
lived because it was so cold.
Use • They are
IDIOMS popular
sayings that
put a
“pizzazzy
punch” into
your writing.
Examples:
• The horse is out of

the barn.
• Happy as a pig in
mud.
• She rules the
roost.
Use CAPS
• This has the
effect of
“yelling” on paper.
Examples:
• Did I tell you how to

make the BEST cake
in the world?
• You ABSOLUTELY
must listen to this.
Go from
GENERAL
• This technique
to clarifies and
SPECIFIC narrows down
the topic.
Examples:
• Theme parks are fun, but
Magic World is simply
the best of all!
• All dogs are neat, but
Golden Retrievers are the
neatest of all.
a figure of
speech in
Oxymoron - which
opposite
terms are
brought
together.
Example:
–Jumbo shrimp
–Original copy
–First annual
Personification -
a figure of
speech in which
human qualities
are given to non-
human things.
Example:
The sun smiled down
on the earth.
The puppies’ eyes are
sad.

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Nancy Prizito

• We went to Walt Disney

• Let me tell you…

• Give the meaning

• Used for emphasis / drama in

• They say hard work makes a

• The horse is out of

• Did I tell you how to

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