Use Elaboration Strategies
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You've written your presentation draft and had a day or two to let it "sit." Take some time to review your draft to see how well you developed your ideas using elaboration strategies. The difference between a good presentation and a captivating presentation is often the judicious use of elaboration strategies.
For persuasive writing, check out the strategies linked here. For personal narrative and fictional writing, review the techniques below and check your draft. Make some revisions to that draft using these techniques. |
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ELABORATION TECHNIQUES FOR NARRATIVE WRITING Adapted from these sources: http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/skearney/files/Elaboration%20Techniques.pdf http://www.mansfieldct.gov/filestorage/6715/20821/Elaboration_Strategies_for_Persuasive_Writing.pdf www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/cms/lib/.../Expository%20Essay%20DEFINITIONS.pptx http://busyteacher.org/6451-7-strategies-for-elaboration.html
Describe a Place in Detail Review your writing and look for any mention of a place. By describing that location in more detail, you enable your readers to feel like they were actually there in the experience you’re describing. Use Specific Words to Paint Pictures Look at the difference between these sentences: I went to the mailbox. I ran to the mailbox. I staggered to the mailbox. I plodded to the mailbox. Which sentences are more engaging to you? By using vivid verbs, concrete and specific nouns, and crisp adjectives, you can enhance the appeal of your writing. Pull out that thesaurus and replace the tired, overused words with the perfect description that helps your reader visualize the content. Here’s another example of the difference:
REVISION: A juicy chip, soft, creamy butter, a crunchy nut combine to make a delicious cookie. The soft, brown cookie melts in my mouth, then a chip melts in my mouth and it’s like being in heaven. I know it, my brother knows it – biting into one of mom’s freshly baked chocolate chip cookies is like your own paradise even on a cold day. (www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/cms/lib/.../Expository%20Essay%20DEFINITIONS.pptx) Show How Something Feels, Smells, Tastes, Sounds or Looks Sensory information in particular helps to paint that picture. Describe what a person, place, object, etc. look like, sound like, smell like, feeling like, and taste like. This helps you readers to feel like they were there. Compare Two Different Things and Use Figurative Language (similes, metaphors, alliteration, hyperbole, etc.) Using similes and metaphors helps readers draw connections what you present and the knowledge and experiences they bring to your writing. Keep them engaged through these types of analogies. Figurative language in general helps keep the language interesting. Use the Exact Thoughts or Words from a Person Try using quotations from famous people to add appeal, or add in bits of conversation and the thoughts of the people in your writing. This helps readers to feel like they were really there or really in your shoes. Describe How Someone or Something Moves or Acts Adverbs may come to your mind first, but in order to help readers picture the action that drives your story, focus on using very specific verbs. Saying “she cried hard all night” (using the adverb hard) isn’t quite as compelling as “She sobbed all night.” Remember the maxim “show, don’t tell” to make writing stronger. Show Someone’s Feelings Through What He Does Show, don’t tell. Here’s an example: “Instead of writing, ‘She was depressed,’… show those feelings to … readers by writing about the character’s actions: ‘She grabbed the last tissue from the box and dabbed her eyes. She threw it on the floor with the others. She did not change out of her pajamas all day, and she sat in front of the television not even changing the channel though she had no interest in the program that was on.’” (http://busyteacher.org/6451-7-strate...aboration.html)
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