Style Strategies (Smiley Face Tricks) Tricks of the writing trade to help you meet and exceed writing expectations. Ideas developed by Mary Ellen Ledbetter.

StyleStyleStrategiesStrategies(Smiley Face Tricks)(Smiley Face Tricks)

Tricks of the writing trade to Tricks of the writing trade to help you meet and exceed help you meet and exceed

writing expectations.writing expectations.

Ideas developed by Mary Ellen LedbetterIdeas developed by Mary Ellen LedbetterPowerpoint created by Gwen S. ThibadeauPowerpoint created by Gwen S. Thibadeau

These writing techniques These writing techniques are common tools that are common tools that

ALL authors use.ALL authors use.

They are They are provenproven to add to add personality, voice, style, personality, voice, style,

and reader interest.and reader interest.

Magic 3Magic 3

Three parallel groups of Three parallel groups of words/phraseswords/phrases

Separated by commasSeparated by commasUsed to create a poetic Used to create a poetic

rhythm or add support for rhythm or add support for a point a point

Technically referred to as Technically referred to as Parallel StructureParallel Structure..

M3--ExampleM3--ExampleMy palms My palms became sticky and shaky, became sticky and shaky, my my

neck neck tingled with anticipation, and tingled with anticipation, and my my heart heart puttered with emotion.puttered with emotion.

I was so excited that I I was so excited that I jumpedjumped up & up & down, down, criedcried huge tears of joy, and huge tears of joy, and plasteredplastered a huge smile on my face. a huge smile on my face.

Your Turn~Your Turn~

Create 2 Magic Three sentences.Create 2 Magic Three sentences.

Possible Topics:Possible Topics:Your last first day of schoolYour last first day of schoolBest actor/singer/athleteBest actor/singer/athleteRelationship with your best friendRelationship with your best friendWhy every kid needs a petWhy every kid needs a pet

Hyphenated ModifierHyphenated Modifier creatively describe creatively describe

or rename someone or rename someone or something or something

boring, one-word boring, one-word adjective is replaced by a adjective is replaced by a phrase or clause that phrase or clause that might come to mind might come to mind when the person is in when the person is in that particular situation.that particular situation.

HM--ExampleHM--Example

Some of her students sat in their Some of her students sat in their why-do-I-have-to-be-here why-do-I-have-to-be-here posturespostures while others exuded while others exuded eagerness.eagerness.

I needed to call forth that I needed to call forth that singing-singing-in-the-car-at-the-top-of-my-lungs in-the-car-at-the-top-of-my-lungs energy to truly nail the audition.energy to truly nail the audition.

Your Turn~Your Turn~

Write 3 different sentences using Write 3 different sentences using hyphenated modifiers in each one. hyphenated modifiers in each one. There must be at least 3 words or There must be at least 3 words or more in the hyphenated phrase.more in the hyphenated phrase.

PossibleTopics:PossibleTopics:SAT testingSAT testingCollege visitCollege visitFirst speeding/traffic ticketFirst speeding/traffic ticketAnother Arizona summer dayAnother Arizona summer day

Repetition for EffectRepetition for Effect

While repetition While repetition without careful without careful

consideration can consideration can be tedious and be tedious and ineffective, a ineffective, a

carefully selected carefully selected word or phrase word or phrase

repeated can repeated can add add incredible incredible emphasisemphasis!!

RE--ExampleRE--ExampleThat week, the teachers attended That week, the teachers attended three faculty three faculty meetingsmeetings.  They .  They went to two department went to two department meetingsmeetings.  They sat in on one .  They sat in on one collaborative teaching collaborative teaching meetingmeeting, , and they held training and they held training meetingsmeetings.  .  They were ready to go back to They were ready to go back to class just to get away from all of class just to get away from all of the the meetingsmeetings..

Your Turn~Your Turn~

Think about two other classes you Think about two other classes you attend here at RMHS or clubs your attend here at RMHS or clubs your

are involved with. are involved with.

Write a short paragraph for Write a short paragraph for each-each---include at least 1 Repetition for include at least 1 Repetition for Effect—must repeat key word/phrase Effect—must repeat key word/phrase 3 times.3 times.

Specific DetailsSpecific Details

Also known as Also known as imageryimagery, this , this

technique technique appeals to the appeals to the

senses and senses and includes enough includes enough detail to allow detail to allow the reader to the reader to

identify with the identify with the description.description.

SD--ExampleSD--ExampleHis car His car reekedreeked of of stalestale cigarette cigarette

smoke.  The back seat was smoke.  The back seat was speckledspeckled with with charredcharred blackblack holes where the holes where the cigarette ashes had burned what cigarette ashes had burned what used to be the used to be the palepale graygray plushplush fabric. There was no way to escape fabric. There was no way to escape the ride without an the ride without an I-smoke two-I-smoke two-packs-for-breakfast aroma packs-for-breakfast aroma tailing tailing you for the rest of the day. Just you for the rest of the day. Just another reason another reason notnot to date a to date a smoker.smoker.

Your Turn~Your Turn~

Write a paragraph supporting—with Write a paragraph supporting—with specific detail—specific detail—oneone of the following of the following topic sentences:topic sentences:

A high school diploma is essential in A high school diploma is essential in the 21the 21stst century. century.

Every one should be a vegetarian. Every one should be a vegetarian.

Figurative LanguageFigurative LanguageThis technique finds new and This technique finds new and

creative ways to describe people, creative ways to describe people, places, things, and ideas.places, things, and ideas.

Similes—metaphors—hyperbole—Similes—metaphors—hyperbole—personification personification

It incorporates fresh and creative It incorporates fresh and creative similes and metaphors, similes and metaphors, notnot clichés.clichés.

FL- FL- ExampleExampleShe had graduated. It wasn’t until then She had graduated. It wasn’t until then

that she had realized what freedom really that she had realized what freedom really was. Finally, was. Finally, she was soaring through the she was soaring through the air, wings spread wideair, wings spread wide..

When we first moved into the house on Orchid When we first moved into the house on Orchid Street, I didn’t like it. My room was hot, Street, I didn’t like it. My room was hot, cramped, and cramped, and stuffy as a train in the middle of stuffy as a train in the middle of the Saharathe Sahara. And the . And the looming skeleton-like gray looming skeleton-like gray and white frame and white frame of the place scared me.of the place scared me.

Your Turn~Your Turn~

Come up with at least 1 example for Come up with at least 1 example for each type of figurative language: each type of figurative language:

• SimileSimile• MetaphorMetaphor• HyperboleHyperbole• PersonificationPersonification

Think back to your first date or your car for Think back to your first date or your car for inspiration.inspiration.

Expanded MomentExpanded Moment

Instead of Instead of “speeding” past “speeding” past

a moment, a moment, writers writers

sometimes spend sometimes spend some time some time

explaining an explaining an event in detail .event in detail .

EM ExampleEM Example

After the car accident, I held my father’s head cradled After the car accident, I held my father’s head cradled in my lap.  I talked to him and tried to keep him in my lap.  I talked to him and tried to keep him conscious for as long as possible. conscious for as long as possible.  I reminded I reminded him of the time we went fishing, and him of the time we went fishing, and as we tried to load the boat onto the as we tried to load the boat onto the trailer, he slipped and fell, scattering trailer, he slipped and fell, scattering fish all in the mud on the edge of the fish all in the mud on the edge of the lake.  I stood by the truck and laughed lake.  I stood by the truck and laughed as he struggled to stand up.  as he struggled to stand up.  Suddenly, I Suddenly, I heard the police sirens, and I told my father as he heard the police sirens, and I told my father as he struggled to keep his eyes open that help was almost struggled to keep his eyes open that help was almost here.  He died before the police arrived.here.  He died before the police arrived.

Another Example~Another Example~

““The treatments are not so bad as I feared. The treatments are not so bad as I feared. I walk I walk to the convent once a day. The nun to the convent once a day. The nun in charge of my case is Sister in charge of my case is Sister Katrina. She washes my scalp with a Katrina. She washes my scalp with a green soap that makes my eyes green soap that makes my eyes water. Then she puts me under a water. Then she puts me under a violet light. The light warms my violet light. The light warms my head.head.””

Your Turn~Your Turn~

Write one paragraph, explaining one Write one paragraph, explaining one specific moment ofspecific moment ofYour first day on RM campusYour first day on RM campusYour first day at new jobYour first day at new jobYour first “F” Your first “F”

Make sure to explain every single Make sure to explain every single detail. Let the reader feel as though detail. Let the reader feel as though they are you.they are you.

HumorHumorWriters use Writers use humor for many humor for many reasons... not reasons... not only to create a only to create a connection with connection with the reader the reader and and cause him/her to cause him/her to laugh, but also to laugh, but also to lighten the mood lighten the mood in a tense or in a tense or serious situation.serious situation.

H—Example H—Example

Sitting at the funeral home Sitting at the funeral home waiting for the services to begin, waiting for the services to begin, the old man knew what he would the old man knew what he would miss most about his wife of sixty miss most about his wife of sixty years: years: her lying in bed waving her lying in bed waving the covers up and down, giggling the covers up and down, giggling as she vented her tootas she vented her toot..

If I make this free throw right here, If I make this free throw right here, right now then right now then the ice caps will stop the ice caps will stop melting, the Taliban will stop melting, the Taliban will stop bombing, and Taylor Swift will write a bombing, and Taylor Swift will write a song about mesong about me. No pressure.. No pressure.

Your Turn~Your Turn~

Pick one of the topics below and write Pick one of the topics below and write a paragraph infusing a bit of humor.a paragraph infusing a bit of humor.

A broken boneA broken boneA failed testA failed testA speeding ticketA speeding ticketA “no” to homecoming/promA “no” to homecoming/promA dead petA dead pet

Full Circle EndingFull Circle Ending Writers will Writers will often often beginbegin a a piece of writing piece of writing with with a key word a key word or phrase, or phrase, develop the develop the piece, and will piece, and will bring the reader bring the reader back to back to the key the key word or phrase word or phrase at the at the endingending..

FCE--ExampleFCE--ExampleShe was She was fat and happyfat and happy.  The day she .  The day she gave birth to her first child was gave birth to her first child was amazing.  Everything was perfect.  amazing.  Everything was perfect.  The child had a beautiful head of hair, The child had a beautiful head of hair, all ten fingers and toes, and slept all ten fingers and toes, and slept rather than crying like most babies rather than crying like most babies do.  Now, as an old woman sitting in do.  Now, as an old woman sitting in her favorite chair visiting with three of her favorite chair visiting with three of her great-grandchildren, again she her great-grandchildren, again she was was fat and happyfat and happy..

From beginning:From beginning:

I sit quietly on the old wooden deckI sit quietly on the old wooden deck, , watching the birds soar through the watching the birds soar through the humid air. The ocean’s waves are humid air. The ocean’s waves are like wrinkles gathered up in place.like wrinkles gathered up in place.

From endFrom end::

The clouds are so delicate, so fragile, The clouds are so delicate, so fragile, yet a single plane could not break yet a single plane could not break their perfect form. their perfect form. I sit quietly on the I sit quietly on the old wooden deckold wooden deck, watching the birds, , watching the birds, the waves, the clouds.the waves, the clouds.

Your Turn~Your Turn~

BeginningBeginning: Write 5 sentences to start : Write 5 sentences to start off a narrative about something that off a narrative about something that has happened to you in the last year.has happened to you in the last year.

EndEnd: Write 3-5 sentences to end : Write 3-5 sentences to end narrative . BUT, this time reword narrative . BUT, this time reword what you initially wrotewhat you initially wrote

Practice Makes Perfect!!!Practice Makes Perfect!!!For the remainder of class and For the remainder of class and for homework, for homework, write ½ to 1 write ½ to 1 page paper about pros/cons page paper about pros/cons of attending the largest high of attending the largest high school in Arizonaschool in Arizona,--use at least ,--use at least fourfour style strategies covered in style strategies covered in class. *Make it obvious whether class. *Make it obvious whether you view this in a positive or you view this in a positive or negative light. negative light.

Come to class prepared to share your Come to class prepared to share your examplesexamples..