Clifton Hill Primary School

The Write Spot

Word Choice

The 6+1 Traits: WORD CHOICE

 

Earlier this year we introduced the 6+1 Traits in the newsletter, a common language that teachers and students are now using at our school to talk about what good writing looks like.

 

In the last newsletter we shared a focus on the VOICE trait, and this time we are moving on to the WORD CHOICE trait.

 

So what do we mean by WORD CHOICE?

 

The four key qualities of the WORD CHOICE trait are:

  1. Applying strong verbs - The writer uses many “action words,” giving the piece punch and pizzazz. He or she has stretched to find lively verbs that add energy to the piece.
  2. Selecting striking words and phrases - The writer uses many finely-honed words and phrases. His or her creative and effective use of literary techniques such as alliteration, simile, and metaphor makes the piece a pleasure to read.
  3. Using specific and accurate words - The writer uses words with precision. He or she selects words the reader needs to fully understand the message. The writer chooses nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and so forth that create clarity and bring the topic to life.
  4. Choosing words that deepen meaning - The writer uses words to capture the reader’s imagination and enhance the piece’s meaning. There is a deliberate attempt to choose the best word over the first word that comes to mind.

Word choice is a great revision trait - that means we might not always choose the best words when we write a first draft, but it’s easy to make changes when we revise our writing. It’s easy to go straight for adjectives when we want to spice up a piece of writing. But VERB choice is really where it’s at!

 

Grade 3SG and 3DC were given the following learning intention and here are some examples of their writing:

 

Learning Intention: To use vivid verbs and strong word choice that conveys meaning for how you could approach the house in the picture. 

Crows seemed to stalk like guards above the treacherous house making me want to cower under the bush. CRACK! A bolt of lightning luminated the house. A bony finger encased by lightning cackled in the brightness of the light. Suddenly she let her stony glare rise upon me under the bush. I shivered in fear as she started to speak. 

By Asha 3SG 

 

Thunder cracked as I approached the old house. As I was creeping towards the old rugged house my eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of something lurking around inside. So, I went to investigate. The hair stood up on the back of my neck as I tiptoed inside the old haunted house – well at least I thought it was haunted. The floorboards creaked as I crept inside. Something was just not right, as the wind was swirling around me and my mind went black and I fell. Vines crept around me and everything went blank. 

By Adelaide 3SG 

 

My Adventure 

By Maxwell Murray 3DC

I stood there not knowing what to do, I was conflicted between going to the building or not, but then I made up my mind. I crept over as I stepped on the first piece of wood on the verandah. The terrifying door bolted open. The old abandoned mansion was deserted as I stepped in the big block behind me slammed shut. There was a light but something was wrong. It was getting bigger and bigger but the front door was locked so I bolted up the stairs, a door swung open. There was a man inside, he was about six foot tall. I had to run but before I got there, I was covered in embers. I had to keep going but when I got there he wasn't there, but there was a hand on my back and it pushed me. I was nowhere to be seen…forty years later. ‘Look!’ ‘It’s a body.’

THE SPOOKY HOUSE 

BY KUMI CALLAWAY 3DC

As I tiptoed towards the haunted house the wind howled in my face! I hid behind the old spiky rose bush! The closer I crept the faster my heart beat. Then I heard a cackle, not the cackle that the wind would make, it was more of an evil cackle. I peered through the shattered window and there was a witch with a tiger next to her! It was about to grow 10 times bigger! “Time to grow a little one” she said (it was the biggest one she could find). Oh no, oh no, oh no I whispered to myself. Then the witch heard “who is there?” she boomed Oh no!

 

Want to try this at home?

Find a picture that you like from a book or magazine and write about how you could approach it using vivid verbs and strong word choice. 

 

If you would like to share this with us, please email georgina.drew@education.vic.gov.au and sarah.hance@education.vic.gov.au and we will feature a selection in the next newsletter

 

References: The 6+1 Traits of Writing by Ruth Culham