Minilesson:           Use Precise Nouns

Source:    Teaching Qualities of Writing by JoAnn Portalupi and

             Ralph Fletcher

Goal:      Students will learn about choosing exact language to describe

            what is important in their writing.

TEKS:    3.18A:  Generate ideas for writing by using such prewriting

                 strategies such as drawing and listing key thoughts     .

                 3.18C:  Revise selected drafts for varied purposes, including  

                 to achieve a sense of audience, precise word choice, and vivid      

                 images.

Read version 1 of Tired Out

This particular writer didn?t use the best possible nouns. Maybe he was rushed or too lazy, or perhaps he just didn?t know them. Look what happens if we rewrite this passage using more nouns.

Read version 2

Discuss

Today when you write, try to use the best, most precise nouns you possibly can. When you reread your writing and find words such as things and stuff, it?s usually a sign that your words aren?t precise or exact enough to give the reader a really good picture of what?s going on. If you don?t know the technical term or precise word you need, time to look it up. Do you see how describing a ?sharpie peering out from the folds of skin around her eyes? is more vivid and descriptive than ? dog with wrinkles?.