Word Choice

STRAND: WRITING
BOX SUB HEADING: Text Types and Purposes
STANDARD: W.4.2d Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform
about or explain the topic.
STANDARD: W.4.3d Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey
experiences and events precisely.

OBJECTIVE AND EVALUATION OF OBJECTIVES

LESSON PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE/EVALUATION
Students will practice writing with vivid details and descriptions by writing a minimum of six
sentences using proper word choice.

MATERIALS:
Four popcorn bags
Popcorn cutouts with descriptive nouns, adverbs, adjectives, and verbs (10 of each)
Lined paper (one for each student + extra paper)
Three pencils with erasers
Handout with examples of sentences with/without good word choice
Banana Split cut out (with descriptive words on it)
Popsicle cut out (with boring words on it)
Practicum poster board
Word Choice sign (will be taped to poster board)

ANTICIPATORY SET:
The Practicum poster board will be on display for all three students to see. In the center of the
board, two images will be shown. One image is a banana split, and this picture will have a
variety of descriptive words. The other image will be a melted popsicle, and this picture will
have boring, generic words written on it. Above both pictures will be the words: Word
Choice.

LESSON INTRODUCTION:
Today, we are going to write sentences using descriptive words and vivid details. When we
write sentences like this, we are using one of the Six Traits of Writing: Word Choice.

TEACHER INSTRUCTION:
When we are writing, we want to try and be as descriptive as possible. If we use basic (and even
boring) words, then our writing wont be as interesting to readers. Its important to use vibrant,
exciting, and expressive words because they add that extra oomph to our sentences. Vivid,
detailed words can be a mixture of nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives.

To add that extra zest or flavor to your writing, you will need to consider which words may be
considered ordinary (emphasize this word when speaking) and think of how you can replace
them with more descriptive words.

Pass out the handout with the good/poor word choice examples

We are going to look at three sentences that didnt use proper word choice.

I will read the following sentences aloud:

The boy walked home.
My dinner was good.
The storm scared the dog.

Now, its important to recognize that although these were complete sentences, there werent
any exciting or descriptive words. Lets see how a few descriptive words can add a lot of
oomph to these sentences.

I will read these edited sentences aloud:

The young boy trotted home swiftly.
The ginormous, cheesy pizza was filled with flavor.
My golden retriever was spooked by the clap of thunder.

The word choice used for these sentences added extra flavor and excitement. You want your
writing to be intriguing to readers, and using vivid details and descriptions will keep the readers
engaged!

Lets look at the board (point to the ice cream cutouts), on the left side we have this plain, fairly
boring popsicle. On the right side, there is a big, flavorful banana split. If you look at the
popsicle, you will see words like: nice, good, walked, ran, and very (point to each one as saying
them). These words arent that exciting, and if I were reading a story that used dull words like
these, I would probably lose interest fairly quickly. Now, if you look at the banana split, there
are words such as:extraordinarily, strolled, galloped, marvelous, splendid.

We are going to practice using proper word choice today. If you look here (point to the popcorn
bags), I have four different popcorn bags. One bag has nouns. One bag has verbs. One bag has
adjectives, and one has adverbs. You each are going to pull out two words from either the noun
and adjective bags or the verb and adverb bags. You will use the words to write a sentence on
your paper. You must pull out words from all four of the bags. For example, I am going to pull
out word from the verb bag and adverb bag. Pull the words out. Say them out loud. Now, I
need to create a sentence using both of these words. State a sentence that uses both of these
words. I would write this sentence down on my paper, and since I pulled out of the verb and
adverb bags, I need to pull out of the noun and adjective bag next and write a sentence.

Each of you will need to write a minimum of five sentences. Two sentences must have words
from the adjective and noun bags, and the other two must have words from the verbs and
adverb sentences. The last sentence can be up to you. You may even pull words from all four
bags and see if you can create an interesting sentence from those words.

Pass out paper and pencil to students.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING:
Practicum student will observe students writing, and make sure they are pulling words from the
correct bag. Students will write their sentences independently, and then do a team share, so
they can hear their peers sentences. Since the students will not know what words they will get,
some of the sentences may be silly, and it is important that the practicum student redirects
them.

Students will have to include the proper mechanics and conventions as well when writing their
sentences. When students do a team share, peers must check to make sure that each
sentence has proper capitalization and punctuation.

APPLICATION/GUIDED PRACTICE/INDEPENDENT PRACTICE:

Students will write a paragraph (with a minimum of five sentences), describing something from
their day. During this time, its important to provide examples of things they can write about
such as: a main character from a book they read, the lunch they ate, the appearance of their
desk, what they see outside the window, etc. Students can use the words from the popcorn
bags or other words they have thought of. They will write these sentences on the opposite side
of their paper.

CLOSURE:
Today, we looked at sentences with poor word choice and compared them to sentences that
had vivid descriptions and details. You all used the popcorn bags to write sentences with
banana split words. When we choose to write sentences with banana split words over popsicle
words, our writing becomes stronger and more interesting. Using good word choice, will not
only help you grow as a writer, it will make readers more interested in your work!