Figurative Language Writing Worksheet:

Figurative Language is language, or words, used by writers to produce images in

readers' minds and to express ideas in fresh, vivid, and imaginative ways

Some examples are:

The lottery winner's grin stretched from New York City to Los Angeles. (hyperbole)

After kicking a goal Tony felt on top of the world. (idiom)

My binder is an overflowing sea of papers. (metaphor)

Our next piece of writing is going to be a creative writing piece where

you will use a lot of figurative language. To help you get started, you
will need answer some questions about yourself:

Choose five adjectives or traits that best describe you:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Now, think of your name. What are three adjectives that come to mind
when you think of YOUR NAME:

1.

2.

3.
Write one simile about how you feel about your name:
-Example: My name is like a ride on a sled, soft and smooth.

Write one metaphor about how you feel about your name:
-Example: It is a roller coaster; short and tall.

Now this is going to seem weird, but when you say your name, how
does it taste or smell?
-Example: My name smells like roses on a spring day.

When other people say your name, do they say it correctly? What does
it sound like to you? Is it music to your ears, or does it sound like
somebody is trying to talk with a mouthful of marbles?
-Example: When people say my name, it sounds like ice clinking to the sides
of a glass.
Answer three of the following four questions:

1. What animal does your name remind you of? Why?

2. What color(s) does your name make you think of? Why?
3. What food and/or dessert does your name make you think of?
Why?
4. What instrument/band/sport/team/song does your name make
you think of? Why?

Use the space below to write your answers:

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Finally, tell a quick story about yourself, your name, or somebody that
shares your name (maybe you are named after someone?)…think of a
story that best exemplifies what your name means to you. Also,
include on these lines how your name was chosen.

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Name______________________________________________________ Per_____________

MY NAME MEANS…

Use the following three websites to research your first name(s). Try each website to find
multiple meanings.

http://www.behindthename.com

http://www.thinkbabynames.com

http://www.babyhold.com
This page left blank intentionally
“My Name” from The House On Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros

In English my names means hope. In Spanish it means too many

letters. It means sadness, it means waiting. It is like the number nine. A
muddy color. It is the Mexican records my father plays on Sunday
mornings when he is shaving, song like sobbing.
It was my great-grandmother’s name and now it is mine. She was a
horse woman too, born like me in the Chinese year of the horse – which
is supposed to be bad luck if you’re born female-but I think this is a
Chinese lie because the Chinese, like the Mexican, don’t like their
women strong.

My great-grandmother. I would’ve liked to have known her, a wild

horse of a woman, so wild she wouldn’t marry. Until my great-
grandfather threw a sack over her head and carried her off. Just like
that, as if she were a fancy chandelier. That’s the way he did it.
And the story goes she never forgave him. She looked out the window
her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow. I
wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because
she couldn’t be all the things she wanted to be. Esperanza. I have
inherited her name, but don’t want to inherit her place by the window.

At school they say my name funny as if the syllables were made out of
tin and hurt the roof of your mouth. But in Spanish my name is made
out of a softer something, like silver, not quite as thick as sister’s name-
Magdalena-which is uglier than mine. Magdalena who at least can
come home and become Nenny. But I am always Esperanza.

I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the
real me, the one nobody sees. Esperanza as Lisandra or Maritza or Zeze
the X. Yes. Something like Zeze the X will do.
This page left blank intentionally.
Name ______________________________________________________Per______
Planning Page for “My Name” essay

This essay is a mini-autobiography (Snapshot of you). You are talking about who you are and
how your name does/doesn’t really represent who you are and why. After reading this essay,
we should get a good idea of who you are, your beliefs, what you think about yourself, etc. all
by linking them to your name.
Introduction: (lots of facts)
*What your name means? Story about how you were named? How you feel about your name (like, dislike, etc)
Why?

Body (creativity here!)

*Does your name “match” who you are on the inside? Talk about yourself here. Does your name help support who
you are? Would you rather have a different name? Why or why not. If so, what would you rather have your name
be? If you have a nickname, how did you get it? How do you feel about it? Did you outgrow a nickname from
your past? Share a funny story that might relate to your name. Do your best to use at least two to three
similes or metaphors in this section. Try to tell the reader some of your characteristics.
Body Continued…

Conclusion (Bridge your facts with your creativity here)

Sum up how you feel about your name here. How does your name represent who you are? (or not).
MY NAME ESSAY RUBRIC
0 points 5 points 10 points 15 points 20 points
Setting the Does not Provide a Provides some Provides Provides
Tone/Creating the provide “confused” look background background background
Mood background or into the information. information and insight
insight into topic/background into topic
topic
Organization of Ideas Lacks focus Lacks focus but Establish, but Maintains Maintains
shows some does not focus and focus, exhibits
organization maintain focus, exhibits logical logical
provides some sequence of sequence of
sequence of ideas ideas, uses
ideas transitions
Creativity and Provides a Uses language Uses basic Uses imagery Uses a lot of
Thoughtfulness minimal unsuitable for the language and is imagery and
response assignment somewhat descriptive
descriptive forms of
writing
Supporting Does not use Develops ideas Develops ideas Develops ideas Develops ideas
Information any examples or inconsistently partially; gives by using fully, using
explanation very few several many examples
examples examples

Grammar and There is a There are many There are some There are only There are no
Punctuation minimal grammar and errors in the a few grammar grammar or
response in the spelling errors text which errors spelling errors
assignment; it is making hinder
illegible understanding comprehension
difficult