Teaching Writing Skills

A.   What is alliteration?

·         The repeated use of the same particular letter at the start of several words in a sentence.

·         Words need not be alliterated in an unbroken chain.

·         Use of alliteration is not restricted to the starting or ending words of a sentence.

·         Nor is its use restricted to poetry or prose.

·         Lastly, it can be applied to any type of word (verb, noun, adverb and adjective).

Examples:    

1.    The arrogant side ate a delicious dinner of sirloin steak.

2.    Billy Bombers broils a mean meal, tantalising tasty to the starved soul.

3.    The moon mourns the morning, as the sun seems to shine so serenely in the sky.

4.    With the aid of agile Alucard, the attack was accomplished with alacrity.

5.    Though words are worth the world, only action may accomplish our aims.

6.    It was like living in a demented dream – that was the terrible truth.

7.    We live in troubled times, forever living in the shadow of sin.

8.    Few favour a sluggard scoundrel who whines, whimpers and weeps begone! Bore us not with drivel!

Sentence	Alliteration
Ron, you have to flee! A pack of rats are chasing you!	Run, Ron, for the raving, rabid Rat Reaver is after you!
My fiddling friend, please don’t abuse your fiddle and stick to guitars. It sounds horrible.	Fie! Fie! For your fine fiddle’s sake, fiddle not overmuch, fiddler, and stick to guitars.

Exercise 1: Alliteration

Fill in each blank below with a suitable NOUN, ADJECTIVE, VERB or ADVERB that complete the story with your own spin on it! Find a word that alliterates according to the requirements of the sentence!

       Night comes, and Luna’s (1) lu_i_o_ _ (adjective) lunar light illuminates the sky. The (2) f_r_y (adjective) fox and the wily (3) we_s_ _ (noun) romp and (4) r_ _ l (verb) beneath the (5) sh_ _o_y (adjective) sky, even as the creatures of the night fall into serene (6) s_e_ _ (noun). The dark is a drug as irresistible as a siren’s call, and few can resist its dark drawing for long.

B.   What is Onomatopoeia?

·         A complicated word for words that describe a sound being made by an object/person/animal/thing.

·         Some words have existed for so long that they have had things named after them for the sounds they make.

·         There is no fixed list of sound words – you can invent one that sounds like the noise you want to imitate. It is sometimes written in italics to emphasise that it is a sound word.

·         It does not have to be used to describe sounds made by things – sometimes it is used figuratively too.

Examples:

1.         Dogs bark, or go WOOF

            Cows low or go MOO

            Sheep bleat or go MEHHHH

2.         Horns honk or go BEEP-BEEP

            Bells ring or go DING DONG

            Water drops go drip-drip or PLOP

3.         It was like a shot from the blue –

            - BANG! And suddenly, there was an idea!

4.         Scientists are frequently portrayed as going EUREKA when they got good ideas.

Using Onomatopoeia Step-by-step

1.    First, determine which object it is that you actually want to find/make a sound for. Think of the action that accompanies it accordingly.

2.    Generally, sounds tend to be italicised and we sometimes explicitly listed as sounds (e.g. the gun went off with a loud bang sound that reverberated around the room.)

3.    Incorporate the sound into the sentence in a n appropriate manner. (E.g. the gun went bang! Or, with a swish of his blade…)

Exercise 2: Onomatopoeia

(1) B_______________! The sharp report of the gun sounded clearly in the silence of the morning, followed immediately by a (2) y_____________ of pain. The hound at the hunter’s side (3) g_____________ in a basso rumble and strained eagerly at the leash, but the hunter refused to let it go. Twice more the gun boomed, and finally the hunter lowered he gun. With a quiet “Go get them!” the hunter unclipped the leash from his hound’s collar, and with a (4) s_____________, the leash was released, and the hound lunged forth and bounded across the snowy ground. Aside from the (5) h________________ of the wind, all else was silent upon this yuletide morn.

C.   What is imagery?

·         Imagery is a technique used in literature to describe something, presenting the reader with a mental image of whatever is being described.

·         Often, the writer will use very strong words in imagery, the more specific and meaningful, the better the sensory description.

·         Imagery is one of the easiest ideas to understand, because using this technique is like describing the picture, during an oral exam – with the difference being you are trying to create a picture with words, rather than trying to create words to describe the picture.

Examples:

1. Sam had never seen such a dark and forbidding tower before. Its tower seemed to reach up towards the sky, tapering into sharp points at its end. And the steep tower walls were adorned with menacing gargoyles. It was a most disturbing place to study in.

2. It was a round table made of the purest white marble, upon which was laid a sumptuous feast upon a rich red and gold tablecloth. Four throne-like chairs were set about its circumference.

Step-by-step: Using imagery for a room.

1.    Take a look at the room you are in and think about how you would tell someone else about it. You would describe the location of items in relation to each other, the type of items they are and so on. This will form the basic framework.

A simple room containing a table with four chairs, along with a sideboard and ceiling light. On the cupboard lies an assortment of odds and ends as well as a telephone.

2.    Using the same room we outlined in Step 1, the next step is to describe in more detail the furnishings and items inside.

A room separated from the living room by Japanese paper screens adorned with flower murals. The walls are painted in soft purple hues, lending dignity to the atmosphere.

The large round table was made of pure white marble, flecked with wisps of black and grey. Around the table, four high backed chairs lined in velvet were set in place, awaiting guests for whom a tantalising array of rich delicacies and meats had been laid out. Even the cutlery had been laid out in proper style – a perfect aristocrat’s meal.

From the ceiling, a large ornate chandelier hung over the table, providing soft white light for the diners sitting at the table.

An assortment of odds and ends lies atop the plain black oak sideboard. Amidst this chaos lies a single white telephone, one you could find in almost any office cubicle.

3.    The last step is to plan a story that happens inside this room. Remember the description is an extra embellishment of the story – it should not crowd out the actual story itself, unless you are writing a descriptive piece.  The following piece is an example of a story that is set in the room described in the previous step.

The minister inhaled deeply as he stepped into the comforting embrace of purple hues. Walking past the thin paper elegance of Japanese flower murals, his nose was immediately assaulted by the tantalising aroma of freshly roasted meat and an entire hodgepodge of smells all conspiring to taunt his hungry stomach. But the minister knew he could not afford the luxury of relaxation in this room, not if he was to save his country. The minister sat down at the white marble table, where three more nameless men like him sat and awaited. The chairs were comfortably furnished with black velvet to set them at ease, but a heavy, gloomy pall was upon these aristocrats this night. As he ate, the flecks of grey and black amidst the white marble seemed to jump out at the minister, edgy as he was. When the meal was concluded, nobody spoke for a while. The silence was broken by the strident ringing of the telephone, upon which the nameless man in red and gold got up. Upon answering the phone, his face broke up in a smile, upon which the other visibly relaxed. “Gentlemen, the room is secure. Our plans are coming to fruition. One key remains and it is for this purpose that we have gathered tonight. Remember the first!” the man in red and gold called. The minister stood up, and swallowed hard. He would be called a traitor for generations to come, but that would be nothing compared to what would come if he did not. The minister cleared his throat, as he prepared to sell his country for the sake of peace and prosperity.

Exercise 3: Imagery

1.    Sally lay her cheeks against the pillow. Instantly it reminded her of being on a cloud, all f_____________ (sight) and s_________ (touch).

2.    Silk is a marvellous fabric, being extremely s___________ (touch) and s_____________ (touch).

3.    The aroma of the chocolate cake was t____________ (smell), leading one to drool as one imagined the r________________ (taste) of the cake as it was consumed.

4.    The d_ sso_ a_ c_ (hearing) of the musical note was a jarring shock to the unprepared listener – there ought to be laws to confine these people as threats!

5.    It was just as the ship was about to sink that the sailor heard a l___________ (hearing), musical voice beckoning to him enticingly.

6.    A b_____________ (sight) expanse of grassy plains met the eye as far as it could see, accompanied by the h_______________ (hearing) melodies of the tribes rising in worship to pagan gods long forbidden.

7.    Nothing could be seen through the b___________ (sight) , c__________ (smell) smog that enveloped the city.

Exercise 4: Imagery

grainy	weather-beaten	lined	powerful	devouring
gentle	credible	serenity	insignificant	old
sleek	choppy	machined	sorry	turbulently

Fill in each blank with a suitable word from the list below.

      

I looked at the canoe that I had rented for the day, and it seemed a (1) ________________ affair. Though it was long, red and (2) ______________, its body was notched here and there with countless scratches marring the perfect curved profile of the kayak. This old, (3) _____________ chunk of plastic was going to keep me afloat? I wept for myself.

            I gazed upon the cool blue sea, ever so temptingly clear and inviting. All was calm upon the surface, but I knew better. Beneath the (4) _______________ projected by the surface lurked a raging monster. The undercurrent flowed (5) ________________ beneath, dragging all who traversed the seas along its path. A worn, beaten hunk of plastic propelled by a hollow aluminium shafted plastic paddle was going to conquer the monstrous tide?

            Armoured in a deep blue buoyancy vest, I set out in my canoe to master the sea. A (6) _________________ breeze was blowing in my face, and the sea spray splashed all about the canoe even as it sliced through the waves on the surface. The undercurrent fought me every inch of the way, but the (7) ______________ yellow paddle was apt to the task of beating back the brutal tides with (8) ___________ sweeping strokes through the water.

            When finally I washed up with my canoe back upon the (9) _______________, sandy shore, I was content. For a long insignificant man had succeeded in mastering the sea. Though the waves were neither (10) _______________ nor high, and the winds were neither howling nor fiercely physical, it was a victory for me, nevertheless.

D.   What is Metaphor?

·           Metaphor s the use of an object to describe another object

·           The thing being described shares some characteristics in common with the object used to describe it, by association.

·           By using the object to describe it, you are imbuing the character with the commonly associated traits of the object being used to describe it.

·           Metaphor and imagery are related in that the object you choose to use as a metaphor influences the way the reader visualises the thing being described.

Examples

1.     He is a cunning fox, he is. There is none better for sneaky work than him!

2.     My boss is a real vampire at work. I bet he survives on the blood of fallen employees.

3.     The world is slowly devoured by darkness as the day begins to wane.

4.     When will the act of Day end, and the play move on to the Night?

5.     The mind of a writer is likened to a river that comes and goes.

6.     The sun is a thorn in my eye – a rose punishing me for presuming to look directly upon its purity and beauty.

7.     The sun is an inferno in the sky – burning all that dare to gaze upon its terrible visage.

8.     Blending into the concrete jungle of the city as easily as snapping your fingers, Tony was denizen of the city, as ignored as any other undesirable sight you might name.

9.     She was a beautiful child, all pure and innocent. Her eyes of gold seemed to take everything in solemnly, like she was holding court.

10.  She was an angel of purity, with brilliant golden orbs that took in all that she saw and gifted them with royal dignity.

11.  The moon was round and yellow, set amidst the dark starless night sky. The darkness was oppressive and the air was heavy as dreams stole upon the waking and sent them to sleep.

12.  The moon was a slab of cheese hung high amidst a dark chocolate sky undisturbed by the taint of speckled stardust. The chocolate sky mesmerised, even as it sent the unwary spiralling into chocolate la-la-land.

13.  Teachers are artists, sculpting and shaping the dross clay that passes through their hands into the finest of monuments.

E.   What is simile?

·                A simile is similar to metaphor in that two separate objects are linked together by an idea.

·                However, there is a big difference between the two types. Simile uses the words ‘as’  or ‘like’ where in metaphor this is not present.

·                A simile may clearly state and describe the exact characteristic being compared (explicit), or it may be vague and open to interpretation (implicit) , where a metaphor would usually be vague.

Examples

1.         The weather in Singapore now is as unpredictable as the whims of a spoiled princess.

2.         He is just like a fish in water when he is doing his job – how can any of us hope to match up to him?

3.         He is as agile as a monkey scrabbling after a banana.

4.         The fur coat on that dog is as smooth as silk. It is a real joy to pat and stroke the dog.

5.         He runs like a cheetah, leaving everyone else behind in his wake.

Appearance

6.         As beautiful as an angel

7.         As thin as a mop

8.         As tall as a giraffe

9.         As heavy as a wrecking ball

Personality

10.      As scary as a ghost

11.      As happy as a monkey with a banana

12.      As crazy as a dingbat

13.      As dull as a blunt knife

Colour

14.       As red as a rose

15.      As blue as the sea

16.      As green as a leaf

17.      As white as a ghost

Mental state

18.       As clam as a lake

19.      As wise as a sage

20.      As angry as a raging bull

21.      As chaotic as a crashing storm

22.      As proud as a peacock

23.      As evil as sin itself

24.      As vicious as a cornered ferret

25.      As cowardly as a rat

26.      As harmless as a striking viper

27.      As smart as a lemming

28.      As brave as a craven cur

29.      As decisive as a weak-willed waffle

30.      Loyal like a faithful hound

31.      As strong as an elephant

32.      As steadfast as a wall

33.      As unshakeable as a zealot

Exercise 5: Simile

1.         The sun was like a fiery b______ o__ f___________ as it took command of the vast cloudless sky.

2.         What he wouldn’t give for a minute spent without worry – as c______________ as a floating cloud.

3.         She was beautiful beyond measure, and suitors flocked her like b_______ to honey.

4.         The Cullinan Diamond was the largest raw diamond ever found in the world, shining like an incandescent (i.e. bright and hot) s____________ in a midnight sky when it was found.

5.         As r________________ as it sounded, the general’s plan actually worked, and did so in a spectacularly devastating manner.

6.         Her stunning beauty hid a wicked soul, like t____________ hidden by the petals of the rose – the unwary victim was smitten and stung as he reached for its beauty all unknowingly.

7.         He struck as quickly as a s___________ c_______, buying up shares while the market remained at rock bottom. Only time would tell if his gamble would pay off.

8.         When he was told that his parents had passed away, he stood still like a s__________ c________ f______ s___________, and only his closest friends could see the tears that shone unshed in his eyes.

Exercise 6: Simile

From the list of helping words below, fill in each blank with an appropriate word. Each word can only be used once.

dirge	fragile	hot
clock	observant	locusts
seasoned	snake	tame
ants	caterpillars	leaf

The wall stretched across miles and miles of grassland. Like a winding (1) ____________, it seemed to literally slither across the desert flats. The guards who patrolled the wall looked like (2) _______________ marching in line, compared to the sheer size of the wall itself. As (3) ____________________ as an inferno, the sun blazed mercilessly, irradiating the baked stone and mud of the wall. More than one guard cursed the whims of their emperor, whose childish tantrums had sparked off the war.

Suddenly one of the guards heard a faint sound, but wholly unmistakable. The bells were tolling, their ponderous voices like a sombre (4) _____________ for the dead. The guard began to shake like a (5) ______________. The nomad invasions of ages past had been legendary for its horrors, and all the guards on the wall had been old enough to have felt its terrible oppression. There was not one guard who did not know what the aria of the bells meant. It was the sound of peace, as (6) _________________ as the wings of a butterfly, being shattered.

Like a swarm of (7) _______________, the hungry nomad hosts charged the towers of the wall. Though the guards on the wall were outnumbered, they somehow managed to hold their ground. Though each nomad was as (8) _______________ a veteran, the guards were stronger, propelled by their fear of the emperor’s wrath.

F.    What is personification?

·                    Personification is giving inanimate (not necessarily non-living) things characteristics of human or other living beings.

·                    Personification can also apply to intangible nouns as well – nouns that portray abstract qualities.

·                    Personification occurs very often in the form of granting an inanimate object the power of movement beyond its natural capabilities.

·                    Descriptions using personification often feel poetic. Essentially, it is a simile or metaphor – comparing the object to another – and it is often effective to stick with similar imagery than to “mix-and-match” whichever descriptive phrase comes to mind.

·                    Another form of personification comes in the form of giving objects or animals the power of speech.

·                    This often happens in rhetoric, or passages with underlying themes, such as moral fables, and usually serves the purpose of helping us see issues from another point of view.

·                    Every form of personification enriches descriptions in a work.

·                    Personification certainly provides more details than “ordinary” descriptions and may draw partly on the reader’s knowledge to fill in what might not be explicitly expressed.

·                    It engages both the reader’s senses and emotions, and more than not, helps to draw him or her into the work.

Examples

1.         The sun peeked above the trees, then climbed up behind the mountains; its cheery smile lighting the earth with its radiance.

2.         The trees in the forest leaned in the wind, waving their branches this way and that as if dancing to music only they could hear.

3.         Love is the warm presence that sends kind words to its recipient; with outstretched arms and a ready smile, it fills one’s soul and overflows from it, such that a recipient of this wonderful gift proceeds to share it in turn.

4.         The sadness welled up within him, penetrating into the deepest recesses of his heart and flooding it with an immeasurable emptiness.

5.         The moon mocked him with its very presence; its cold silver light wiping the life from his face and showering it with a veil of pallor.

6.         The wooden swing wrestled to make itself noticed but it could not gain the upper hand against the carnival with its glitzy electronic gadgets. There was nothing it could do but slump quietly n defeat, watching helplessly as the crowds swarmed readily over to the carnival – the victor in this battle of attention.

7.         The winds howled with the ferocity f a pack of hungering hyenas. “Bend to my will,” it mocked the ship, but the wooden craft would not obey its bidding. The seas tossed it carelessly about as though it were a rag doll. “Come to my embrace,” it called, but the ship fought on. With each row, the crew fought to regain control, then as suddenly as it had begun, the storm ended.

8.         The waves ebb and flow in rhythm to the tide, crashing upon the beach.

9.         The waves lashed out in its fury upon the beach, pummelling in accordance to its harsh tidal rhythm.