Transcript Strong v. Weak Verbs

Strong v. Weak
Verbs
Make your writing real to people…
Focus of the Sentence
Look at the following sentences and
describe what makes the second better
than the first.
1.
2.
The trees looked so bare as there was
nothing but bark and branches.
On the ground fresh tracks from a
snowmachine broke the crisp snow.
Showing v Telling
Rule #3 of good writing style is to:
 Show instead of tell.
To do this:



Remove yourself from the writing.
Pick the detail your eye is on.
Make that detail the subject of an action verb.
Writing is Observation
The best writers are also the best observers of the world
around them.
Look at the picture to
the right. What do
you notice first?

Strive to notice the
unusual, the things
that make the
scene unique.
Attach to Strong Verbs
Strong verbs show
actions you can “see.”
Weak verbs are linking
and/or abstract verbs.
Jump
Smell
Roar
Think
Strength of Verbs
Strong
Weak
float
see
sit
being
Sank
Show Verses Tell
To show, notice what your
eye sees and connect it
to a action verb.

Notice that your eye
actually catches very little
of the picture at any one
time.
Remember being a writer
means being an observer.
Assignment
Do a rewrite of one of your
descriptive paragraphs.
This should be a significant
rewrite. These rewrites will
be graded strictly
according to the “Writing
Style Rubric.”
Due Date: Tues 10/3
Writing Style Rubric
A
109
B
8
C
7
D
6
F
0-5
Level 1-Action
Verbs
Level 2-Concrete
Descriptions
Level 3-Show Don’t
Tell
Complete
Descriptions
The paragraph uses only
strong action verbs which
add to the image created.
Further all these verbs are
appropriate and accurate.
The paragraph uses
concrete, specific, and
definite nouns to create
images for the reader.
Further it avoids using
extra “helping words” yet
forms rich descriptions.
The paragraph uses
concrete, specific, and
definite nouns to create
images for the reader.
However, one or two
descriptions might be
vague or abstract.
The paragraph uses
concrete, specific, and
definite nouns to create
images for the reader.
However it uses excessive
adjectives and adverbs to
create its images. Some
words are vague or
abstract.
Nouns are largely vague or
abstract, or they
necessitate undue numbers
of adjectives and adverbs
to modify them.
Nouns are vague or
abstract, and they
necessitate undue
numbers of adjectives
and adverbs to modify
them.
The paragraph shows
rather than tells picking key
details and linking them to
action verbs.
The description
includes enough
description and detail
to completely paint a
picture for the reader.
It covers 4 out of the 5
sense.
The description
includes enough
description and detail
to completely paint a
picture for the reader.
It covers 3 out of the 5
sense.
The description
includes enough
description and detail
to paint a relatively full
picture for the reader.
It covers 2-3 out of the
5 sense.
Grammar and
Mechanics are
flawless.
The paragraph leaves
large blanks for the
reader to piece in for
him/herself. Two of the
5 senses are touched.
The paragraph
leaves large gaps for
the reader to fill in.
One a single sense
in appealed to.
More than 8 errors
in grammar and
mechanics present.
The paragraph uses only
action verbs which add to
the image created though
these may occasionally be
weak verbs, or there are
instances of the verb “to
be” as a helping verb.
The paragraph uses mostly
action verbs which add to
the image created;
however, there are several
instances of the verb “to
be” used as a main verb,
or most verbs are weak.
Action verbs are used;
however most main verbs
are forms of the verb “to
be.”
The verb “to be” is used
as the primary verb in
the paragraph.
The paragraph shows
rather than tells picking
details and linking them to
action verbs; however, it
also contains some
sentences which tell rather
than show.
The paragraph shows
rather than tells picking
details and linking them to
action verbs; however,
several sentences tell
rather than show.
The paragraph tells more
than it shows. Using words
like “see” “hear” “smell”…
on a regular basis.
Paragraph simply tells
using words like “see”
“hear” “smell”… on a
excessively.
Grammar and
Mech
1-3 errors in
grammar and
mechanics present.
4-7 errors in
grammar and
mechanics present.
More than 15 errors
in grammar and
mechanics present.