WRITING TIPS
LANGUAGE & POETIC TECHNIQUES
When you write, you should be mindful of the importance of trying to write creatively and descriptively. One of the best ways you can do this is by using language and poetic techniques in your writing to help get your ideas across.
The following is a brief explanation of some techniques that will help you with your work.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
* Simile
A simile is a language technique that compares one thing to another by saying it is 'like' it, or it is 'as' the other thing.
For instance, I might say that the girl who was sad was as blue as the deep ocean. That is, she was very sad. Here, the colour blue represents sadness and because the deep ocean is very dark, we get a sense of how sad the girl was.
If I said the football player was built like a truck, I'm comparing the size of the football player to the size of a truck.
* Metaphor
A metaphor is a language technique that compares one thing to another by saying it is something that it obviously is not.
For example, I might write that my motorcycle is an ironhorse. I'm comparing my bike to a horse made of iron here. Clearly, it is not literally a horse made of iron. My metaphor, though, is giving my motorbike the characteristics of a horse. Maybe this means my motorcycle feels like it breathes or has a heartbeat, or is as beautiful as a horse (like what I did there?).
* Personification
Personification is a language technique that compares by giving an object or an animal the qualities of a human. This helps us relate to that thing because we are human. Look at the example below by Emily Dickinson;
The following is a brief explanation of some techniques that will help you with your work.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
* Simile
A simile is a language technique that compares one thing to another by saying it is 'like' it, or it is 'as' the other thing.
For instance, I might say that the girl who was sad was as blue as the deep ocean. That is, she was very sad. Here, the colour blue represents sadness and because the deep ocean is very dark, we get a sense of how sad the girl was.
If I said the football player was built like a truck, I'm comparing the size of the football player to the size of a truck.
* Metaphor
A metaphor is a language technique that compares one thing to another by saying it is something that it obviously is not.
For example, I might write that my motorcycle is an ironhorse. I'm comparing my bike to a horse made of iron here. Clearly, it is not literally a horse made of iron. My metaphor, though, is giving my motorbike the characteristics of a horse. Maybe this means my motorcycle feels like it breathes or has a heartbeat, or is as beautiful as a horse (like what I did there?).
* Personification
Personification is a language technique that compares by giving an object or an animal the qualities of a human. This helps us relate to that thing because we are human. Look at the example below by Emily Dickinson;
The moon was but a chin of gold
A night or two ago,
And now she turns her perfect face
Upon the world below.
A night or two ago,
And now she turns her perfect face
Upon the world below.
In this example, Dickinson compares the beauty of the moon with the a golden chin, showing us its value. She then compares it with a woman's face, again showing its beauty by describing it as 'perfect'.
RIVER POEM
The image given below shows a 'river poem'.
Find a page from an old book or magazine or newspaper. If you can't find one, speak with your teacher.
* Read the page and find the words that you like. You might like how they sound or how they look, or you might find a group of them that go together well.
* When you know which ones you like, circle them and decorate the page around them.
* Next, join each word to the next in the order you would like to present them, so that they flow on the page like a river.
* You need to make two of these for your page. Take photos of these, save them to either a USB or an English folder on your Student Drive and upload them to your page.
* You will need two of these for a maximum A grade.
The image given below shows a 'river poem'.
Find a page from an old book or magazine or newspaper. If you can't find one, speak with your teacher.
* Read the page and find the words that you like. You might like how they sound or how they look, or you might find a group of them that go together well.
* When you know which ones you like, circle them and decorate the page around them.
* Next, join each word to the next in the order you would like to present them, so that they flow on the page like a river.
* You need to make two of these for your page. Take photos of these, save them to either a USB or an English folder on your Student Drive and upload them to your page.
* You will need two of these for a maximum A grade.
HAIKU
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that has three lines. Each line has a certain number of syllables or beats;
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that has three lines. Each line has a certain number of syllables or beats;
Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables
Below is an example of a haiku.
* Count the syllables in each line and you'll find the 5-7-5 pattern.
* If you like, write your poem on something or somewhere creative, take a photo of it, save it and upload it to your webpage.
* You will need to create two of these and find one written by someone else to achieve a maximum A grade.
* Count the syllables in each line and you'll find the 5-7-5 pattern.
* If you like, write your poem on something or somewhere creative, take a photo of it, save it and upload it to your webpage.
* You will need to create two of these and find one written by someone else to achieve a maximum A grade.
Hercules beetle.
Massive, crunching jaws that break
Food and recycle.
Massive, crunching jaws that break
Food and recycle.