Craft of Writing: Parentheses

Last week I outlined a mini-lesson approach to The Craft of Writing and highlighted asyndeton as a literary device that could improve student writing craft. This approach involves giving students a sheet that outlines writing mechanics/devices and having them complete a six minute activity that targets said activity.

The first 'issue' of this Writology activity includes write-ups on using Tricolon (covered here), Asyndeton, and Parentheses. Here are the details for the last of these, parentheses:

Parentheses

What is it: Commonly known as brackets, parentheses are used to convey additional or supplementary information in a text. The Greek work parenthesis means "to place alongside."

Example:

• "Her voice, her laugh, her dress (something floating, white, crimson), her spirit, her adventurousness." - Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf.

Why use it: 

• Parentheses are used to add supplementary detail to an idea without making it an essential part of the text. A section of text in parenthesis should be removable without changing the meaning of the sentence.
• Can work in the same way as an embedded clause or a footnote, the choice of which one to use can be determined by the length of the information included.
• Can be used to explain (or to clarify).
• Can be used to indicate the way something will be abbreviated in The Rest of The Text (TRTT).
• Also has a more mechanical purpose in academic contexts where it is used to include sources for quotes, indicate where text has been 'snipped out', or in plays in regards to stage directions/instructions for performance on the stage.

Quick Activity:
Write a paragraph where you imagine you are a snail facing an obstacle. Include the use of brackets (parentheses) at least twice. 

Tricolon

Below is the activity to go with tricolon. The activity for asyndeton was covered in the blog entry that was mentioned at the top of this article.

Quick Activity:  

Write an informative paragraph about your favourite meal. Include one example of tricolon. 

And here's all three writing elements on one sheet for student use:

• Writology Issue 1

Happy writing!