Craft of Writing: Personification & Semicolon

In the last Craft of Writing post we looked at a mini-lesson focusing on hyperbaton. In support of an integrated approach to Module C, this entry outlines two further examples of writing craft that students can examine and hopefully use in their own writing alongside the previously mentioned rhetorical device. 

In Term 3 my class will be looking at the modes of writing mentioned in Module C's rubric, however, before we get to that point I'm hoping the students will pick up a few ideas that activate a deeper level of thinking when constructing language. Taking a few minutes at the start of each lesson with these mini-lessons represents an attempt to address a greater sense of student independence when writing.

Personification

What is it: A metaphorical figure of speech in which an idea, object or something else inanimate is given human attributes, or treated like a human character by the author of a text.

Examples: (All from Shakespeare's The Tempest, in support of Module A: Textual Conversations)

• "Time / goes upright with his carriage"
• "Patience / says it is past her cure"
• "Though the seas threaten, they are merciful"

Why use it:

• Allows for an elaboration on the nature of a abstract quality by comparing aspects of it with human behaviour or qualities.
• Adds increased meaning and depth to expressions.
• It allows us to reposition things from a human perspective to increase our understanding and develop a connection.

Quick Activity:

Think of an abstract quality (EG. Love, Truth, Death, Time, Hate, Anxiety) and use personification to illustrate a character's relationship with this quality.

Semicolon

What is it: A punctuation mark that allows for two related clauses to exist in the same sentences without a conjunction or connective word. Some clauses are closely related enough that they should be in the same sentence and the reader's understanding of one is improved by the other; this can sometimes rely on the use of a semicolon to work.

Examples:

• "There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself" - The Awakening, Kate Chopin
• "Harry had never been inside Filch's office before; it was a place most students avoided" - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling

Why use it:

• To connect an explanation to something mentioned in the previous clause.
• Used as a 'soft' full stop - showing that two sentences have a closer relationship than they would with a full stop.
• Two independent clauses in a compound sentence are typically joined by a connecrive term such as 'and', 'or', 'but', etc. A semicolon can sometimes take their place.
• Can be used completely differently as a 'super-comma' if commas are being used in a sentence for smaller separate items alongside larger ones, EG. "The tall, barky trees; the roaring, blood-crazed bears; and the rivers that had burst their muddy banks." 

Quick Activity: Write a paragraph in which describe the recipe for a meal. Ensure that you correctly include a semicolon. 

Here are both of these writing elements alongside hyperbaton on a sheet for student use:

• Writology Issue 2

Happy writing!

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!