Writing Workshop May 22-23, 2023 Skills Board

Directions: Here is a potpourri of skills we have been working on since this course began! Every day, you will be given a challenge in various areas to see exactly what you remember (and what you can brush up on, during the summer months ahead)! Good Luck!

A. Literary Terms:
Please tell which device the words in bold print represent.

1. The clown was laughing like a hyena while playing with the children.
a. foreshadowing          b. alliteration          c. simile          d. onomatopoeia

2. Now I understand why there was a key on the table in chapter one of the book I'm reading. In chapter 10, I found out that key would open the door of a brand new car the main character would unexpectedly win! 
a. foreshadowing          b. alliteration          c. simile          d. onomatopoeia

3. Mary made many mistakes Monday.
a. foreshadowing          b. alliteration          c. simile          d. onomatopoeia

4. Splash! Bam! Bzzzzz!! I feel as though I am in a comic book!!
a. foreshadowing          b. alliteration          c. simile          d. onomatopoeia


B. Usage
How is each word in bold print USED in each sentence? 

1. I attached the lock to the bike rack at school. 
a. noun          b. verb          c. adjective          d. adverb

2. I will bike over to your house later today.
a. noun          b. verb          c. adjective          d. adverb

3. The new bike was a lovely present from her parents.
a. noun          b. verb          c. adjective          d. adverb


C. Subject/ Verb Agreement
Select the correct verb that works with the subject of each sentence. Be sure to check out which noun or pronoun is actually doing the action; you may need to block out clauses and phrases in order to see which verb belongs!

1. The soup that has been simmering on the stove all afternoon (is, are) now ready.
2. The boys who live around the corner from us (is, are) planning a party for the neighborhood.
3. SCALE, which is a great program for adult learners, (is, are) held in a Tufts Building in Somerville.
4. Sue, a woman who once worked as the custodian at the elementary school, (is, are) now their official principal.
5. (Place, Places) the dishes that were a gift from your grandmother on the dining room table.
6. The box of rice (was, were) the last one in the cabinet.
7. The children who loved to dance around in the school hallways (was, were) a joy to watch.
8. (Have, Has) you ever seen a movie that inspired you to do something different in your life?
9. Jim's aunt from the Netherlands (is, are) visiting her children.
10. All the stores at the Rockingham Mall (was, were) having fabulous sales last weekend.

D. Appositives
Add an appositive to each sentence below. Remember that an appositive renames a noun in order to provide more detail in the sentence.

1. The lake looked beautiful this morning. Example: The lake, the famous Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, looked beautiful this morning.  

2. My neighbor just bought a new puppy.
3. The boy's birthday was coming up soon.
4. Father's Day is a wonderful holiday we celebrate every June.
5. This summer, I will visit the beach at least twice a week!
6. Did you see the painting at the museum?

E. Phrases
Add a phrase to the following sentences. Remember that a phrase does not contain a verb and often indicates location or time. Prepositions generally start each phrase, such as "I went to the park yesterday."

1. I cannot wait to meet your friend Joe.
2. The concert will be exciting.
3. The students all passed their HiSETs!
4. The kitten was ready to be adopted.
5. Don't worry about the cost.

F. Clauses
Add a clause to the following sentences. Remember that a clause DOES contain a verb!! It can be dependent (meaning it cannot stand alone) or independent (meaning it can and makes perfect sense the way it is! A simple sentence is an independent clause).

Example: We loved visiting the carnival.
Example: We loved visiting the carnival, which was arriving earlier than usual this year.

1. We shopped all day long for a nice present for Sean.
2. The Stone Zoo had many new animals this year.
3. My dad's friend often worked at his family's restaurant.
4. Jumping rope requires skill and balance!
5. Tom and Bobby will meet us at IHOP for breakfast.

G. Idiom Review:
Select the appropriate answers below.

1. Stan often walked on eggshells when he spoke to Jayson. This meant Stan
a. needed to purchase a thicker rug.
b. should consider wearing closed-in shoes.
c. was nervous he might say the wrong thing and offend Jayson.
d. made lots of noise as he roamed through the house.

H. Writing
Directions: While you are working on final copies of various types of writing from your notebooks or folders, here are more topics you can write about, as well. Each one appears with the type of essay it could be. You can substitute something you write about today for another piece of writing that is from the same genre.

You could also simply add it to the work you have already edited and revised!!

1. Everyone should have Fridays off from work.   (Persuasive)

2. Deshaun thinks taking a nap is important and will refresh him for the rest of his work day. Alayna thinks that naps are unnecessary and stop her from falling asleep easily at night.   (Argument)

3. Write a short story about something strange that happened to you at work one day. (Anecdote)

4. Tell us exactly what happened in the basketball game last night (or any other event you have watched or attended).Do not give us your opinion. Instead, just tell us all the facts, as you would if you were reporting the news! (Expository)

5. Continue a story from the following sentences:

     Helen and Vivian had just arrived at the beach house they had rented for an entire month. They had saved money all year to be able to afford this, and they could not wait to do nothing but relax on Lake Winnipesaukee. However........
(Creative Writing)

6. Write a haiku that follows the 5-7-5 syllable pattern for each of its three lines. (Poetry)

7. Test results should not be the only way to measure how much knowledge a student has accumulated throughout the school year.   (Persuasive)
​
8 Insurance companies should lower their rates so that people can purchase cars more affordably.   (Persuasive)

9. Len enjoys supporting the local library because it supplies all the books he enjoys reading without a cost. Sara feels that libraries should be completely funded by the city government; she pays enough taxes and will not contribute a penny more!    (Argument)

10. Describe a recipe or a new skill you have learned over the past year. Do not include opinions; use only facts to describe your expertise in this area.    (Expository)

11. Use a photo from the board to jumpstart a story you write from beginning to end.  (Photo Prompt Writing)
​
12. Tell us a funny story about something that happened to you at a family event while out with friends.   (Anecdote)

As always, enjoy the process!!