#13 Brushstrokes
Image Grammar –
Using Brushstrokes
Adapted from Harry Noden’s Image Grammar
Intro
Write a sentence about the cat on the first line in your notes.
Brushstrokes (You do not need to copy this down…)
Just as visual artists learn different techniques with paints and brushes, writers need to employ different brushstrokes in their writing.
Brushstrokes help a writer’s words and phrases become descriptive and detailed
Brushstrokes in writing link to grammatical structures: words, phrases, clauses and syntax (word order)
We will learn 5 brushstrokes:1. Participles
2. Absolutes
3. Appositives
4. Adjectives out of Order
5. Action Verbs
Building Blocks
Noun – person, place, thing, or idea
Verb – conveys action, occurrence,
or state of being
Adjective – describes, identifies, or
further identifies a noun
A complete sentence (independent
clause) must include a subject
(noun) and a predicate (verb).
Ex. Sam runs.
Copy down Chart…
Brushstroke Definition Examples
Participles(and phrases)
Absolutes
Appositives(and phrases)
Adjectives Out of Order
Action Verbs
How to take notes
1. Fill in the chart with definition and your own original example.
2. After you are finished with the presentation, write a 3-5 sentenceparagraph summary of what you learned.
Brushstroke #1
Painting with Participles
Participle Definition
A Participle is an “-ing” or “-ed” verb tagged on to the beginning or ending of a sentence (sometimes just after the noun).
Example:
Base Sentence: The diamond-scaled snakes attacked their prey.
Painting with Participles: Hissing, slithering, and coiling, the diamond-scaled snakes attacked their prey.
Participial Phrase
Definition
A participial phrase: a participle along with modifier (more detail).
Example:
Base Sentence: Hissing and coiling, the diamond-scale snakes attacked their prey.
Painting with participial phrases: Hissing their forked red tongues and coiling their cold bodies, the diamond–scale snakes attacked their prey.
Participle Practice
Write onesentence using at least one participle or one participial phrase about the clown.
Brushstroke #2
Painting with Absolutes
Absolute Definition
A two word combination that is a noun + participle (“ing”or “ed” verb) OR noun + participial phrase added onto a sentence. Absolutes help add to the action of an image.
Example:
Base Sentence: The cat attacked the dog.
Painting with Absolutes: Claws digging, feet kicking, the cat attacked the dog.
Absolute Practice
Write a sentence about the USA hockey team using oneabsolute.
Brushstroke #3:
Painting with Appositives
Appositive Definition
An appositive is a noun that adds a second detail/image to a preceding noun. It is set off with commas (note: commas plural!).
Examples:
Base Sentence: The raccoon enjoys eating turtle eggs.
Painting with Appositives: The raccoon, a scavenger, enjoys eating turtle eggs.
Appositive Phrase
Definition
Appositive phrase: an appositive with added detail.
Examples:Base sentence: The raccoon, a midnight scavenger, enjoys eating turtle eggs.
Painting with appositive phrases: The raccoon, a midnight scavenger who roams lake shorelines in search of food, enjoys eating turtle eggs.
Appositive Practice
Write onesentence using an appositive or an appositive phrase about the homeless woman.
Brushstroke #4:
Adjectives Out of Order
Adjectives out of
Order Definition
Adjectives out of order amplify the details of an image; they create a spotlight and intensify the image by creating a different rhythm; usually used in fiction.
Examples:
Original Sentence: The large, red-eyed angry moose charged the intruder.
Painting with Adjectives Out of Order: The largemoose, red-eyed and angry, charged the intruder.
Adjectives out of order
Practice
Write a sentence about the carousel using adjectives out of order
Brushstroke #5:
Action Verbs
action Verbs
Definition
This is the process of eliminating the “passive voice” and verbs of being and replacing them with more active verbs.
Examples:Original Sentences:
The runaway horse was ridden into town by an old, white-whiskered rancher. The grocery store was robbed by two armed men.
Painting with Action Verbs:The old, white-whiskered rancher rode the runaway horse into town. Two armed men robbed the grocery store.
Action Verb Practice
Write onesentence using an action about the Mission Impossible Scene.
Wrap up
Rewrite your sentence about the cat in your notes using as many brushstrokes as possible!
So……. Why do writers paint with words?
Readers want a vivid picture. An amateur tells a story, but a professional shows it.
Traits of Showing:Considers using all the five senses Includes specific details Uses vivid verbs, adjectives, and adverbsUses comparisons such as similes
3-5 Sentence Summary
Something that is becoming
clear about writing with
brushstrokes is…