Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- What is an anecdote?
- What is alliteration?
- What is personification?
- What is a simile?
- What is a snapshot?
- What is a sustained, similar simile?
- What is a theme?
- What is a hook?
- What is onomatopoeia?
- What is ASSAP?
- What is BAM?
- What is BLING?
- Why play with a tennis racquet?
- What is a metaphor?
- What is a symbol?
What is an anecdote?
An anecdote is a personal story or memory like "I remember
one time when."
What is alliteration?
Alliteration is the repetition of similar sounds at the beginning
of words
like "sustained similar simile."
What is personification?
Personification is giving inhuman things human qualites like
"The wind
whistled an ancient tune."
What is a simile?
A simile is a comparison of two different things using like or
as: "Her
heart was like a stone."
What is a snapshot?
A snapshot is focusing in on one moment and elaborating on it:
"It was 6 pm
What is a sustained, similar simile?
A simile with the same theme throughout the piece of writing:
"I walked in
the rain tossed about like a small boat at sea. The trees
flapped in the
wind like sails." The theme is boats.
What is a theme?
A theme is the underlying message or idea behind a piece of
writing: "There
are many differences and a few similarities between 5th and 6th
grade, but
throughout both I was learning independence." The theme is
independence.
What is a hook?
A hook is the first few sentences that draw the reader's
attention into
wanting to read more of your writing. It is full of Voice:
"Ahhh," I cry.
I'm falling into the dark cellar. "Help!" I yell, but
no one hears me.
Suddenly, I wake up! Thank goodness it has all been a terrible
dream except
that school starts today, and I am extremely nervous.
What is onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeia is when words sound like what they mean: mumble,
rumble,
grumble, slither, bang, roar, jingle.
What is ASSAP?
Anecdote plus simile plus snapshot plus alliteration plus
personification.
Remember that you do not say, "My anecdote is..." or "My snapshot
is...." Just write the story and elaborate with specific details
on one main spot/idea/event/time.
What is BAM?
BAM is adding spice to your writing. You do not want to write a
laundry list of things or events and people: such as "and then
and then" or "so we did this" and "so we did that." You want to
hook your reader in from the very first till the very last.
What is BLING?
BLING is adding sparkle or suspense to your writing. Again, you
do not want to write a boring list of events or people. You want
to grab your reader's attention and dazzle them with your colors,
adjectives, and verbs. See the Vocabulary icon for suggestions.
Why play with a tennis racquet?
The tennis racquet symbolizes that you have to make a point in
every paragraph especially when writing an expository essay. Once
again, you do not want to just list things and not explain with
specific details to support your opinions.
What is a metaphor?
A metaphor is a comparison of two very different things without
using "like" or "as." For example, the boat was a cradle rocking
on the sea.
What is a symbol?
A symbol is a thing, person, or place that stands for something
greater than itself. For example, the Statue of Liberty is a
symbol of freedom and liberty.
