Choosing Effective Details
When you're ready to revise a draft of your writing, ask yourself whether you've expressed yourself in the best possible way. How can adding information and revising your word choice make your writing more powerful, convincing, and interesting to read? If you're not sure how to tackle a revision, the following ideas can give you a place to start.
- If you're writing a description, use evocative adjectives and sensory details.
Delicate violets and fire-orange tiger lilies carpeted the lush ravine.
- If you're writing a narrative, use vivid verbs and adverbs that show how the action unfolds.
I was sleeping peacefully when my little brother marched into my room and slammed the door behind him.
- If you're writing exposition, use carefully selected examples, facts, and reasons to support your ideas.
Some species of gecko can run across ceilings just as easily as they can run across floors. How do these lizards do it? Rows of tiny hairs with thousands of split ends are arranged in a leaflike pattern on the bottoms of their toe pads. The attraction between these hairs and even the smoothest surface enables the gecko to grab and hold on.
- If you're doing persuasive writing, use effective evidence and specific words to convince others to support your viewpoint.
Visit St. Augustine, Florida, one of the oldest cities in the United States. It's a wonderful vacation destination for families because there is something for everyone: sandy beaches, historical sites, interesting shops, and music festivals.
