6 +1 WRITING TRAITS:
WORD CHOICE
Onomatopoeia…
…Words used to imitate
the sounds we hear.
Authors use onomatopoeia to help readers
imagine through their SENSE of HEARING.
Which sentence helps you imagine
more?
• The noise of the fire kept us
awake.
• The crackling and popping of
the fire kept us awake.
Write the sound
of a plate being dropped on
the floor.
Smash! The plate split into
pieces as it hit the floor.
Write the sound
of somebody eating potato
chips.
Crunch, crunch, crunch,
the raccoon munched on
potato chips.
Revise this sentence.
train
• Each morning we heard the train.
Each morning we heard the
varoom,varoom,varoom from the
speeding train.
How can using onomatopoeia help
you to improve your writing?
• It helps the reader imagine what is
happening in your story through their
SENSE OF HEARING.
• It is more descriptive.
• It is more fun and interesting for others to
read.
• Write a paragraph telling
about a time you
experienced a thunderstorm.
• Include at least two
examples of onomatopoeia
in your story.
BEGIN WITH A GRABBER
POSSIBLE TOPIC SENTENCES:
•
Imagine the wildest thunderstorm ever!
•
Have you ever had a blast in the rain?
•
Zap - pow! Lightning darted across the
sky.
•
Kaboom! Although I was tucked
safely in bed, I fearfully listened to the
terrifying thunder.