Precise Nouns
 In writing sometimes your words aren’t focused and
they create a fuzzy picture in the reader’s mind.
 We are going to learn about Precise Nouns.
 What is a noun?
 Precise Nouns are a more specific kind of noun.
 Precise Nouns make the picture clearer for the reader.
 The word “game” is a noun, but when we try to
picture “game” in our mind, there are many
different possibilities. The words “checkers” or
“dodge ball” or “Monopoly” are precise.
Precise Nouns
** See how many Precise Nouns you
can come up with.
Car (i.e. Porsche, SUV,
Bird
Hummer, Nascar, Honda)
Sport
Relative
Superhero
Food
Flower
Job
Shoe
Dog
Precise Nouns
 Some nouns are very vague (fuzzy or unclear).
 i.e. things, stuff, junk
 Find the Precise Nouns in the poem “Junky Room”
 Share your findings
 Your turn to PRACTICE using Precise nouns!
 Write a poem using Precise Nouns that creates a picture of
a place. Then Share!
Here are some topics to use or pick topic of your choice:

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Stuff under a bed
Things in a couch cushion
Junk in a kitchen drawer
Stuff in a locker
Strong Verbs
 Name some verbs…
 Verbs are like fighters, some are weaklings
and some are strong.
 The strong ones are “action-packed” They are
words the reader can see, hear, and feel.
 Strong Verbs are specific details
that help paint a picture
for the reader.
Strong Verbs
 Read Dynamite Machine
 Find the strong verbs the author uses.
 Which verbs create the strongest picture?
 Which verbs can you see in your mind? Are there
any you hear?
 “walking” and “turning” are OK but are used so
much they are weak.
 Weak verbs are verbs that are used too much.
 What are other verbs you could use that are
stronger.
Strong Verbs
 Action poem:
SUPERMAN
Jump
Flies
Runs
Helps
 These are actions Superman does, but they are
weak verbs.
 Work with a partner with the use of a thesaurus to
replace each word with strong verbs, precise nouns,
and descriptive words.
 For Example: SUPERMAN
 Leaps over four humongous skyscrapers.
 Share your Action poem!
Strong Verbs
 Category:
People
rappers
dancers
cheerleaders
wrestlers
basketball players
Animals
tigers
dogs
sharks
zebras
gorillas
 Any more we can add to the list???
 Select one from the category and write your own
Action poem.
(Example on the next slide—go to the next slide Mr. R!)
Strong Verbs
 For example (generate a list of actions):
Wrestler
Throw
Hit
Thump
Crash
Jump
 Are there any strong verbs already? Which ones seem
weaker?
 Replace the weaker verbs with stronger ones. Use
thesaurus if needed.
 Write your Action poem. Create sentences using strong
verbs, precise nouns, and descriptive words.