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interacting in meaningful Ways: evaluate Diction
Learning Targets
• Apply understanding of diction to comprehending and writing texts.
• Evaluate and explain in conversation how vivid verbs help readers to visualize the story’s action. • Write a short argument that analyzes the author’s diction and explains its effect on the story.
Using Precise Diction
aCTiViTY 2.5
An epic poem that describes the Hero’s Journey is full of action and adventure. Therefore, writers use diction that will emphasize the action and help readers see exactly what is happening. An important part of the diction in epics is vivid verbs, which are verbs that portray the action, danger, and drama that the hero faces. Notice how the vivid verbs below make the action more colorful, precise, and interesting.
Language Resources: Vivid Verbs
Verb
Definition
walk
to use your legs and feet to move
stride, stroll, stagger, march
Skim the Odyssey and look for the vivid verbs you underlined. If you are not sure of the meaning, use context clues and a dictionary to help you define the words. Use the chart below to list synonyms the author could have used instead and then revise the sentence with one of the synonyms. Use a thesaurus to help you find synonyms.
Vivid Verbs
Sentence
The band left to to the parking lot.
hit
using a hand or object to touch something with force
punch, smash, bash, whack, crash
A car might the bicycle in the driveway.
jump
using your legs to move your body up or forward from the ground
leap, bounce, soar, fly
The coach wants players who can
Vivid Verbs
Synonyms
Revised Sentence
drained
guzzled, gulped, inhaled
At this, he took the cup and guzzled it.
Unit 1 • The Challenge of Heroism • Part 2: from the Odyssey 23
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