Synonyms
What is a stronger synonym for "walked slowly?"
strolled / ambled
Add ONE punctuation mark to fix: “Lets eat Grandma”
“Let’s eat, Grandma.”
“The wind howled outside.” This gives wind a human/animal action.
Personification
If a character’s hands are “shaking” and they “can’t swallow,” what can we infer?
They're nervous or scared.
Upgrade this sentence by adding ONE atmosphere detail:
"The door opened."
Example: “The door opened with a slow creak.” / “The door opened and a cold draft spilled out.”
Give a synonym for "looked quickly"
Which punctuation mark can introduce a list?
Colon (:)
“He was as silent as a mouse.”
Simile
The difference between fact and opinion:
“This room is cold.” vs “This room is horrible.”
Which is opinion?
The room is horrible
Identify TWO techniques in this line
“Tap… tap… tap… Something moved behind the door.”
ellipsis for pacing, onomatopoeia, short sentence for tension, vague noun (‘something’) to create uncertainty, sensory sound detail
Choose the best formal synonym for "shiny"
a) Sparkly
b) Luminous
c) Cute
b) Luminous
What punctuation shows someone interrupting in dialogue?
Em Dash (–)
“Her words were knives.”
Metaphor
“He smiled, but his eyes didn’t.” What does this suggest?
The smile is fake / he's hiding something
Identify two techniques in this line
"The corridor swallowed the sound of my footsteps.”
personification; auditory imagery; metaphor; ominous atmosphere.
A word meaning "exact and careful with time"
Punctual
What punctuation shows something trailing off or uncertainty?
Ellipses (...)
The snake slithered silently.”
Alliteration or Sibilance (Sibilance is only s sounds)
A writer repeats short sentences: “Stop. Listen. Run.” What’s the likely effect?
Urgency / tension / pace increase
Identify two techniques used in this line:
“The door was unlocked; I was sure I’d locked it.”
semicolon to link related clauses; contrast; first-person voice; suspense via contradiction.
Which word suggests something messy and out of control
a) tidy
b) chaotic
c) calm
b) chaotic
Which is correct for possession (1 teacher):
A) The teachers pen
B) The teacher’s pen
C) The teachers’ pen
B) The teacher’s pen
A technique where the writer hints at danger before it happens (e.g., “If only I had known…”).
Foreshadowing
A narrator says, “I never lie.” What should a reader do immediately?
Doubt them / question reliability
Identify two techniques used in this line:
“The clock kept ticking; the silence kept growing.”
semicolon; parallel structure; personification; auditory imagery; rising tension.