Tone
When I stepped into school, I glanced around. My face felt red, like I had a harsh fever. A few days ago some of the school bullies said they were gonna tie me up in the shape of a ball like Sonic! My hands tremble. Were they actually going to? I let my head drop down.
frightened, scared
The dew on the grass made my running shoes damp. It didn't bother me. The sound of my feet hitting the street formed a rhythm, a steady pattern of light thumps. I timed my breathing with the rhythm. The sounds filled my head. I soared over the sidewalks like concrete clouds.
First person
The desert sand felt as hot as a stovetop burner against my bare feet.
simile
Before Europeans came to North America, many bald eagles graced the sky. As settlers moved west, they destroyed the eagles' natural habitat. Egg collectors and pesticides almost wiped out the bald eagle population. However, about 30 years ago the federal government passed laws to protect the eagles. Today, more than 7,678 pairs of bald eagles live in the lower United States.
Sequence/Chronological
When Marcus first joined the soccer team, everyone noticed how gregarious he was. Unlike the quiet players who sat on the bench waiting to be told what to do, Marcus immediately began introducing himself to every teammate. He seemed to gain energy from being around others. Even during water breaks, he would seek out a crowd to share a joke or a high-five, showing that he truly preferred the company of a group over being alone.
Friendly, outgoing
The old wooden stairs groaned under Leo’s weight, sounding like a warning to turn back. At the top of the landing, a single, flickering lightbulb cast long, jagged shadows that seemed to dance across the peeling wallpaper. A cold, damp draft whistled through the cracks of the attic door, which stood slightly ajar—a dark, gaping mouth waiting to swallow the silence. Leo reached for the rusted handle, his heart thudding against his ribs like a trapped bird.
suspenseful, anxious, creepy, spooky
Marcus tapped his pencil, absolutely dreading the math quiz because he hadn't studied. Next to him, Samantha smiled confidently, knowing she knew all the formulas by heart, while Mrs. Higgins looked on, already feeling sympathy for the low grades she knew she would have to hand out later.
3rd person omniscient
My younger brother is a tornado when he plays with his building blocks.
metaphor
Both crocodiles and alligators look like large and intimating reptiles and share a number of similarities, including long snouts, powerful tails, short legs, and bony-plated backs. The main difference is that a crocodile has a narrow snout that comes to a point at the tip, and the fourth lower tooth is always visible even when the crocodile's mouth is closed. An alligator, on the other hand, has a broad, blunt snout. Another difference is color. If the reptile is gray or black then it’s most likely a gator. On the other hand, if you see one that is olive or tan you are most likely looking at a crocodile.
Compare and Contrast
After the massive thunderstorm passed, the garden looked like a disaster zone, but the small oak sapling proved to be incredibly resilient. While the tall, stiff sunflowers had snapped in half under the pressure of the wind, the young tree simply bent without breaking. Within a few hours, it had straightened itself back up, showing its ability to recover quickly from the harsh conditions. Despite the damage surrounding it, the sapling remained strong and ready to keep growing.
strong, able to survive
The cafeteria doors swung open, and a tidal wave of noise crashed into the hallway. Hundreds of students were shoving plastic trays along the metal rails, which screeched like a subway train rounding a sharp corner. The air was a thick fog of pizza grease and loud, overlapping shouts that made it impossible to hear a single word. Tables were crammed with elbows and crumpled napkins, while a stray tater tot launched through the air like a tiny, greasy missile. It was a frenzied circus, and the lunch monitors stood in the center, waving their arms like frantic traffic cops.
chaotic, overwhelming, crazy
The dragon roared, causing Amy to freeze in fear, her mind racing with excuses to run. However, her brother Sam felt only excitement, dreaming of the glory he would get for defeating it. The dragon, meanwhile, was just annoyed that his nap had been interrupted.
3rd person omniscient
The alarm clock screamed at me to wake up at six in the morning.
personification
Astronomers claim that a star begins as a cloud of hydrogen and helium. As the cloud moves about, it collects bits of dust and more floating gases. Then, the cloud begins to warm as more dust and gases are pulled into it. After a long period of time, as the cloud becomes denser, heat and friction cause the atoms to explode. That is how a star is born.
Sequence/Chronological
As the hikers reached the summit, the trail became increasingly precarious. What was once a wide, flat path had turned into a narrow, crumbling ledge high above the canyon floor. Every step felt uncertain, and the loose gravel made it easy to slip. Sarah gripped the canyon wall tightly, feeling unsafe as she looked down at the steep drop-off below, realizing that one wrong move could lead to a dangerous fall.
dangerous
The cafeteria felt hollow and far too large as Ben stepped inside. The high ceilings seemed to swallow the sound of his footsteps, leaving him in a patch of silence amidst the crowd. He scanned the rows of tables, but they looked like unreachable islands where groups of friends were locked in private worlds. The bright fluorescent lights felt cold and clinical, reflecting off his polished, empty tray. With a heavy sigh, Ben headed toward a corner table, hoping the shadows would make his solitude feel a little less glaring.
Lonely, sad, somber
Leo watched the ball soar toward the goal. He knew this was his last chance to tie the game. When the goalie dove, Leo held his breath, thinking, Please go in!
3rd person limited
This backpack weighs a ton; I think I’m carrying the entire library.
hyperbole
The tongue is the fleshy muscle inside the mouth. A tongue lets us taste because the top of the tongue is made mostly of taste buds. Your tongue grows new taste buds about every two weeks. It is also very flexible, so it also helps us eat. When we chew, the tongue and the cheeks work together to constantly move the food between the teeth so that it can be chewed. The tongue presses the crushed food against the palate and moves this bolus, which is then ready to be swallowed.
Description
The pioneers faced constant adversity as they traveled westward across the rugged plains. Their journey was filled with difficulties, ranging from broken wagon wheels to sudden, violent thunderstorms that soaked their supplies. Even when food was scarce and the mountain trails became nearly impossible to climb, they refused to let these hardships stop them. By working together to overcome every obstacle in their path, they eventually reached their new home.
difficulty, hardship
I creep into school slowly, wishing I was invisible. The week before, I yelled at a kid who really had no friends because he was bothering me when I was taking a test. The eyes on me were humiliating, obvious everyone remembered. The poor kid was sitting in a corner, looking more small and lonely than usual. The guilt ate away at my skin, heart thumping as I passed him. He met my eyes for a split second, anguish flashing over his face before he looked away. I kept walking and didn't look back, not this time.
regretful, guilty
It was a dark and stormy night. In her attic bedroom Margaret Murry, wrapped in an old patchwork quilt, sat on the foot of her bed and watched the trees tossing in the frenzied lashing of the wind. Behind the trees clouds scudded frantically across the sky. Every few moments the moon ripped through them, creating wraith-like shadows that raced along the ground.
3rd person limited
The sizzle of the bacon filled the kitchen as Mom started breakfast.
onomatopoeia
Texting and driving has become a huge issue, especially with the teenage population. 69 percent of U.S. drivers between the ages of 18 and 64 admitted to using their cell phone while driving during the previous month. Since texting increases the likelihood of a crash by 23 times, it’s a habit that must be stopped. A patent from Apple could play a big role in helping teens avoid accidents. The proposed feature would lock out certain features such as texts and calls. This would help eliminate the distractions phones provide.
Problem and Solution
As the campers stepped into the deepest part of the cave, they clicked off their flashlights to save the batteries. Total darkness swallowed them for a moment, but then they noticed a strange, luminous moss clinging to the damp walls. The cavern was no longer pitch black; instead, the plants gave off a soft, neon-green glow that reflected in the puddles on the floor. It provided just enough radiance for the hikers to see their own hands in front of their faces, acting like a natural nightlight in the heart of the mountain.
light, bright, glowing