First, second, and fourth periods added one more element to on-going memoir assignment: specific verbs.

Specific verbs (also called “action verbs”) add vitality to writing.  They not only tell what’s going on but also give indications of how.

“Walk” is a boring verb. It could be used to describe any number of movements. “Shuffled” is a specific action verb. Someone who shuffles is someone who is tired, perhaps bored.

We define two elements in class. Specific verbs:

• show a specific (not general) action;
• include information about how the action is completed.

Source: Class Notes: Specific Verbs

To look at the differences between “boring” verbs and specific action verbs, one thing we did was show each other how “walk” can describe radically different actions. The students who did the strutting generally had the most fun:

Strutting Out

Strutting In

Fourth period continued with Antigone. We’ve come to the conclusion that Creon feels leaders should be obeyed without hesitation or question; we’ve discovered that Haemon has some views about the relationship between rulers and the ruled that might have been somewhat unorthodox during that time.

Homework

• First and seventh periods: ten synonyms for “talk” and/or “say.
• Second period: none.
• Fourth period: correct and evaluate tests.