Visually, patterns are all around us. We see patterns in the arrangement of leaves on a stem, in ripples left by the receding tide, in tracks left by a bird. Language is full of patterns too - patterns in sound, in structure, and in use. Being aware of these patterns can make us more effective writers.
Look for patterns in writing.
Alliteration
Do you see or hear the alliteration?
- perfectly, pristine Pacific passages (Can you visualize that sailboat cruising along the wild west coast?)
- "No, not nothing! I don't want nothing!" His cry emerged, mixed with tears and rage.
- Two, terrible twins. Nothing could be worse than baby-sitting Hedga and Millie.
Would you like to try some alliteration?
- Select a person, place, thing, animal... or something specific from your history or science study.
- Think of two or three words that relate.
- Can you find words that begin with the same later as your chosen word?
- Combine them into a phrase or sentence
Example:
Mr. Popper has several perfectly pristine penguins.
Many Medieval monarchs had little thought for their subjects.
For more information: Virtual Lit
Assonance
Do you hear the assonance?
Rhyme and Meter
Do you hear the rhythm and/or meter?
We all the know the rhythm of childhood poetry: ta-da, da-da, da-da, da-dum; ta-da, da-da, da-da, da-dum.
Meter is a formal way of looking at patterns in poetry. It is a way of looking at and identifying stressed and unstressed syllables.
Try your hand at identifying meter.
- Select a couple lines from a poem.
- Underline or highlight the stressed syllables.
- How many are there in each line?
- Need a challenge? Identify what kind of "foot" your poem has. (see virtual lit)
For more information: Virtual Lit
Do you hear the rhyme?
Is it and sounds only, final syllable, double or triple syllable rhyme?
(Go to Rhyme for details)