This time, as you are making changes to your draft, I want you to focus on the words. Here are a few simple steps that can make a big difference:
1) Replace any "dead" words in BLUE. Dead words may have been alive in elementary school, but in middle school they are history. Here are the DEAD words: stuff things a lot/ lots bunch good bad said got awesome cool very
2) Tone: Remember, this letter has a positive tone. After all, it is about a book that has positively hanged you in some way. Make sure the connotations (emotional meanings of word) match the positive tone of your letter over. If you make any changes, make sure they are in blue.
3) Clarity: Sometimes when we write, what makes sense to us, might not be clear to the reader of our writing. Sometimes, we know what we want to say, but can't seem to find just the right words. One good tip for finding confusing word choice is to read your letter aloud or to listen to someone else read it. As you listen, stop and make changes to any words, phrases, or sentences that might not be clear enough. Your goal is to have a letter that sounds like you talking to the author.
Options: 1) You read it aloud to yourself. 2) Use the "Text to Speech" app for your Chromebook link here. 3) Have someone else read your letter out loud to you.