Creative writing classes are a great opportunity to learn new words and improve your vocabulary. However, many students find the task daunting – after all, what is creative writing if not just making stuff up?
Fortunately, there are ways to make the task more fun and help you improve your vocabulary at the same time. One way is to make game out of it. Another way is to turn the task into a competition. Still, another way is to craft a story around specific words. These are just a few ways to incorporate games and competitions into your creative writing lessons. So let’s get to it.
The Importance Of Vocabulary In Creative Writing
Vocabulary is important in all forms of writing, but it is even more important in creative writing. This is especially true if you want to write creatively without having your words censored. If you’re new to creative writing, you might not fully understand the concept of creative writing as being more than just making stuff up. So let’s talk about the importance of vocabulary in creative writing.
Why Should You Look At The Ballpark For Words?
Many students believe that words come easy to them and that they just need to write down whatever pops up in their head. While this might be true for some people, it definitely is not the case for everyone. There is a considerable amount of practice and preparation that goes into becoming a good writer. One way to prepare is to look at reputable sources to see the ‘right’ words and strings of phrases. Inclusion of the baseball theme here is not random: the word ‘ballpark’ alone is enough to give the game and its associated words a significant position in the English language.
Let’s examine some of the ways in which baseball influences English and how it can be used in creative writing. Some of these ways are obvious and some might even be recurring themes in the game. So let’s explore them.
Vocabulary Growth Through Game Play
Baseball has a great deal of history, and one part of this history is the game itself. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the first professional baseball game was played in 1876. Over time, the rules and standards of baseball changed. At the present time, baseball is a pastime that is mostly played by adults. However, over the years, kids have taken an interest in the game as well. This probably has something to do with the fact that kids can identify with the game and its characters. They can also use the words associated with the game to speak with other kids or even adults around them. As a result, the vocabulary of young baseball fans is likely to be rich and diverse.
Baseball can be a great source of words and phrases for writers, especially creative writers. To cite just one example, the word ‘batter’ is often used to describe a person who is going to be the victim of a trick question or witty putdown. This is especially so if you are engaging in witty banter with your characters. Another example is ‘home run’, which simply means ‘ball that was hit over the fence for a potential extra base’ in baseball parlance. You can apply this to your own writing as well by using phrases like ‘my ball’, ‘my home run’, etc.
Vocabulary Growth Through Storytelling
One of the things that make creative writing so great is that it does not necessarily have to be ‘literal’. This is especially so for young writers who want to explore more abstract concepts and ideas. This is also one of the reasons why creative writing classes are such an ideal place for kids to develop their language skills. One effective way to learn new words is to simply tell stories about them. This can be done through poems, novels, or even plays. The great thing about stories is that they can often incorporate multiple themes and ideas, which means they can be used to trigger different thoughts and emotions in the reader.
For example, the word ‘punctual’ is often found in stories when the main character is anxious to get something done and move on with their life. In other words, the story is going to be ‘punctual’ in how it unfolds. Alternatively, the word ‘reluctant’ can be found in stories when the main character is reluctant to embrace an opportunity or take a step in a new direction. In other words, the story is going to be ‘reluctant’ in how it unfolds.
Often times, the writer will use a combination of these two words to show how someone is both anxious and reluctant to do something. You can likewise apply this to your own writing. One great tool for you to find the right words is the thesaurus, which allows you to look up words that you do not know in the dictionary. Thesaurus words are then highlighted in the text so that you can easily find them later on when you are writing. This is a great way to go through the entire dictionary without needing a tutor or spending all your free time learning new words.
More Than Just Language Learning From Baseball
Above we discussed how baseball continues to affect English even today. Well, actually, it does more than just that. People who love the game have started using English as a way to discuss and analyze the sport. For example, many people who played or continue to play baseball will use English as part of their daily lives, and many of these people will even teach vocabularly to others. This is because they realize the importance of having a large vocabulary when it comes to discussing and analyzing baseball and its many rules and concepts. Sometimes this can even become a bit obsessive. For example, thesaurus words will appear in many different contexts as players try to memorize as much vocabulary as they can in regard to the game.
One important point to make is that while baseball continues to affect English, it is not necessarily the other way around. People who want to improve their vocabulary will often look to the game for assistance. However, it is important to remember that using the right words does not necessarily mean that you will possess the skill to properly use them in an appropriate context. This is why it is advisable to look at other sources for help as well.
How To Incorporate Games And Activities In Your Class
Games and activities are a great way to have student-centered lessons, particularly in academic settings. With games and activities, students are more engaged and have an interest in what is being taught. This means that they will retain more information and be better able to apply it to real-life situations. It also means that teachers do not necessarily have to ‘teach’ the information; the students can learn it on their own through practice and application. Finally, games and activities can be a great way to allow students to get some needed relaxation while learning.
There are many games and activities that you can incorporate into your classes. Some of these are shown below.
Word Association
One of the simplest and most effective ways to incorporate games and activities in your classes is to do word association. In this activity, you simply give the students a topic for discussion and then have them form words or phrases using the letters that you provide. This can be done using technology such as Google Docs or online whiteboards. After the students have formed their words or phrases, you can discuss the topic in more detail. This can often be a fun way to learn new words while participating in an activity that is both educational and entertaining.
Matching Game
Another effective way that games and activities have become integrated into the curriculum is through matching games. These games can be used for a variety of things, but mainly to enhance language skills. To play this game, you will need a Scrabble-like wordgame where you can only make words using letters found on a card. Alternatively, you can use technology such as Anki
To play, simply give the students a topic for discussion and then have them form words or phrases using the letters that you provide. After they have completed the game, have the students discuss the topic in more detail. This is a great way to improve vocabulary while having some fun with the kids.
Creative Writing Game
Games and activities can also be used in a more creative writing-oriented manner. This is particularly effective for students who want to learn new words without feeling that they have to limit themselves to a certain number in a class period. This can be a great motivator for students who might become discouraged if they do not ‘feel’ that they are learning new words quickly enough. One way to make this activity more interesting is to give the students a theme or topic to work with. For example, you can ask them to write about something that makes them anxious or nervous.