IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Incorporating Incorporating VoiceVoice

Make Your Make Your Writing Come Writing Come

Alive with Alive with SimilesSimiles

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Similes Similes are open comparisons. are open comparisons. They are clear-cut because the They are clear-cut because the

words words likelike andand asas tell us a tell us a comparison is being made.comparison is being made.

Example:Her eyes were like daggers aimed at my heartHer eyes were like daggers aimed at my heart

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

SimilesSimiles are widely used in literature are widely used in literature and often used in essays. They are and often used in essays. They are viewed positively and, used effectively, viewed positively and, used effectively, can create powerful and lasting images can create powerful and lasting images and ideas. They are also a great way to and ideas. They are also a great way to give your essay spice and character.give your essay spice and character.

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Be careful not to overuse Be careful not to overuse SimilesSimiles in your writing. Too in your writing. Too many can cause writing to many can cause writing to seem lacking in information.seem lacking in information. SimilesSimiles without substance are without substance are empty and weak. They are empty and weak. They are like unfulfilled promises and like unfulfilled promises and are likely to result in lower are likely to result in lower grades. Consequently, choose grades. Consequently, choose your words wisely, especially your words wisely, especially when flavoring your essay when flavoring your essay withwith SimilesSimiles..

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

SimilesSimiles can not only make your writing more interesting but also help you to thinkthink more carefully about your subjects. Basically, similessimiles are not just fancy additions to writing; they are ways of thinking.

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

How do you begin to create SimilesSimiles? For one thing, you must be ready to play with language and ideas. A comparison like the following might appear in an first draft of an essay:

Laura sang like an old cat. Laura sang like an old cat.

As you revise your draft, you might try adding more details to the comparison to make it more precise and interesting:

When Laura sang, she sounded like a cat When Laura sang, she sounded like a cat sliding down a chalkboard.sliding down a chalkboard.

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

My best friend and I always did everything together; my mom said we were as alike as two as alike as two

““as alike as two peas in a pod”as alike as two peas in a pod” is a similesimile.

You are comparing you and your best friend to peas.

What are you comparing?What are you comparing?

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

On the weekend I have so many activities to do that I am as busy as a as busy as a

““as busy as a bee” as busy as a bee” is a similesimile.

You are comparing yourself to a bee.

What are you comparing?What are you comparing?

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

My new baby brother is so adorable that everyone says he is as cute as aas cute as a

““as cute as a bug in a rug” as cute as a bug in a rug” is a similesimile.

You are comparing your baby brother to a bug.

What are you comparing?What are you comparing?

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

No matter what happens in class, our teacher is as cool as aas cool as a

““as cool as a cucumber” as cool as a cucumber” is a similesimile.

You are comparing your teacher to a cucumber.

What are you comparing?What are you comparing?

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Connect the phrases and images to make your own SimilesSimiles

as delicate as aas delicate as a

as dry asas dry as

as free as aas free as a

as hard asas hard as

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Connect the phrases and images to make your own SimilesSimiles

as hungry as aas hungry as a

as light as aas light as a

as lowly as aas lowly as a

as mad as aas mad as a

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Connect the phrases and images to make your own SimilesSimiles

as neat as aas neat as a

as old as theas old as the

as stubborn as aas stubborn as a

as quick asas quick as

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Green – Basic SimileGreen – Basic SimileBlue – Expand to a More Detailed SimileBlue – Expand to a More Detailed Simile

_______________________________ was as delicate as a flower __________________________________________

_______________________________ was as dry as dust ________________________________________________

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Green – Basic SimileGreen – Basic SimileBlue – Expand to a More Detailed SimileBlue – Expand to a More Detailed Simile

_______________________________ was as free as a bird ______________________________________________

_______________________________ was as hard as nails _____________________________________________

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Green – Basic SimileGreen – Basic SimileBlue – Expand to a More Detailed SimileBlue – Expand to a More Detailed Simile

_______________________________ was as hungry as a wolf ____________________________________________

_______________________________ was as light as a feather____________________________________________

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Green – Basic SimileGreen – Basic SimileBlue – Expand to a More Detailed SimileBlue – Expand to a More Detailed Simile

_______________________________ was as neat as a pin ______________________________________________

_______________________________ was as old as the hills _____________________________________________

IncorporatingIncorporating SimilesSimiles

Green – Basic SimileGreen – Basic SimileBlue – Expand to a More Detailed SimileBlue – Expand to a More Detailed Simile

_______________________________ was as stubborn as a mule _________________________________________

_______________________________ was as quick as lightening __________________________________________