Analyzing Literary Elements and Characters

Amanda Ziva, an author and teacher, discusses effective word choice in writing. She emphasizes selecting words that influence the mood and tone of a story, rather than just using fancy words from a thesaurus. Through examples from her books, 'The Birthday Cache' and 'The Orphan Train Riders', she illustrates how word choice can evoke emotions and create emphasis. Ziva also highlights the importance of repetition and the rule of three in writing. The video concludes with resources for further learning and encourages viewers to apply these tips in their writing.

What is the main focus of the video tutorial?

• Punctuation usage

• Word choice in writing

• Reading comprehension

• Grammar rules

Who is Amanda Ziva?

• A scientist

• A chef

• A musician

• An author and teacher

What is a common misconception about word choice?

• Using fancy words from a thesaurus

• Using simple words

• Using only verbs

• Using only nouns

What is the first way to effectively choose words?

• Choosing words that influence the reader's feelings

• Choosing words that are difficult to understand

• Choosing words that are long

• Choosing words that are short

What is the second way to effectively choose words?

• Using words randomly

• Using words that are synonyms

• Using words that rhyme

• Using words in a specific way

What is the main character's name in 'The Birthday Cache'?

• Mason

• William

• Gabby

• Molly

What emotion is conveyed in the passage from 'The Birthday Cache'?

• Fear

• Happiness

• Excitement

• Disappointment

Which words help convey Molly's mood in 'The Birthday Cache'?

• Stomped, clutching, complaints

• Sang, danced, clapped

• Jumped, laughed, smiled

• Ran, skipped, hopped

What is the main character's name in 'The Orphan Train Writers'?

• Shane

• Hugh

• William

• Mason

Why is the word 'America' repeated in the passage from 'The Orphan Train Writers'?

• To emphasize the character's excitement

• To fill space

• To confuse the reader

• To make the passage longer