Part 2
Last week (Distracted Part 1) we wrote about how learners/readers tend to predict what’s coming next; and by breaking this prediction with a surprise to jolt the learner awake and stay more engaged. We discussed how to do this through breaking well-worn word patterns. This week we have some more suggestions.
2. Make-up words
You can make your writing more interesting by injecting new words or expressions.
For instance, Shakespeare has invented hundreds of words, including some 300 words starting with un, such as unaware, uncomfortable, undress, unearthy, and unreal. (Are there any other words we can make up?)
Shakespeare has also made up expressions including: I’ve not slept a wink; in my heart of hearts; the world is my oyster; and it’s Greek to me.
Some weird ones there.
Now we treat a lot of these expressions as cliches, and they’re not likely to wake up learners. Language evolves.
But we can use Shakespeare’s trick and make up our own expressions. For instance Apple’s copywriters make up new words regularly:
New camera. New design. Newphoria
and
Focus Pocus, magical new portraits.
Sometimes they just change the spelling:
Phantastic, Phototonic photos
and
Wonderful. Apple tends to make small adjustments to existing words so it’s not too hard to guess their meaning.
Be careful. Too many unusual words can make a text difficult to read. Just go for a sprinkling.
3. Create an unexpected analogy
You can also jolt your learners awake with vivid, fresh metaphors.
For instance, Raymond Chandler makes his readers pay attention by using creative, sometimes crazy, similes. This from ‘Farewell, My Lovely: “Even on Central Avenue, not the quietest dressed street in the world, he looked about as inconspicuous as a tarantula on a slice of angel pasta.”
And from The Long Goodbye: He was a guy who in talked about commas, like a heavy novel.”
and
An hour crawls by like a sick cockroach.
Some metaphors and analogies are overused. For instance, Dont put all your eggs in one basket. Such aged imagery doesn’t wake up or engage your learner.
To keep your learners awake, be a little more creative. Make up your own metaphors and weird expressions. Maybe ones that come out of your industry or the subject you are teaching.
4, Set up a pattern, then break it
Comedians are experts at unexpected turns, and one trick they use is comic triple. Threes form a pattern. So, if you want to surprise your learners, create the pattern and then surprise with an unexpected third element.
You know what my favourite part about coffee is? The energy boost, the aroma, and the yellowing effect on your teeth. – Patrick King.
And from Mark Twain There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.
To make up your own comic triple, consider something you love, define two reasons why you love it plus one downside. I love writing for learning because I love playing with words; I like improving my own knowledge; and I can also practice for the procrastination championships.
An unexpected twist can add a sense of fun, even in a modlette about a serious topic.
Make writing for learning fun. Try to inject a sense of fun.