Language and Grammar: Elaborate

Role-Play With a partner, act out an interview with Mireya Mayor. One partner plays the role of a news reporter and asks questions about Mayor’s work and discoveries. The other partner plays Mayor and gives detailed answers. Use adverbs to elaborate. Trade roles.

What did you recently discover in Madagascar?

I recently discovered a very small primate. It is the smallest primate in the world!

Writing and Grammar: Write About a Discovery

Study the Models When you write about events, you want to keep your readers interested in your writing. A key way to hold their interest is to elaborate and add colorful details about when, where, and how the events happen. You can provide comparisons to elaborate even more.

Not Ok

Of all endangered species, Mireya studied primates the most serious. She skillful investigated the jungles of Madagascar. The wind blew fierce in her face as she walked deeper into the underbrush. Then she saw it—a new species of mouse lemur. She held the small primate gentle. Then she documented her discovery carefuller than ever before. The expedition was a success.

The reader thinks: “I don’t understand the details.”

Ok

Of all endangered species, Mireya studied primates the most seriously. She skillfully investigated the jungles of Madagascar. The wind blew fiercely in her face as she walked deeper into the underbrush. Then she saw it—a new species of mouse lemur. She held the small primate gently. Then she documented her discovery more carefully than ever before. The expedition was a success.

The adverbs are correct, so the details are clear.

Add Sentences Think of two sentences to add to the OK model above. Look for more ways to add details to your sentences.

Illustration of the pen icon WRITE ON YOUR OWN Write a description of a time you discovered something new. Use colorful details that tell when, where, and how. Help the reader see and experience the event you are writing about.

Remember

  • • Many adverbs end in -ly: slowly, carefully, playfully

  • • Use -er with one-syllable adverbs to compare two actions: faster, softer

  • • Use more with two- or three-syllable adverbs: more slowly, more carefully, more playfully