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Writer's Craft

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This playlist provides examples of literary devices and writer's craft moves that students can utilize to strengthen their writing.

A Tale of Two Cities (1980): It Was the Best of Times

2m 23s

literary devices

charles dickens

tale of two cities

In this scene, Marquis St. Evrémonde runs over a young boy with his carriage and has a cavalier response to his wrongdoing.

Clips

1

Jason's Commemoration thumbnail

The Waltons: Jason's Commemoration

Jason uses descriptive writing to commemorate a location that was dear to his predecessors with w...

2

Leslie's Scuba Composition thumbnail

Bridge to Terabithia: Leslie's Scuba Composition

Leslie illustrates her scubadiving experience through colorful adjectives, imagery, and wonderous...

3

Adoption Letter thumbnail

Friends: Adoption Letter

In an effort to use many sophisticated words, Joey uses a thesaurus on every word in his adoption...

4

Make the World Yours thumbnail

The Book Thief: Make the World Yours

Max teaches Rudy how to incorporate imagery into writing. He pushes her to use more descriptive v...

5

Daniel Radcliffe Raps Alphabet Aerobics thumbnail

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Daniel Radcliffe Raps Alphabet Aerobics

Daniel performs Blackalicious' song, "Alphabet Aerobics," which contains plenty of alliteration.

6

Steal the Moon thumbnail

02:19

Despicable Me: Steal the Moon

Gru reveals to his minions the plan to steal the moon. In the process, he reveals the evil and am...

7

Gru's Bad Date Experience thumbnail

01:55

Despicable Me 2: Gru's Bad Date Experience

Gru tucks the girls into bed and flashes back to an unpleasant time in school when he tried to as...

8

Ogres are like Onions thumbnail

01:09

Shrek: Ogres are like Onions

Shrek explains to Donkey how an onion and Ogres are similar.

9

Lunchtime thumbnail

02:58

The Breakfast Club: Lunchtime

Each student eats food at lunchtime that matches his/her personality.

10

Sid Learns a Lesson thumbnail

02:56

Toy Story: Sid Learns a Lesson

As Sid creates his own rendition of a launch with his toys, he prepares to set Buzz Lightyear afl...

11

Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates thumbnail

01:11

Forrest Gump: Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates

Forrest introduces himself to a stranger after she sits down next to him on a park bench. He offe...

12

Greyhound Races thumbnail

04:18

The Simpsons: Greyhound Races

Bart and Homer make a bet on Santa's Little Helper during the race and end up disappointed that t...

13

My Mother's Daughter thumbnail

02:51

Spanglish: My Mother's Daughter

Cristina is upset with her mother, Flor, for taking her out of private school and narrates their ...

14

Aunt Grievey thumbnail

01:13

Everybody Hates Chris: Aunt Grievey

Chris' mother has relatives over the house, and Chris explains of their nicknames. Each nickname ...

15

The Trunchbull thumbnail

03:13

Matilda: The Trunchbull

Matilda observes the menacing Ms. Trunchbull on the courtyard while her peers provide her with st...

16

Jackie Fights Laurie thumbnail

01:18

That '70s Show: Jackie Fights Laurie

Laurie instigates Jackie, and they get into a fight that is illustrated by Batman-style hit flashes.

17

Rhyming with Shooter thumbnail

01:18

Happy Gilmore: Rhyming with Shooter

What starts out as small talk between Shooter and Happy turns into a confrontation, as Shooter at...

18

Oskar Memorizes "A Tale of Two Cities" thumbnail

01:28

Hey Arnold!: Oskar Memorizes "A Tale of Two Cities"

Oskar tries to prove he can learn to read by memorizing the beginning of "A Tale of Two Cities." ...

19

Trapped in an ATM Vestibule thumbnail

04:58

Friends: Trapped in an ATM Vestibule

Chandler is using the ATM at a vestibule and tries to leave when the power goes out. He is trappe...

20

Fears and Quicksand thumbnail

03:07

The Replacements: Fears and Quicksand

Coach McGinty asks his team to share their deepest fears. Intially, they think of their small fea...

21

Possessive 's' thumbnail

00:36

The Electric Company: Possessive 's'

Captain Cluck explains how apostrophes can be used to show possession on each chicken's food. Tha...

22

Quotations and Commas thumbnail

00:30

The Electric Company: Quotations and Commas

Captain Cluck gives the baby a quick lesson on how to use quotation marks.

23

N Apostrophe T thumbnail

02:15

The Electric Company: N Apostrophe T

This clip introduces contractions and illustrates how they can be used in everyday speaking and w...

24

Who Has the Best Government? thumbnail

01:54

Thank You for Smoking: Who Has the Best Government?

Nick teaches his son how to think about the writing prompt that his teacher assigned him. He enco...

25

Good Afternoon, Good Evening, and Good Night thumbnail

02:10

The Truman Show: Good Afternoon, Good Evening, and Good Night

Truman Burbank goes through his daily routine and shows off his good manners in the process. He i...

26

Oskar Memorizes "A Tale of Two Cities" thumbnail

01:28

Hey Arnold!: Oskar Memorizes "A Tale of Two Cities"

Oskar tries to prove he can learn to read by memorizing the beginning of "A Tale of Two Cities." ...

27

Be Our Guest thumbnail

01:34

Beauty and the Beast (1991): Be Our Guest

Belle is welcomed as a guest and treated to a performance by Lumiere (the candlestick), the dishe...

28

Opening Scene thumbnail

00:57

Cyberjack: Opening Scene

This film opening establishes the theme of the movie using a quotation from Stephen Hawking and e...

29

Up the Stairs thumbnail

02:36

Rear Window: Up the Stairs

Wheelchair-bound photographer Jeff Jeffries experiences prolonged suspense while alone in a dark ...

30

The Penguin Fight thumbnail

01:02

Batman (1966): The Penguin Fight

Batman and Robin fight The Penguin and his Fine Feathered Finks and emerge victorious.

31

Your Move, Chief thumbnail

04:39

Good Will Hunting: Your Move, Chief

Sean talks to Will about his life and how it was wrong of Will to believe he understands Sean fro...

32

Stupid is as Stupid Does thumbnail

01:01

Forrest Gump: Stupid is as Stupid Does

Forrest introduces himself to Bubba's family and pays his respect to Bubba after the war. When ta...

33

Directive A113 thumbnail

03:33

Wall-E: Directive A113

After successfully sprouting a sapling, Captain McCrea thinks about going back to Earth. The Axio...

34

Dictionary Exercise thumbnail

02:30

Malcolm X: Dictionary Exercise

Baines teaches Detroit Red the symbolism of language through the contrast of the two words, "blac...

35

"Snap Krackle Kaboom" Cereal thumbnail

01:41

The Amanda Show: "Snap Krackle Kaboom" Cereal

Just when the kids get bored of their cereal, a friend introduces them to an exciting new cereal ...

36

Full House Theme thumbnail

00:43

Full House: Full House Theme

The theme song in this intro to Full House reflects the nature of the show and the values that ar...

37

Master Oogway's Wisdom thumbnail

01:00

Kung Fu Panda: Master Oogway's Wisdom

When Shifu hears about Master Oogway's vision, he tries desperately to keep Tai Lung from returni...

38

DW's Snow Mystery thumbnail

02:56

Arthur: DW's Snow Mystery

DW keeps a snowball in the freezer from the "best day of her life," but it goes missing. Arthur a...

39

Lunch Dates thumbnail

01:15

Flipped: Lunch Dates

Bryce and Juli find it difficult to ignore each other while they have lunch with other people. Th...

40

Eleanor's Mother and Her Dog thumbnail

01:07

The Good Place: Eleanor's Mother and Her Dog

Eleanor's mother comes home one day to tell Eleanor that her dog passed away.

41

Stoning thumbnail

02:40

Monty Python's Life of Brian: Stoning

Mathias is found guilty for uttering the name of their lord, Jehovah, and is sentenced to death b...

42

It's a Bear thumbnail

01:22

House: It's a Bear

Dr. House argues with a young girl about her stuffed animal named Bill. She claims that Bill is a...

43

Haggling thumbnail

02:45

The Big Bang Theory: Haggling

Leonard successfully haggles down the price of the limited edition sword by not seeming too inter...

44

Opening Scene thumbnail

00:45

Conan the Barbarian: Opening Scene

This opening scene establishes the theme of the film using a quotation and a voiceover.

45

Commandeer The Ship thumbnail

00:40

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: Commandeer The Ship

Will and Jack Sparrow are on a misson to steal a ship. When Will indicates which ship they are go...

46

Get Out of the Water thumbnail

02:52

Jaws: Get Out of the Water

A shark attacks a young boy while people are relaxing at the beach. The playful screams of people...

47

Not With My Ship You Don't thumbnail

02:39

Star Trek: Not With My Ship You Don't

Captain Kirk tries to communicate with Mr. Spock about the status of his ship and the next course...

48

Seussian Rhyming thumbnail

00:51

Moonlighting: Seussian Rhyming

David, Maddie, and a hotel security officer all speak in Seussian rhyming couplets. This is an ex...

49

Shrimp Passion thumbnail

01:56

Forrest Gump: Shrimp Passion

While in army training, Forrest meets Bubba, who has a passion for shrimp. Bubba's passion for sh...

50

It Was the Best of Times thumbnail

02:23

A Tale of Two Cities (1980): It Was the Best of Times

In this scene, Marquis St. Evrémonde runs over a young boy with his carriage and has a cavalier r...

51

Who Gets the Coin thumbnail

03:59

One Man Band: Who Gets the Coin

Two street performers try to win the affection of a young boy, who wants to give money to the bes...

52

Saved Us All thumbnail

02:01

Mulan: Saved Us All

Mulan secretly takes her father's place in the Chinese army and ends up being the heroine that sa...

53

Peeta Warns Katniss thumbnail

02:28

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1: Peeta Warns Katniss

Peeta warns Katniss of impending doom. He claims that no one can escape and that no one is safe r...

54

The Butterfly thumbnail

01:56

All Quiet on the Western Front: The Butterfly

A tired, worn-down soldier sees a butterfly through the gaps in the sandbags that protect him. He...

55

Phyllis' Clichés thumbnail

01:15

The Office: Phyllis' Clichés

Phyllis is known for saying clichés about the rain, so everyone in the office tries to get her to...

56

Metric Booby Traps thumbnail

01:02

The Simpsons: Metric Booby Traps

When an important package is passed on to Homer, he delivers it to Mr. Burns, the sender of the p...

57

Poetry thumbnail

01:49

Memphis Belle: Poetry

Danny's squad learns of Danny's interest in poetry then urges him to share with them a sample of ...

58

They Were Always Her Pictures thumbnail

01:20

Sunset Boulevard: They Were Always Her Pictures

Joe describes his movie nights with Norma Desmond from his point of view.

59

Bart Gets Hit By a Car thumbnail

01:38

The Simpsons: Bart Gets Hit By a Car

Bart and Mr. Burns exaggeratedly describe the events of a car accident that they are on trial for.

60

Send Him Home thumbnail

01:03

Happy Gilmore: Send Him Home

Happy is on the green of the 17th hole, and his caddy tries to encourage him by suggesting that t...

61

Johnny's High School Crush thumbnail

01:18

Johnny Bravo: Johnny's High School Crush

Johnny Bravo goes down memory lane as he reminisces over his high school crush, Sandy Baker. He h...

62

Dory Speaking Whale thumbnail

02:26

Finding Nemo: Dory Speaking Whale

When Marlin and Dory realize they are lost, Marlin starts to panic. Dory suggests they ask a whal...

63

Valjean's Soliloquy thumbnail

03:39

Les Miserables (2012): Valjean's Soliloquy

Valjean's soliloquy takes place after the Bishop pardons his sins. He grapples with the idea that...

64

What is the Prize? thumbnail

01:30

Dangerous Minds: What is the Prize?

A student in Louanne Johnson's class asks her what the prize is for reading poems. She states tha...

65

Our Work Will Be Rejected thumbnail

01:15

A Dangerous Method: Our Work Will Be Rejected

Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud staunchly defend their opposing positions on the nature of their work...

66

Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me thumbnail

03:46

Great Performances: Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me

Macbeth ponders his decision to murder Duncan as he waits for his signal, the bell, to commit the...

67

All Men Are Created Equal thumbnail

02:45

To Kill a Mockingbird: All Men Are Created Equal

Atticus gives a speech to the courtroom in which he expresses his disapproval of society's attitu...

68

At the Marketplace thumbnail

02:35

Aladdin (1992): At the Marketplace

Jasmine gives an apple from a fruit stand to a hungry young boy. She is quickly accosted by the f...

69

The Legend of The Beast thumbnail

01:54

The Sandlot: The Legend of The Beast

Squints tells the other kids about the legend of the beast, a guard dog that was a ruthless kille...

70

ThneedVille Song thumbnail

03:27

The Lorax: ThneedVille Song

The Lorax introduces the story of ThneedVille, a city in which everything is artificial, even the...

71

Presidential Debate thumbnail

01:20

The Campaign: Presidential Debate

During a presidential debate, both the incumbent and the challenger are asked how they will bring...

72

Unladen Swallow thumbnail

02:32

Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Unladen Swallow

King Arthur and his servant, Patsy, encounter a castle guard while searching for knights to join ...

73

Power and Responsibility thumbnail

01:09

Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility

Before dropping Peter off to school, Uncle Ben speaks with him for a few minutes in the car. He t...

74

Ascension thumbnail

02:30

2001: A Space Odyssey: Ascension

Dave is laying down in bed when the monolith suddenly appears again. He tries to reach out to tou...

75

Be a Rainbow in Somebody’s Cloud thumbnail

01:45

Oprah's Master Class: Be a Rainbow in Somebody’s Cloud

Maya Angelou analyzes a 19th century African American song and explains what it means to her and ...

76

Are You Paying Attention? thumbnail

01:55

The Imitation Game: Are You Paying Attention?

In this opening scene, Alan Turing stresses to viewers the importance of listening closely and wa...

77

Little Amelie thumbnail

02:06

Amélie: Little Amelie

The narrator describes Amelie's upbringing by neurotic parents and explains how she became imagin...

78

Class Discussion thumbnail

02:39

Up the Down Staircase: Class Discussion

Sylvia facilitates a discussion with her students about Charles Dickens' novel, A Tale of Two Cit...

79

World's Best Cup of Coffee thumbnail

02:24

Elf: World's Best Cup of Coffee

As Buddy is exploring New York City, he comes across a coffee shop that claims to have the world'...

80

Opening Monologue thumbnail

02:27

Annie Hall: Opening Monologue

New York comedian Alvy Singer gives an honest monologue about himself, his life, and his sentimen...

81

The King of the World thumbnail

01:16

Titanic: The King of the World

Jack is traveling through the ocean on the Titanic and is admiring the beauty of the seas. He cla...

82

Dinner Scene thumbnail

01:02

Shrek 2: Dinner Scene

Shrek, Princess Fiona, and Donkey are having dinner with Fiona's parents, and Fiona's mother asks...

83

Sheldon's Personalities thumbnail

01:01

The Big Bang Theory: Sheldon's Personalities

Shelson adjourns a meeting with his different personalities. Each personality checks into the mee...