Get your point across with imagery

With this simple exercise, you can train the ability to captivate your audience with exciting language.

In the first part of the exercise, the participants will work with a shared frame of reference, e.g. the room where the exercise takes place.

  1. The participants are going to describe the room they are in.
  2. Spread out a Magnum Set on the floor in front of the participants and ask them to select three picture cards each to use in their description.
  3. When the participants are ready, you remove the remaining cards. Ask them to take turns placing the cards in a row on the floor in front of them and present them. Ask the participants to remain standing by their cards.
  4. When everyone has presented, you discuss the descriptions together. How did the participants use imagery in their descriptions? In what cases, was it used really well, and how did you experience the results?
  5. Let the rows of picture cards remain on the floor.In the second part of the exercise, the participants will talk about a specific subject from an individual point of view, for instance, a place they love.
  6. Ask the participants to move to a row of cards that isn’t their own and swap the least inspiring card with the person to their right.
  7. Ask the participants to consider their three new cards and find a way to describe a place they love. They must use imagery inspired by the cards.
  8. Give them a few minutes to reflect and ask them to take turns describing their chosen place.
  9. When everyone has presented, you ask them one by one to move over to the row of pictures with the most impactful imagery and explain why. Ask elaborating questions to get the most nuanced answers.
  10. Afterwards, the group discusses the imagery used in all presentations together.

In the first part of the exercise, you can use a variety of shared frames of reference, e.g. a shared field trip, the lunch in the cafeteria, etc. As the subject for the second part chooses for instance a frightening experience or a Sunday in January.



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