Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Reluctant Writers

Tons of resources for writing can make writing challenging:

favorite resource:
before you write, know what your about to write, each paper answers a different question and a different audience:   http://www.timeforkids.com/homework-helper/a-plus-papers
and Razzle Dazzle Writing  is an amazing tool

12 steps:
1. think it
2. talk it
3. do it
4. draw it
5. explain it
6. gather vocabulary
7. watch modeling
8. write it
9. read it aloud
10. revise it
11. edit it
12. share it

Lets get organized:
Computers Crash, Issues happen, many people can help 'edit', we work in the cloud.

We use Google Docs or Microsoft Windows Live Skydrive to start your online file folder.

lets start with a prompt:

“GREATEST DAY EVER”

Brainstorming, One Word at a Time

Make a list of words that you think of for that day:

this is usually easiest to start with nouns: (this is your who what where list)

boat
water
seagull
ocean
waves
muffin
island
fish
cloudy
sunshine
sand
breeze
train

then add verbs to each of those nouns

white boat
grey water
nosy seagull
salty ocean
cool breeze
white capped waves
poppyseed muffin
mountainous island
fat fish
ominous clouds
blinding sunshine
sparkling sand
clicky clack, clicky clack of the train

then we need to add in some Senses
  • What did the boat feel like?
  • What shape did the clouds look like?
  • What sound did the bird make?
  • What did the sea smell like?
  • What did the muffin taste like?
Eventually you will organize these random thoughts into a when and why. Your writing the three body paragraphs first. Then once you have organized them and see where your story is going, go back and write your introduction.

What was the point of the day, what did you set out to do? What changed? Did you enjoy what happened instead of what you planned to do? Do not directly answer these questions with we started out blah blah blah and we ended up blah blah blah, but actually write about it and let the story unfold. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a HAPPY story, and it doesn’t have to be HAPPY thoughts, but it does have to be emotionally charged, visually stimulating, and evoke a response in the reader. 

When that is all done, write your summary, use lots of imagery, lots of senses. Length: how much is enough? 100 words per grade is my recommendation, 1/5 of that for each paragraph, five senses, and five W's.

Helpful words to use like a shopping list, scan and incorporate:
Organizing your Paper:
  
Student Name:
Teacher Name:
Class / Subject:
Paper Due Date:

TITLE

INTRODUCTION
-- BODY

-- BODY

-- BODY
CONCLUSION
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