Writing Process

Specific Writing Strategies

Prewriting Sketching, brainstorming ,listing, questioning, modeling, pair sharing, timed writing , journaling, clustering, Drafting Webbing, carding, writing in class, teacher/student conferences. Revising Sketching, developing three layers, peer response, using rubric. Editing Reading aloud, using resource materials, using models Publishing Display board/publishing corner,anthologies,mailing, newspapers/newsletters, electronic bulletin board,

Start Here X

Story Starters

I never expected that one day I'd open my closet and find....... It was obviously going to be an unusual day when my mom came into my bedroom and said..... She was a funny old lady, but I knew she had come to tell me..... It was my best friend's deepest secret and it would be a hard one to keep....... Goats, sheep ,and chickens belong on the farm, not in the middle of........ Late one night the neighbor knocked on the front door and asked.......... Something brushed up against my foot and my surprise turned to horror as I looked down and saw.....

Check your paper! You should have: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. _____ title on top line, name and date in the corners _____ top line is blank, then you indented each paragraph _____ margins on the right and left sides of your paper _____ You clearly have reworked your story, making lots of corrections and additions _____ signature of person who proofread your rough draft

Playground Descriptive Writing Activity

Take a pencil and a pad of paper out to the playground at recess time. Sit quietly and just observe for a few minutes. What do you hear? Are children laughing? Does a bell ring or a whistle blow? Are the swings making a squeaking sound? What do you see? Kids running? a bird flying by? Are there any smells? Tar from the blacktop? What can you feel? The heat of the sun on your face?

Activity to develop Literary Term: Character

Materials: Two milk cartons that are the same size, masking tape, glue, construction paper, markers, white drawing paper

Cut the bottom off of two milk cartons Place one inside the other nice and snug Tape together at sides with masking tape Cover with construction paper, wallpaper, or fabric. Draw pictures of the characters Glue one character on each side of the cube Glue or write traits for each character next to the drawing of that character Share your cube with a friend! Importance of PLOT Activity

With a partner, read Meet Addy.

After reading the story, go back and pick a wrong choice. Brainstorm on your own or with a partner some things that could have happened instead, as a result of that choice being made. Rewrite the story from the point of that choice. Since the beginning of the story remains the same, you will be re-writing only the middle and the end of the story. Edit, revise, and write your final draft. Be prepared to share your story.
Conflict/Problems in Stories Activity Problems/Conflicts in stories are easily divided into four categories: Man vs. Nature (Jaws, Earthquake, Twister, Titanic) Man vs. Man (Star Wars, Charlie's Angels) Man vs. Society (Crocodile Dundee, Ruby Bridges) Man vs. Himself (Pinocchio)

Get your copy of the any newspaper or magazine. Find at least one example of each type of conflict mentioned here. Cut out the articles and be prepared to share with your classmates.