Personal Narrative

Writing and Conference Time: *You must always be writing in Writers Notebook or working on writing project *Put date in margin each day you start writing *Work silently so everyone can do their best thinking *Use a soft voice when conferring with partner or teacher *Conference with partner, small group w/teacher, or alone w/teacher *Be a problem solver – don’t interrupt teacher when busy with other students

Writer’s Workshop ExpectationsMini Lesson:

*Pay close attention to teaching goals/objective *Understand example and non-example *Participate, Try it, Turn and Talk *Ask questions

Prewriting - all done in Writers Notebook, can staple and tape ideas into notebook

Drafting - on loose leaf paper writing on every other line - keep in “Writing in Progress” bin or Writing Folder

Revising “Major Surgery”- time for “rethinking”, add details (ZOOM in on important ideas), read draft aloud, staple and make notes of where to add detail, confer with partner, rewrite 2nd draft, remember a title

Editing “Minor Fix-Ups” - correct mechanical errors (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, indentation, etc.), complete alone and with partner

Publishing - final piece, best penmanship or typed, use every line, check for indented margins, adequate spacing between words, title centered, name/date on piece, place final draft in “Finished Writing” bin, record title and completion date on “Writing Record”, fill in “What I Learned About Being a Writer”

Sharing Time: Share with partner, in small groups, or with whole class Share your favorite sentence, favorite part, something you are proud of, etc.

Writing Stages

Conferencing With PartnersWhat partners might say . . .

I love the part . . .That reminds me of . . .You should write that down . . .It makes me feel . . .What's next / left / else / for later . . .What part would you start with . . . (to help narrow  down for small moment story)Let's make a plan . . .

Make sure your partner wants to write more!

PrewritingAll done in Writers Notebook -

staple and tape ideas into notebookWatermelon vs. Seed Story

Issue/People/MomentsTimeline of IdeasSketch

T - Charts

Personal narratives are stories of

"YOUR LIFE" that include "TRUE" and "EXACT" details!

Watermelon vs. Seed Stories

Examples:

Wisconsin Dells

Rocky Mountain National Park Vacation My Birthday Party

Seed Story doesn't need to be the most "exciting" or "action packed" - but should be filled with emotion and importance to you - the writer!

Watermelon vs. Seed Stories

Issue / People / Moment

Moments have a "feeling" attached

We want to share the emotion with our audience.

With partner list issue/people/moment - then tell partner stories

Oral story telling is important to generate our ideas!

Other lists - places or objects, comment/response/emotion

You should end up with a variety of emotions, actions, and social issues.

Issue People Moment

Place MomentPlace / Moment

Timeline of Ideas

Relationship

Events

Music

Choose ONE moment from timeline and tell the story orally to your writing partner

Sketch IdeasSketch a map of a place where

something happened. Jot down notes of small

moments/events.

Ideas: map of school, home, community, store, movie theatre, neighborhood, hiking path, soccer

field, stage, etc.

"T" Charts

Like  Hate Fun Have to do Regret  Proud of

Change Stay the Same

Typical Unusual Best Day Worst Day

Drafting On loose leaf paper writing on every

other line - keep in Writing Folder

Leads: Grab the Reader's Attention 1) Action: "I was thirteen the first time I saw a police officer close. He was arresting me for driving without a license...." (from the book Schooled)

2) Dialogue: "Come on, David," I let go of his sleeve, afraid I'll rip it. When I was little I could pull....(from Rules)

3) Setting: "When by brother turned thirteen, we moved to the deepest part of inland because of the hurricane, and of course the fact he'd caused it (from Savvy)

4) Question: Griffin Penshine had three freckles under her left eye that sometimes looked like stars. How does someone get eyes like that? (from Wish Stealers)

Grammar - Using Quotes

Objective: I can punctuate dialogue correctly.

When we include dialogue, it isimportant to punctuate dialogue correctly so the

reader does not get confused.

Let's Look at Some

Examples!Get out your independent reading

book to find dialogue and examples of punctuation rules for

dialogue.

Examples Found:

More Dialogue

  "Jimmy," said Coach Wilson, "You're at bat next."  "Wasn't I supposed to be up fourth?" Jimmy asked.  "I've changed the batting order," the coach replied. "You're up now."  So Jimmy picked up his bat and marched to the plate.   Robert, the team captain, was behind the batting screen as Jimmy reached the plate. "You're not up yet. Go back!" he yelled.

 "That's what you think," said Jimmy. "But it's not what Coach Wilson thinks. Go and ask him yourself."  "You bet I will!" exclaimed Robert as he stomped off toward the coach's bench.

Questions:1) Who are the different speakers in this dialogue?

2) What words, or "speaker tags," tell us that someone is talking?

*Let's circle the "speaker tags" together and underline the speaker's words! What punctuation do you see before the

closing quotation marks?

Independent Writer's

Workshop To Do List:

1) Look though your writing and make corrections to your quotations and punctuation

2) Change words like "said" to a better description word after someone speaks in your story.

3) Continue to draft your story! Focus on adding dialogue and punctuating it correctly!

ZOOMING IN"Taking a Closer Look"

Read both these books. How do both these authors “zoom in” in their writing? How can you take these ideas and apply it to your own writing piece?

What is the most important part in your story? Zoom in there!

Use scenes/senses and put a movie/picture in the eyes of the reader.

"Slow it down" (slow down your story) andADD DETAIL

ZOOMING IN"Taking a Closer Look"

Strong Endings

Leave the reader with a "lasting" impression!

1) What was the point of your story?2) How do you want the reader to feel at the end?

You can end your story with:-a quote -a lesson

-a surprise-suspense-a question

-a sign of what's to come-a laugh

Revising “Major Surgery”

 Revising is NOT editing! Major time for RETHINKING! Where do changes

need to  be made?

 1) Read draft aloud - have partner read it aloud TO you!

 2) Check for ideas, clarity, meaning, understanding, ect.

 3) Add details - is this a SEED story?

 4) ZOOM in on important ideas

 5) Staple and make note of where to add detail

Editing “Minor Fix-Ups”1) Correct mechanical

errors 2) Check spelling3) Check punctuation, capitalization 4) Check grammar5) Check indentation

*Do this alone and with a partner

Publishing1) Best penmanship or typed

2) Use every line3) Check for indented paragraphs,4) Adequate spacing between words5) Centered title 6) Name/date on piece7) Place final draft in “Finished

Writing” bin,8) Record title and completion date

on “Writing Record Sheet” 9) Write a brief reflection in your

notebook on what you learned about being a writer of personal narratives

Sharing Time:

Share with partner, in small groups, or with whole class.Share your favorite sentence, favorite part, something  you are proud of, etc.