Unit One The Writing Process 6 Traits of Writing What is a writers notebook? A place to record all thoughts and ideas. A place to draft all of your writing. It can contain: songs, lists, drawings, picture cutouts, essays, stories, poems, quotes, etc. Anything that can help you generate writing ideas. The traits of Writing: Ideas As soon as you connect with your ideas, you will write. Joyce Carol Oates EQ: What are some ways in which I can generate ideas for writing? 6 Traits of Writing: IDEAS Trait/characteristic of strong writing that presents a clear focus or message (main idea). What is an idea trait? * Begin with an interesting, specific topic; writing is easier if you are interested in what you are writing about. ReadingQuotes TVInteresting facts Dreamsfriends/family Experience Where do our ideas come from? Collect SPECIFIC details to support and explain your topic. How can I strengthen my ideas? Summary: Use your notes to write a 2-3 sentence answer to the EQ. EQ: How does the way in which an author organizes a text, affect the readers comprehension/understanding? 6 Traits of Writing: ORGANIZATION 1.0 At a very basic level, writing can be organized inductively or deductively. In what ways can writing be organized? When do I use specific organizational patterns? Inductively is when you start with specific details and lead up to an important statement or event. Deductively is when you start with a thesis (topic sentence) and explain something simply for an audience with supporting details. Chronological order: in the order the events happen Use with: Expository to explain the steps in a process or retell historical events. Narrative to tell events in the order they happen. Spatial order: presents details and info according to location Use with: Expository to help reader picture the subject Narrative to help reader imagine object or setting. When do I use specific organizational patterns? Order of Importance: arranges ideas from least to most important. Use with: Expository to explain causes and effects. Persuasive present most persuasive ideas first to last. Logical Order: groups related ideas together Use with: Expository - to present groups of related facts or evidence Persuasive group related ideas and supporting evidence together. What are the types of details? Not so Good details: - Clichs (over used phrases) or details that are difficult to picture/dont make sense Useful details: -Descriptions that are plain but necessary -Facts -Statistics -Quotations -Simple examples What are the types of details? Golden details: -Descriptions that are unique and unforgettable -Sensory details -Complex, compound sentence structures -Metaphors -Strong similes Summarize your notes in a RACE paragraph. What are the purposes for writing? I - inform P - persuade E - explain E - entertain R: A topic sentence that explains your main point. Restate the essential question in the form of a statement A: This is a reason that supports your claim and answers the question. C: This sentence cites evidence from the notes to support your reason. E: This is the sentence where you explain an example from the notes FINAL: This is a concluding sentence that summarizes your paragraph Detail Example Golden detail: She tapped her yellowed fingernails rhythmically on her large teeth as she watched her husband count the change in his man-purse. What can we tell about the woman from this detail? The HusbandThe Wife He has a man-purse He is very fastidious (concerned with detail) She is tired of her husband She has large yellowish teeth (maybe she doesnt brush) Her husband exasperates (annoys) her 6 Traits of Writing: Voice EQ: How can I connect with my reader? What is the voice trait? Its the way your writing sounds to readers. It is also the special quality that attracts readers to your writing How do I know if my writing has voice? Your writing will ALWAYS have voice if you: Have a purpose and stick to it Show respect for your reader Engage your readers interests Anticipate and answer your readers questions What are some ways I can describe voice? Voice can be described using words such as: Excited Interested Enthusiastic Serious Humorous Angry Use details from your notes to fill in the below sentence frames as your summary. Today I learned _______________which is important because _____________. I also learned that _______________ which will help me be a better writer by ________________________. Personification Giving non-human things like animals and objects human qualities like talking and thinking Dialogue When characters talk to each other Hyperbole Extreme over-exaggeration Character Reactions Facial expressions Body language Sensory Details 6 Traits of Writing: Word Choice and Sentence Fluency Connotation: The implied meaning of a word Denotation: The exact meaning of a word. *Using a word with the wrong connotation can change the style and meaning of your writing. Example: sad depressed, weepy, down, gloomy, upset How do specific words show meaning? Can I use too many adjectives in my descriptions? Adjective Overload: It is possible to use too many adjectives. Example of too many: A tall, shocking column of thick yellow smoke marked the exact spot. Example of Adjectives used selectively: A column of thick yellow smoke marked the spot. EQ: How can my word choice and sentence fluency affect my writing style? What is sentence variety? The sentences are easy to follow from start to finish. They flow together. How do I check for sentence variety? Divide a paper into 3 columns 1.In the first column, list each sentences first word. 2.In the middle column, record the number of words in each sentence. 3.In the last column, list the verbs from each sentence. Check to see how many repeats you have and make adjustments. Change the first words and verbs so that most are different. Add and delete words to change length How do I fix my sentence variety? How can I add style to my sentences? Use these types of sentences: Loose sentence: Expresses the main idea near the beginning of the sentence and adds details as needed. Ex: The regimental flags led, men trailing out behind them in a V- shaped mass. Cumulative sentence: places the main idea of the sentence in the middle with modifiers coming before and after it. Ex: Every afternoon during the Spring, I had to stay in, two hours a day for six weeks. Plagiarism and Fabrication Plagiarism and Fabrication What the Heck is that? Academic Integrity EQ: What does it mean to be ethical in writing? What are ethics?rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad What is academic integrity? all academic work should result from an individual's own efforts. Intellectual contributions from others must be consistently and responsibly cited. What is plagiarism?-using others' ideas and/or words without clearly citing the source of that information -Not knowing how or when to cite is NOT an excuse and will NOT matter. Always give credit. Use quotation marks AND the authors/speakers name when giving evidence. What is fabrication? - Making something up How do I know if I am plagiarizing? Copying the words of others, whether from a source or another student. Putting your name on a paper written by someone else. Purchasing, downloading, or copy pasting in paper from the Internet and turning it in. Paraphrasing (rewriting in your own words) information from a source and not citing it. Not using quotations marks properly when using material from another source. How do I avoid accidental plagiarism? Use a style guide to help you properly cite ALL sources -MLA guide (this is the one we will be using) - APA guide -AP stylebook -When writing without guides, always use quotation marks and the persons name Unit 2: Narrative Writing All writers who have produced anything have done it out of their specific experience. Gloria Naylor Parts and Kinds of Narratives EQ: How do my experiences influence my writing? Personal NarrativeTells the story of something that happened to the writer Biographical Narrative Tells the story of an experience that happened to someone other than the writer What are the parts of a narrative? Introduction - introduces the experience Body - shares the details and recreates the experience Conclusion - reflects on the experience. Tells what the writer thought. What kinds of details should be included? Actions - relates what you/and others did in the situation Sensory details - shows what you saw, smelled, heard, tasted, or felt Personal thoughts - reveals your thoughts during and after an experience All of you will work together with your group to create a fractured fairy tale that does/has all of the following: Retells the whole original story of The Juniper Tree Cleans it up for modern children (think 3-5 years old) Has a happy ending Has a villain and a hero Has magic Takes up the whole chart paper (at least 11 panels) Has a neatly colored picture for each panel. The first panel is a cover page with the title of your story (Rename it), the authors (people in your group) and a picture that gets kids excited about reading your story. Think of it like story book meets comic book on GIANT paper. Each group should have four members: EVERYONE talks, writes, and colors The Team Captain: this person keeps track of time, helps everyone with their jobs, leads the discussion and keeps it going. Positive encouragement all around. The Writer: This student talks to their group about the story. EVERYONE contributes ideas to the story but the writer is the one who will write it on the panels and so should be the person with the neatest handwriting. The Designer: This student designs the layout of your story and helps to draw the panels and pictures. The Presenter: This is the student who will present your story aloud to the class. Unit 3 Expository Writing! EQ: What is Expository Writing? A type of writing that explains, describes, and informs Presents its steps, causes, or kinds Expository Writing Comparison piece A piece of writing that: Compares two people, places, or things Explains how the two subjects are alike Is organized by points of comparison 5 Tips Pick 2 people, places, or things who truly interest you Learn as much as you can about them: READ, READ Organize writing around important points of comparison (similarities) Have interesting details, quotes, and revealing facts Share information clearly and completely How do I engage my reader in a comparison essay? Topic sentence Introduces the things being compared and the point of comparison Body sentences Details that support the comparison Closing sentences Completes and wraps up the comparison. How is a comparison paragraph broken down? First paragraph Introduces the two things and how they are alike. Includes a thesis statement Presents your claim Middle paragraphs Each paragraph addresses 1 point of comparison. Each has a topic sentence and details Closing paragraph Reflects on the subjects importance How is a comparison essay broken down? Similar Thing 1 Similar Thing 2 Similar Thing 3 First thing being comparedSecond Thing Being Compared Detail about thing one Detail about thing two Detail about thing three Detail about thing two Detail about thing one What is the difference between a how-to essay and a process essay? EQ: When will I most often see expository writing? Explaining a Process There is no difference: each explains how a process works, or how to do or make something. Includes the steps and any materials that may be needed. What might a how- to essay include? Title Introductory paragraph that explains the topic Subheadings Numbered steps Bulleted Lists Prepositions and transitions Conclusion that provides additional interesting information Illustrations or pictures What is the purpose of special formatting? helps writer present info clearly and efficiently helps reader follow explanation and quickly find information EQ: What is a preposition and why do we need them? Prepositions What is a preposition? Shows the relationship between the object (noun or pronoun) and another word in the sentence, usually the verb. helps direct the action Example: Preposition Object Verb To make a mustache, Natasha placed the hairy caterpillar under her nose. What is a prepositional phrase? A prepositional phrase begins with the preposition and ends with the object. Some people run away from caterpillars. Little kids with inquisitive minds enjoy their company. How do I know when the word is being used as a preposition and when it is being used as an adverb? A preposition is always followed by an object. - No object = adverb Ex) Natasha never played with caterpillars before. - no object after before means it is an adverb in this case. EQ: How do I write an effective lead? Lead Writing What is a lead? A lead is the opening sentence or paragraph that draws your reader into the story and entices them to keep reading. uses the 5 Ws and the H: whowhere whatwhy whenhow Emphasizes those aspects which are most important. What do I need in order to write a good lead? 1.Consider the 5Ws and H 2.Be specific 3.Be concise. 4.Use strong, active verbs 5.Consider your audience and what they want to know 6.Be honest What kinds of things should I avoid if I want to have a good expository lead? 1.Flowery language. Focus on fewer adjectives and adverbs and try to incorporate more strong verbs and nouns. 2.Redundancy (repetition) 3.Dead words 4.The word It. Instead, be specific about what it is. What are the types of leads I should use? Summary Lead: - most common in news writing - strong focus on the 5Ws, particularly who, what, when, and where - gives the basic facts in summary form. Anecdotal Lead: - short short story that draws in the reader (anecdote) - must be interesting and illustrate the papers broader point. (be related and tell what you are going to write about) What other types of leads are there? 1.Begin your writing with a question. 2.Begin with a direct quote (Most common in journalism) 3.Appeal to your reader using the word you. Appeal to the Reader Example Quiz