Writing Review

What are the 4 things a reader should do when reading?

Make connections Visualize Ask questions Make an inference

What are the three pockets of information our brains have?

Memory pocketFact pocketImagination pocket

Walking vs climbing stories

Based on a topic or Based on a topic or theme theme

Includes details, Includes details, descriptions and descriptions and examplesexamples

Often no main Often no main character, beginning, character, beginning, middle, end, problemmiddle, end, problem

Has a repeated phrase Has a repeated phrase or anchor line or anchor line throughoutthroughout

Based on a character and what happens to that character

Specific setting Clear beginning,

middle, end A problem and solution Follows a plot line

Tools for Writing

HockeyWhat techniques does a hockey player

need to learn?SkatingShooting stick handlingpassing…

Ballet

What techniques does a dancer need to learn?

Feet position Arm position Barre exercises Plie Arabesque…

Writer What techniques does a writer need to learn? Adding details Similes (comparing using “like” or “as”) Anchor lines Voice Six senses vocabulary

Writing in the third personPersonification First impressionsDialogueThese techniques will help you

become more skilful writers.

ADDING DETAILS

Example 1:

I love snow.

I love snow. When it snows I always do a snow dance in the kitchen!

Example 2: I am a soccer player. I am a student. I have

brothers. (This is considered ROBOT writing because it

feels like you are reading out a list.) I am a soccer player. I play for the West

Coast Ravens and this year we’re going to win the Cup!

(Writing a fact plus an example or detail makes the writing more interesting!)

Which passage is more interesting to read?

1. My name is Cassandra. I’m eleven years old. I have reddish-brown hair. I have pale skin and freckles. I have bluish-green eyes. I like to swim. I’m afraid of sharks.

2. My name is Cassandra and I am eleven years old. I have hair the colour of cinnamon toast (without the crust), fair skin, except where it’s speckled like an overripe banana. My eyes are like summer mountains (that’s blue with a little bit of green, in case you were wondering). I like to swim in anything except the ocean because I’m scared that a shark will bite my leg off. My mom says that sharks only swim in very warm water but I don’t believe her.

What did you notice about passage 1?

It does not have very interesting details

Robot writingIt just a list

What did you notice about passage 2?

More personal details Voice Similes Good writers don’t write lists – for every fact

they write, they try to add a detail or an example so that the reader feels that they are sharing something personal with them and not just listing a lot of general facts.

It’s your turn to practice!

Write a descriptive paragraph describing yourself. Add as many details as possible.

Include:– Name– Age– your appearance (details…hair, eyes, skin,

etc)– Your likes and dislikes