Fundamentals of Writing

One-Semester Elective

Val Egger

Valerie.Egger@lcps.org

Some Ideas for Structuring

OverviewSTRAND EMPHASES

Reading Read for the purpose of understanding an author’s craft. Analyze and evaluate models of effective writing.

Writing Write to communicate ideas with an emphasis on writing with a purpose and expository writing. Engage in real world writing. Revise for organization, elaboration, sentence variety, descriptive word choice. Edit for usage and mechanics.

Listening Practice active listening in a workshop setting to understand, analyze, evaluate, and respond to the opinions of others.

Challenges

Mixed populations or varied populations from year to year

Students with different interest or background in writing

Students starting at different levels

Topics

Writing interest survey Creative writing Student choice Mini lessons Reading as a writer Portfolio organization Workshops One to the World—connections

Writing Interest Survey Writing survey in LCPS curriculum guide More fun: List of 100 topics. Have them

brainstorm 1-5 of them every few classes. Examples: Growing up today is… A confusing issue… The worst subject in high school… A hidden strength, weakness, handicap, issue… The worst injustice… If I could re-make the world… Someone who made a difference in my life…

Use these topics to demonstrate various methods of brainstorming.

Creative Writing

Choose short, fun, unique creative writing activities as bell ringers.

Help students understand that writing doesn’t have to be “boring essays.”

Capture pop culture: Example: Connection to the film Inside Out—write a

description of what the inside of your mind would look like. (Warm up for a college or personal essay)

Stretch their creativity: Describe the morning of the SAT from the

perspective of a pencil.

Student Choice

Example: the process essay Include several examples (a serious “how-to”

essay, a humor piece, a poorly-written essay, etc.)

Allow students to choose their essay under the umbrella of “process essay.”

They must bring a brainstorming slip to a prewriting conference with me: Purpose: Tone:

 How I will establish the tone:     

Student Choice

Student Examples from past years: How to pretend you are paying

attention in class How to annoy your friend How to not get a date for prom How to shoot a basketball How to earn an A (serious tone) How to get an A (tongue-in-cheek

tone)

Mini Lessons

Begin with a read-aloud Choose pieces of various styles, topics,

and genres Read aloud

(or have a strong student read aloud) Ask guided questions to focus students

on the day’s topic If possible, leave room for annotating End with a mini lesson on the same

topic (integrate grammar as needed)

Example of a mini-lesson

“I have always been haunted by wrong turns, by high beams on asphalt I have never seen before, in the Halloween landscape of the Appalachian foothills. Everybody is afraid of something, and this is the time of year that you can admit it and smile at your foolishness—then eat that half-pound bag of baby Butterfingers you hid in the shaving kit next to your blood sugar medicine.”Tone – Humor –

Managing Reader ExpectationsMood – Setting – dashes vs hyphens

Reading as a Writer Independent Reading Project

Examine the book as a writer (can use the same book as for English class). Ex: Find 5 sentences that contain a rhetorical or literary device (and explain significance to a reader’s understanding)

Reading short articles Student-chosen articles (depending

on class) Students share well-written excerpts

(from books, the Internet, anywhere) as a bell ringer

Portfolio Organization Keep student folders in classroom Title page with continuously-

updated list of works All drafts saved Reflection essay at end of

unit/quarter/semester Workshop accountability log:

Date – Goals – Accomplishments Student contract (what do I need to

do to earn an A?)

Portfolio to Emphasize Process

Share personal struggles with writing

Reinforce that a finished piece of writing is (should be!) 100% intentional—not “accidentally awesome”

Share “less-than-stellar” writing you have done, and allow them to provide tips for your revision.

Workshops

Time limit (about 30 minutes) Vary groups Mix skill levels and personalities Be aware of sensitive or

controversial content Set and model ground rules (be

the guinea pig often )—reinforce procedures consistently

Easy One to the World Activities

Writing a review (of a restaurant, book)—can be posted on Amazon.com, Yelp, etc.

Writing a letter to a family member or friend (can be given as gifts)

Contributions to school lit mag, local paper letter to editor, library writing contest(s)

Write for a targeted market (such as http://thisibelieve.org/)

Keep a look out for essay contests YouTube videos featuring authors on writing

(example: Ian McEwan on lacking confidence in writing https://youtu.be/dLbiyNx-_Mk)

Forum

Share your ideas!