March 24, 2010

Housekeeping

• text deposits

• hand in any overdue work

• remember to do the grammar review tests for each lesson and check with the answer keys provided

The Writing Process

• Pre-write to explore and define your topic:– brainstorm and select your topic– write a topic sentence– brainstorm and select your supporting ideas

• Write a rough draft• Revise to improve unity, support, and coherence• Edit for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage• Proofread for typing or handwriting errors

The Four Bases of WritingThe Four Steps In Writing The Four Bases for Evaluating

WritingIf you make one point and stick to it,

your writing will have unity.

If you back up the point with specific evidence,

your writing will have support.

If you organize and connect the specific evidence,

your writing will have coherence.

If you write clear, error free sentences,

your writing will reflect effective sentence skills.

Narrative Paragraphs

• tell about an event or incident (“narrate” = tell a story),

• can be about real or imagined events, and

• have a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Narrative Paragraphs, p. 284

Read the three sample paragraphs on p. 285-287 and then complete the unity, suppport, and coherance activities that follow.

Questions, p. 287-288

1. a. Heartbreakb. Possible topic sentences: • My most painful breakup was with my fiance

Bonnie.• Breaking up with my fiance Bonnie was painful.• Breaking up is the worst feeling I ever had in my

life.• Bonnie broke my heart. / Bonnie made me

heartbroken.2. 7 – This bird is really intelligent . . .

Questions, p. 287-288, Cont’d.

3. a. Heartbreak • I feel terrible pain in the pit of my stomach . . . on

someone’s shoulder and cry.• my knees felt weak• I wanted to slam the door shut so hard . . .b. Losing My Father“When did you get here” “Who are you” “My breath

stopped as if I’d been punched in the stomach. . .I’m your daughter . . .

c. A Frustrating Job“. . . lost interest in the bird chase . . . what was left of the

pizza. . . on floor. . . ” “. . . the dog had thrown up”

Questions, p. 287-288, Cont’d.

4. “Heartbreak” and “Losing My Father”5. Time order6. What are four transition words?– first– then– but– while– when– and then

Narrative Paragraphs

• The topic sentence should clearly indicate the event the paragraph will be about.

• The body of the paragraph should – use chronological order (the details are given in

the order they happened)– use time signals to help the reader follow the

order (“then,” “next,” “as a result,” etc.)• The paragraph’s conclusion should give a clear

outcome.

Narrative Paragraphs

• If you’re writing about your own experiences,– use the first person point of view (“I”)– use the pronouns me, my, mine, we, us, etc.

• If you’re writing about someone else’s experiences,– don’t refer to yourself– use the third person point of view (“he,” “she,” or

“they”– use the pronouns his, hers, theirs, him, her, them, etc.

Narrative Paragraphs

• Whether you are writing about an event – that has already happened (past), – is happening now (present), or– that has yet to happen (future),

• keep your tense consistent throughout the entire paragraph

• how much detail you give will vary according to the audience and purpose of the paragraph

Writing Assignment 1, p. 290-291

Read the introduction together and discuss

A. Prewriting – 15-20 minutes

• Write freely and continually without worrying about grammar, spelling and punctuation

Let me know when you have written all you can on your topic.

Writing Assignment 1, p. 290-291

Review/Discuss Topic Sentences

(next slide)

Topics vs. Topic Sentence

• Remember that–a topic = the general subject

and–a topic sentence = what you have to

say about the subject

Example Topic Sentences

Topic: Camping in the wilderness for the first time Possible Topic Sentences: x I went camping in the wilderness for the first time. I had never been camping before, so I decided to go an overnight

trip with my friend Walter. (Okay) The first time I camped in the wild, I was so nervous that I almost

forgot the whole point was to relax and enjoy myself. (Better)

Example Topic Sentences

Topic: My first day of school Possible Topic Sentences x I will tell you about my first day of school. My first day of school was a nerve-wracking experience. I will never forget the excitement of my first day of

school.

Writing Assignment 1, p. 290-291

Review/Discuss Topic Sentences

B. Plan and Organize

• Write a topic sentence

• list all the details involved in the experience

• number them in the order in which they occurred

Homework

• Complete all the tasks at step B (see previous slide) for Monday.

• This includes– Finish refining your topic sentences (you should

have at least two different versions)– Listing all the details involved in the experience– number the details in the order in which they

occurred.• DO NOT WRITE THE PARAGRAPH YET!!!