Making sense of writing

1. Making sense of writing A Csc extension workshop by Melanie Bloom

2. Why do we write? • We write to: • express and reflect • inquire and explore • analyze and interpret • take a stand • evaluate and judge • propose a solution • seek common ground • inform or explain • report – research-based writing • be assessed

3. Inquiry • Use inquiry through: • images, art • talking • reading • viewing

4. Studying other writers • Read like a writer • “Steal” characteristics of good text • Imitate familiar genres • Have students keep a reading/writing log

5. MAKE lists • Reasons not to lie • Ways to spend $100 • Things to do besides watch TV • Things that make you smile • Things you might find at the beach

6. Expand your lists • Generate an “A – Z” listing on a specific topic • Free write on a specific word – beauty, dangerous, heroic, love, jealousy, etc. • Use a “two voice” list to explore aspects of a topic • Create a “counting book” on a topic • Write a “how to” on a topic

7. ABC Book – Each letter has been expanded

8. Counting book I spy eight boats

9. Two voice poems

10. Work on Sentence fluency • Write 5 sentences about summer… It’s summer. It’s hot. I love to swim. I like the beach. I like to play volleyball.

11. Teach transitions • but also • and then still, always • at first as, like • however for example • often in this way • later suddenly • perhaps because • by the way especially • and finally • briefly now

12. Work on organization

13. Work on organization Write a topic sentence of at least 10 words. Sentence 2 Sentence 3 Sentence 4 Write a closing sentence of at least 10 words.

14. Work on word choice • Acrostic Poetry Paris, a dynamic city with Artistic museums and monuments, Rich in history Invites connoisseurs of life to Sites of great appeal.

15. Cinquain Poetry • Noun (2 syllables) • Description of the noun (4 syllables) • Action (6 syllables) • A feeling or effect (8 syllables) • Synonym of initial noun (2 syllables) • Money • Cold, crisp, dirty • Striving, reaching, grasping • Oppressed by its ever presence • Dollars http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/types.html

16. Expand a headline Peleado el debate vicepresidencial entre Joe Biden y Paul Ryan http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2012/10/12/1320404/peleado-el-debate-vicepresidencial.html

17. Work on voice • Using daily writing prompts • Vikidia • http://es.vikidia.org/wiki/Vikidia:Portada • http://fr.vikidia.org/wiki/Accueil • http://grundschulwiki.zum.de/Hauptseite • http://www.theteacherscorner.net/daily-writing-prompts/index.htm • Journaling or using dialog journals

18. Sample prompts • October 1On this day in 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Model T.  Explain what you think a car of the future may look like. • October 5 The founder of McDonald's was born on this day in 1902. There is always a lot of discussion surrounding the unhealthy aspects of fast food restaurants. Write a paragraph persuading someone not to eat fast food. • October 10English chemist and physicist Henry Cavendish was born in England on this day in 1731.  If you were a scientist today, what would you hope to discover? • October 12 Today is National Farmer’s Day.  What do you think is the most important crop grown by farmers?

19. Journal or Dialog Journal Prompts • Lead ins… • When I’m bored… • What I like most about myself… • Something strange I saw…. • I couldn’t sleep… • What does it mean to be (lazy)? • I have a dream… • When I see (red), I think… • I am happy when… • Next year I want to… • Topic words… • Homework • A fast food restaurant • Snow • Hero • Zoo • Money • Vacation • Car • Friend • Animal • Jewelry http://www.cal.org/resources/Digest/peyton01.html

20. Work on conventions • Yesterday – Today - Tomorrow Whatwill happen? What happened? What is happening?

21. Work on conventions Comment on a current event… Compare these two approaches

22. Questions? melaniebloom@unomaha.edu