Travel Writing

1. Travel Writing Please take out your outlines!

2. Avoid Impetuous Writing Think before you write Brainstorm Live vicariously through the writer- what would you have learned? Know your story!

3. Big Question/Thesis • What did the narrator of this story learn about himself/herself from this travel experience?” • Sample Thesis: Through the journey along the Kokoda trail, Sharon Grimberg learns that despite being unprepared, she could emerge as a stronger individual.

4. Thesis What did the narrator of this story learn about himself/herself from this travel experience?”): While exploring Australia, the narrator of “The Adventures of Mega Chicken” learns the importance of facing experience outside of one’s comfort zone.

5. Finding the RIGHT Evidence • Quotes should be directly connected to the thesis! • While exploring Australia, the narrator of “The Adventures of Mega Chicken” learns the importance of facing experience outside of one’s comfort zone. • “Only weeks earlier, I had abandoned my safe abd secure existence to trvael to the Southern Hemisphere and be among wild things” (119)/ • “Nature did its worst and I lived to tell the tale. (122).

6. Formal Introductions • Narrative Hook • Asks a question • Is the world gaining more awe and mystery or does it appear smaller with the vast amount of information easily available? • Sets context for story • Papua New Guinea’s Kokoda Trail is a rugged trail conquered by hikers around the globe. • Draws the reader’s attention with detail • One might think twice about munching on crispy fried insects.

7. Introductions • Provide narrative hook • Sets up essential context for the story • Introduces author’s full name and “title of essay” • Ends with a strong thesis statement • All of these components should flow together

8. Topic Sentence A topic sentence is the first sentence in each body paragraph. It does not not contain quotes. It does state the main focus in the paragraph It is absolutely directly connected to the thesis AND Quotes

9. Sample Body Greenwald realizes the ease in which travel takes away from having an authentic experience. He states, when talking of air travel, “[t]hese journeys weren’t explorations; they were long commutes (3). This moment of a realization reveals that despite the historical appeal of travel, the convenience of modern travel robbed him of a full experience. He further exemplifies his point of missing out on a true experience when he confesses “he had cheated” (3). Clearly this self realization is the cause for Greenwald having a change of vision.

10. Conclusion Restates main points Restates thesis Brings writing to a close Reverts back to introduction- continuity Avoids new info such as quotes. End with strength- be mindful of your last word

11. Words to AVOID • Many/a lot • Very • Thing/stuff • Good/bad • I/ You • Replace with One/the reader/we

12. Writer’s Workshop • Should be very quiet and focused • Complete outline first! • Ensure excellent quotes • Rough Draft, typed, due next class, Thursday. MLA format.

13. Embedding Quotes • Set UP quote in context: • Clearly Grimberg reveals that she is not prepared when she says, “I had not climbed anything higher than the stairs to my mother’s attic. I barely knew where Papua New Guinea was” (38). • The author reveals that the trail was, “densely forested” with rivers that were “deadly, raging torrents” , and therefore quite dangerous (Grimberg 37).