Monday, May 6, 2013

Writing Lessons

Ø  Writing Lesson #1:            Avoid clichés!

Ø  Writing Lesson #2:            Use Precise Words.

Ø  Writing Lesson #3:           Use Vocabulary Variety.

Ø  Writing Lesson #4:           Revision

Ø  Writing Lesson #5:           Vocabulary-Building:  www.freerice.com

Ø  Writing Lesson #6:           Connotation versus Denotation

Ø  Writing Lesson #7:           Advice for Revising and Editing Poetry

Ø  Writing Lesson #8:           Writing Dialogue

Ø  Writing Lesson #9:           Making Strong Titles

Ø  Writing Lesson #10:          Showing, Not Just Telling

Welcome to Creative Writing!                 

Ø  Happy  Monday!—May 6th, 2013  J

When You Come In

Ø  Sign in on the clipboard, please!

Ø  20,000 grains of free rice was due today for homework.

Big Ideas for the Next Two Weeks

1.           Showing, Not Just Telling  (Writing Lesson #10)

2.     Diction—Have that Vocabulary Variety (Writing Lesson #3) sheet out every day! 

3.     Writing Buddies

4.    Revision (Writing Lesson #4)

Writing Lesson #10:  Showing, Not Just Telling

1.      Difference between “literal” and “figurative language” (p. 26)

a.     Definitions

b.    Poster

2.     Least Vivid to Most Vivid (p. 26)--Place the sentences in order form least vivid description to most vivid description.

a.     A)  Our barelegged mammas dance down the steps and join us in the rain.

b.    B)  Our barelegged mammas come down the steps and join us in the rain.

c.     C)  Our barelegged mammas dance down the steps and join us in the fresh, clean rain.

d.    D)  Our barelegged mammas come down the steps and join us in the fresh, clean rain.

3.     Diction Sandra Cisneros (p. 26)

4.    Vocabulary Variety—pink sheet reminder

Writing Assignment:  Ogden Nash Poems

1.      Let’s read some little poems by writer Ogden Nash (handout)

The Ostrich 

The ostrich roams the great Sahara.

Its mouth is wide, its neck is narra.

It has such long and lofty legs,

I'm glad it sits to lay its eggs.

*   *   *   * 

The Eel

I don't mind eels

Except as meals.

And the way they feels.

*   *   *   *

The Cow

The cow is of the bovine ilk;

One end is moo, the other, milk.

*   *   *   * 

Celery  

Celery, raw

Develops the jaw,

But celery, stewed,

Is more quietly chewed.

*   *   *   *

The Fly

God in his wisdom made the fly

And then forgot to tell us why.

*   *   *   *

2.     What elements do you notice Nash using in many of the poems?

3.     Why would these appeal to a kiddo?

4.     Write three Ogden Nash Poems of your own, with these elements in each:

a.     Humor

b.    Animals or other topics children like

c.     Word-play

d.    Rhyme:  www.rhymezone.com

e.     length = two to eight lines for each poem

f.      a title that adds a dimension to the poem

Printing and Sharing

1.      Use the MLA format for heading.

2.     Put them all on the same page.

3.     Copy and paste ONE of them in the document I made in our class folder.

4.     We will read them aloud at 11:05-ish!

2^nd Block

1.      Read over Six-Word Memoir comments (two-thirds of you will have them from your U of I readers; I’m hoping the rest of you have comments by Thursday). 

2.     Staple them on top of your Odgen Nash poems, then hand them to me on your way out today.  (I will keep them for tomorrow’s field trip.)

4^th Block

1.      Get your six-word memoir out of your manila folder.

2.     Staple your six-word memoirs on top of your Odgen Nash poems, then hand them to me on your way out today.  (I will 250 keep them for tomorrow’s field trip.)

HOMEWORK FOR 2nd BLOCK:  U of I Movie Frame Assignment (on google drive)