Writing

"Writing is walking into an adventure! It's like walking down the yellow brick road, wondering what will happen next."

-Mrs. Pardington

Personal Narrative

Step 1: Planning your Story (Personal Narrative)

Use this grid and this table to brainstorm a list of topics that you could possibly use for your personal narrative.

Things I Can Write About.xls

Strategies for Generating Ideas.doc

Planning CONFLICT: Good stories have a plot with at least one kind of conflict. Possible conflicts include:

character vs. character;
character vs. society;
character vs. nature;
character vs. self;
character vs. machine*

NOW YOU TRY:

What kind of conflict do you observe in these short clips? (Entitled Trouble in Paradise and Fireflies-commercial for De Lijn)

Step 2: Writing a Lead

RLA_Writing_Leads_PowerPoint_ENG.ppt

Types of Leads

Leads (to “hook” the reader)

Our Collection of Leads

Step 3: Drafting

PERSONAL NARRATIVE

Anchor charts for PERSONAL NARRATIVE.doc

Personal Narrative Example

Personal Narrative Graphic Organizer.doc

This is a great video. I should add that as a 5th grader, it's important to work on the lead sentence (beginning) and to develop the conflict. In this example, the conflict is implied (character vs. self), so in later revisions, the author could add more about how difficult it was at first to choose between the dogs at the shelter.

Here are great suggestions for ending your personal narrative. Especially good is ending with the lesson that you learned from your experience.

Step 4: Typing

Step 5: Revising

Be sure to check out "Writing a Closing." Many times, students need to add to their ending for a better closure. A really good revision to add to the end of your story is to add the lesson that you learned from your experience.

Step 6: Editing/Proofreading

Step 7: Conferencing (Repeat Steps 5-7 as needed)

Step 8: Publishing

Follow the steps in this website to make a book: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/stapleless/

Step 9: Share! :)

Examples of Stories:

Persuasive Paragraph or Essay

I Need My Monster read by Rita MorenoEthan is a little boy who can’t fall asleep without the ragged breathing and claw-scratching of his favorite monster, Gabe. But Gabe has left a note that he’s gone fishing, so Ethan knocks on his floor to summon a series of substitute ghoulies.

Hey, That's My Monster read by Lily TomlinWhen Ethan looks under the bed for his monster, he finds this note instead: “So long, kid. Gotta go. Someone needs me more than you do. –Gabe” How will Ethan ever get to sleep without his monster’s familiar, comforting snorts? And who could need Gabe more than Ethan does? Gabe must have gone to Ethan’s little sister’s room! She has been climbing out of bed every night to play, and obviously needs a monster to help her get to sleep – but not HIS monster! Ethan tries to help his sister find her own monster, but none are the perfect blend of cute and creepy. Just when it seems that Ethan will lose his monster forever, an uninvited, tutu-toting little monster full of frightening fun appears.

Building an Opinion copy

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