Writer's Workshop - Launch Lesson 4
Today, we are going to focus your writing. By narrowing or focusing your topic, your writing will be filled with rich details that make it more interesting to read. Also, you'll be gathering some more seed ideas before we begin our first writing piece.
For example, say you were writing about the first day of school. It is important to focus in on one small story, a snippet, instead of a broad, general topic. If I think about the first day of school, my day would begin with the sounding of my alarm clock, or my mom waking me up.
It might sound like this...
It was the first day of school. I had to go to bed earlier than what I had become used to over the summer. The alarm clock went off way too early and I was up and getting ready in a mental fog. I brushed my teeth and ate my usual school day breakfast of cereal and juice...
(THE STORY HAS GONE ON FOR A WHILE WITHOUT TELLING ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WAS REALLY LIKE FOR YOU. IT’S PRETTY BORING.)
A story that takes place all day is just TOO BIG of a topic. However, if I take just one event, for example “on the playground,” I can write about seeing my friend who was away all summer.
SAMPLE: Like this... Bumpity, bumpity, bump. I had forgotten what the bus ride to school felt like. The speed bumps in the road reminded me that the school was just around the corner. My stomach started to feel as bumpity as the road. I knew the bumpy road was not the cause of my bumpy stomach. It was the thought of getting off the bus and facing the new school. Who would sit with me at lunch? “I was worried”, but as the bus pulled up to the school, I saw my friend that was away all summer and my lips started to curl upwards.
Do you see the difference? The first story starts way before the "real story - the part you want to focus on-, but the second story starts right before it. We can call the first story a watermelon and the second story a seed.
Let's try it.
I am going to give you some topics and I would like for you to signal with your hands to show me whether I am about to write a big “watermelon” topic or a “seed” story.
My Pokémon collection
Hitting a homerun during our game
All about my mom
My stamp collection
Getting stitches when I fell off my bike
Now go to our Google Writing Classroom and complete the Watermelon vs Seed handout.
Let's look at some examples of seed ideas, so you can get a better understanding of what they are.
Wondering about:
My mom once told me to be careful swimming in the lake because some parts were very deep and some parts are bottomless. I said to her,"What do you mean bottomless?" She said,"They have not found the very bottom of the lake yet." That night, I can't think - bottomless. I couldn't understand it. Sure, very deep I get, but bottomless. How could it not have a bottom? Did it go to the center of the earth? What was it like down there?
Memories:
In May by best friend, Derek, moved away. We did everything together. We were always either at his house or mine. We built a tree fort together. We had so many adventures there. I wish he hadn't moved to South Virginia. I really miss him.
Snatches of talk:
My little brother was putting tons of black pepper on his sunny side up eggs, so I asked him what he was doing. He said,"I want it to look like a coal miner sneezed on it!"
Now. Go back to the Google Doc you created, and add some more seed starters. Also, ask yourself, are my ideas watermelons or seeds?
Here are some seed starters for you to try:
Draw a self portrait and write about it.
Draw a family portrait and write about it.
Write about something interesting you saw.
Write about your name. How did you get it?
Write about a pet's name. How did they get it?
Describe an animal.
Invent something.
Make a sketch and write about it.
Make a map of your bedroom, yard, neighborhood, etc.
Write about a special person.
Write about a favorite object.
Make a list of your favorite foods, movies, books, quotes, places.
Respond to a book you have read.
Wondering about
Memories
Snatches of talk
Spend the rest of the writing time adding seeds. You can do each one or you can do one several times. For example, if you have more than one pet. You must write the whole time. Just keep adding seeds. You also do not have to only stick to the seed starters, come up with some seeds of your own.