Six Traits of Writing Ideas Organization Word Choice Voice Sentence Fluency Conventions

Ideasand Content What is my message? –Clear message Is my message clear? –Complete, satisfying information Did I try hard to make it interesting? –Details not everyone would think of Do I have enough information? –Clear Purpose YOU CAN’T STOP READING!!!!!!!!!!

Ideas and Content Narrow the topic to something specific Use fresh and original ideas Write from experience Show insight in the writing Make the main idea stand out Use supporting details Stay in control of the topic Develop the topic in an entertaining way

Ideas and Content Share some “close to home” topics with your group. OR: NEW THOUGHTS! –What surprised me recently? –What’s bugging me? –What is changing? –What did I expect to happen that didn’t? –What do I keep remembering? –What have I learned?

Ideas & Content Dig for the Potatoes!!!- Significant details that go beyond common knowledge. Good details are potatoes (Barry Lane) - because they are hidden-- Or at least not obvious and you have to dig for them. Sharks: 1. Sharks live in the oceans 2. Sharks cannot swim backwards 3. There are may types of sharks 4. Sharks cannot blink 5. Sharks sometime eat unusual things, such as tired or wood even metal 6. In Hawaii, sharks are revered as reincarnated ancestors 7. Sometimes you see sharks in movies 8. Many people fear sharks 9. The work “shark” comes from the German “shurke” meaning villain 10. Sharks loose their teeth--sometimes tens of thousands of them-- throughout their life 11. Many books have been written about sharks 12. Newborn sharks are often eaten alive by their parents shortly after birth 13. One sharks are much larger than others 14. Sharks have a few natural enemies 15. A shark’s skin is extremely thick and tough

Ideas and Content- Shark How to Be a Shark Do this, don’t do that- Recipe Format! Leave home as soon as possible Never look back Write a best-selling recipe book: 101 Ways to Enjoy Debris Visit Hawaii, where you’re appreciated Make a fortune off the tooth fairy Shrug off insults Ask “What is in a name?” Don’t wink during your close-ups.

Ideas and Content Put your senses to work!!!! –Sights –Sounds –Smells –Tastes –Feelings –Example: “Her blouse had bits of breakfast all over it, toast- crumbs and tea stains and splotches of dried egg yolk.” pg 33 –Example: “…small skinny old hag with a moustache on her upper lip and a mouth as sour as a green gooseberry..” –From Roald Dahl Boy:Tales of Childhood

Sensory Details Chart-What comes to mind when you recall a time, place person or incident?-Grandmother’s house SightsSoundsTaste & Smells Feelings Old furniturescreen door banging coffee perking scratchy upholstery Linoleum floorkids laughing butter melting bread dough cinnamonthick & Moist Old wood floorsprinkler hissing vanillasweat running down my back Fading wall dog howling at cat damp woodtired, achy feet paper Cat sleepinggrandmother’s voice old rubber bootscontentment laughing tick of the old clock fresh mowed grasspeace

Paragraph Sensory Chart Rough Draft Edited Draft Great Beginning Topic sentence Two smiley face tricks Three supportive statements Closing

Ideas and Content: Show ‘n’ Tell Learning Target: I will use well developed, clear, interesting ideas to enhance my writing. Rewrite each of the following in “showing” not “telling” mode: 1. The house was spooky. 2. He was acting creepy. 3. The situation was frightening.

LET ONE DETAIL TELL ALL Ex. My English teacher has no face. She has uncombed stringy hair that droops on her shoulders. The hair is black from her part to her ears and then neon orange to the frizzy ends. I can’t decide if she has ticked off her addresser or is morphing into a monarch butterfly. I call her Hairwoman. Pg 6 Speak (Laurie Halse Anderson, 2001) Think of a memorable person, and then ask, “What one feature comes immediately to mind? Hair, hand, voice or walk?” Create a character sketch in which one feature reveals something important about that person.

Dig for Potatoes! The Redwoods Last year, we went on a vacation and we had a wonderful time. The weather was so sunny and warm and there was lots to do, so we were never bored. My parents visited friends and took pictures for their friends back home. My brother and I swam and also hiked in the woods. When we got tired of that, we just ate and had a wonderful time. It was exciting and fun to be together as a family and to do things together. I love my family, and this is a time that I will remember for a long time. I hope we will go back again next year for more fun and an even better time that we had this year. Your turn: Partner - Freedom to invent and weave in any details you like!