Bellringer: List the five senses. Then think of something you can describe using one or more of those senses.

Add imagery, figurative language, and description to your writing Use adjectives and adverbs Ex. What kind of green? Lime, forest, like a freshly cut Christmas tree, like puke after a week on an all broccoli diet? Ex. Round like what? A camel’s hump, a tennis ball, Grampa’s bald head Texture: is it smooth, rough? How so? Ex., sticky like a rubber glove, as rough as a cat’s tongue What does it remind you of?

Add imagery, figurative language, and description to your writing Smell: sweet like flowers in Grandma’s house or putrid like a stray dog in a garbage dump Taste: sugary sweet or sour enough to make a grown man pucker? Hot as the Mojave on your tongue or smooth and refreshing like ice cream on the beach? Sound: sonorous and melodic or scratchy and abrasive? Deep or high, tapping or thumping, screeching or howling . . .

Put it in dialogue Write a dialogue between two characters which has your object as part of it. Feel free to integrate some of the descriptions you’ve brainstormed already Go beyond repeating those descriptions verbatim, but think about how you can convey imagery, descriptions and ideas though dialogue When you’ve finished, share your dialogue with a friend.

Test Your Dialogue Now choose a friend and read the dialogue to the class. Does it sound natural? Does each character have his or her own voice? Revise your dialogue to make it even more authentic and memorable.

WRITING ABOUT YOUR INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE: Write about a vivid memory or something that you feel passionate about. Write down your thoughts and emotions relating to that subject or experience as quickly as you can. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you fill the page. Don’t think too much, just write. Thinking comes later. Next re-write and revise it – add, clarify, and edit; integrate dialogue and descriptions that SHOW your passion without losing spontaneity. (This is the part where you can think )

WRITING ABOUT YOUR INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE: Look at page 360 and following in the orange Elements of Literature textbook. Start putting together your memoir and jot down the following: Purpose: what’s your point or theme going to be? Potential memories to include: Reflection: what did you learn? How does it influence your beliefs or worldview now? Details: what details should you include in order to SHOW rather than just tell? Organize: memoirs often go in chronological order, but not always. What’s the best order of events for you memoir in order to have the most impact and purpose?