Express and Reflect Lesson Plans: A Unique Approach to Narrative Writing Ms. Ward

Objectives Students will be able to express and reflect on a personal experience in a narrative paper (W. 9-10.3). Students will be able to use new approaches to plan, write and revise their paper (W 9-10.5).

6 word memoir Examples All things considered, I’m doing well. The past is forgiven, not forgotten. Escaped my mother. Trapped by girlfriend. Try it out Gallagher, Kelly. Write Like This: Teaching Real-world Writing Through Modeling and Mentor Texts. Stenhouse Publishers, Maine. 2011.

Tweet Examples What will I be when I grow up? Thought I wanted to be a firefighter; ended up a teacher. Sometimes when one door closes, another opens. Funny how things work out. Decided to go with my dad. Mom got mad. Brother left. What now. Try it out Gallagher, Kelly. Write Like This: Teaching Real-world Writing Through Modeling and Mentor Texts. Stenhouse Publishers, Maine. 2011.

Encyclopedia of an ordinary life Examples Anxious, Things that make me Vending Machines. I have to double-, triple-check. Okay, it’s A5 for the Bugles, right? Is that right? A5? I don’t want to read the codes wrong and end up with the Flaming Hot Cheetos. But then, what a relief when the Bugles come tumbling down. Yes! I knew it was A5! Birthmark I have a birthmark, on my left arm. As a child I thought it looked like a bear, or Africa, depending on the angle. I would often draw an eye and a mouth on it; sometimes I would allow a friend to do so. To look at my birthmark was to remind myself that I am me. Try it out

Favorite mistakes “My Favorite Mistake” by Sheryl Crow Example essay Try it out What was my favorite mistake? Expression What details do you call around the mistake (before/during/after)? Reflect Looking back at the event, have I learned from the experience? What do I take from the mistake?

A treasured object Brainstorming web Model write Try it out Express: recall details, memories and dialogue. Reflect: Why that spot holds a special place in your memory.

Sentence starter Examples I appreciate writers because it is risky to share your thinking. I appreciate quiet because I rarely experience it. I appreciate skype because it helps me to talk to people in other countries. Try it out: Pick one of your favorite sentence starters you came up with and begin writing. Share a specific anecdote and reflect on why you still hold an appreciation for this person, place or thing.

What my childhood tasted like Consider the foods of your childhood and list them Pick your hotspot, preferably one that has a story connected to it. For example, you may love grandma’s pumpkin pie, but probably because it reminds you of your grandmother. Maybe you love pizza, but more than that, it’s what you always order when you invite your friends over to watch a football game on TV. Maybe Italian food reminds you of your first date.

Childhood games Just like “what my childhood tasted like” consider writing about childhood games you played.

A watermark event This is a metaphor. We have all experienced events, long past, that continue to leave their marks on us. Here are some examples: The birth of a child Moving to a new town Parents getting divorced Attending your first baseball game Example text Try it out

So what? You broke your arm. So what? Your parents divorced. So what? You were forced to move. So what? What did I learn from the experience? How did this experience change me? How do I behave/think differently now as a result of that experience?

Final narrative paper Choose one of these ideas. Type your narrative long enough to be good -- notice the quantity and quality of the sample texts from class. Use MLA formatting. Highlight the reflective parts of your paper (this is where you explore the significance of the account you expressed). Due April 21 CCSS narrative rubric (p. 5)