Personal Narrative Beginning (a lead that grabs the reader’s attention. Sets the scene (Setting/characters) sometimes the main idea of the story appears here) Middle (Story) CONFLICT, characters, setting, plot, tension, figurative language, MUST be believable. EXPLODE A MOMENT! Snapshots Thoughtshots Dialogue End (reflection) —Explain how this event changed you and impacted your life. Express why event is significant and meaningful to you. If you can connect back to your opening in some way that would be great for framing. Expository Essay Introduction Hook (grabs the reader’s attention) maybe a Truism Connect (the hook to the thesis or stretch truism out Thesis : or controlling idea must include your opinion and hint at why you believe that. Body Paragraph: Where you will find … A Anecdote (Brief personal story that relates to topic) D define (Not from Dictionary.) D detail (Something that supports thesis) D description ( commentary about the detail) E examples (an example situation) F fact (if you happen to have a fact that relates) Conclusion—Revisits the controlling idea/thesis and includes your insight or commentary on why (your reasons) “SO WHAT” “WHY DOES IT MATTER?” INSIGHT: The capacity to gain an accurate and deep instinctive understanding of a person or thing.

Listing: Jot down every idea you have about your topic. Free- associate; don’t hold back anything. Try to brainstorm for at least ten minutes. Write everything down in a list form. This can be one word, a phrase, an entire sentence, or more. Remember do not worry about grammar and spelling at this point; just get your thoughts on paper. Free writing: Some people just prefer to start writing in order to find a focus for their essays. To get started: Take out a blank sheet of paper or open a new word document Begin writing for at least ten to fifteen minutes. Write whatever comes to your mind about your subject. Do not worry about spelling, punctuation, or grammar. Do not change, correct, or delete anything. If you cannot think of something to write about, just write “I can’t think of anything to write right now; I’m stumped.” Simply keep writing until a new thought comes into your mind. Clustering: This is a great technique for visual learners since this type of prewriting allows you to visually see how ideas can go together under each cluster. To get started, place your general subject in a circle in the middle of a blank sheet of paper. Begin to draw other lines or circles that shoot out from the original topic. Cluster the ideas that seem to go together. Try to do this for at least ten minutes. Narrative Pre-Writing Techniques

Five ways to begin a Narrative Action - Something is happening. Ex. James ran out of the house. Re-action - Something significant has already happened. Ex. The ambulance came speeding down the street with its sirens blaring. Dialogue - Somebody is speaking. Ex. “Why can’t you be like other mothers…” Setting - Time, place Ex. Be sure to avoid overused settings. Character - A glimpse of the main character. Ex. She was a tall, dark beauty from Russia.

Sensory Chart Five things I saw Five things I heard Five things I smelled Five things I tasted Five things I touched Narrative Pre-Writing Techniques

5 W’s Chart Who? What?When?Where?Why? Who was in the experience? What happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Why did it happen? How did I learn a valuable lesson? Narrative Pre-Writing Techniques

EXPOSITORY Introduction: Hook Stretch Thesis Body A Anecdote (Brief personal story that relates to topic) D Definition (Not from Dictionary. What does it mean to you? DDetail (Something that supports thesis) Ddescription (commentary about the detail) EExamples (an example situation) FFact (if you have a fact that relates) Conclusion : Call back to Intro Fact Quote

(INDENT) Expository Pillar Conclusion (INDENT)

The Journalists' Questions Journalists traditionally ask six questions when they are writing assignments, 5 W's and 1 H: Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why?, How? You can use these questions to explore the topic you are writing about for an assignment. Who? Who are the participants? Who is affected? Who are the primary actors? Who are the secondary actors? What? What is the topic? What is the significance of the topic? What is the basic problem? What are the issues? Where? Where does the activity take place? Where does the problem or issue have its source? At what place is the cause or effect of the problem most visible? When? When is the issue most apparent? (past? present? future?) When did the issue or problem develop? What historical forces helped shape the problem or issue and at what point in time will the problem or issue culminate in a crisis? When is action needed to address the issue or problem? Why? Why did the issue or problem arise? Why is it (your topic) an issue or problem at all? Why did the issue or problem develop in the way that it did? How? How is the issue or problem significant? How can it be addressed? How does it affect the participants? How can the issue or problem be resolved? The journalists' questions are a powerful way to develop a great deal of information about a topic very quickly. Learning to ask the appropriate questions about a topic takes practice, however. PRE-WRITING: Techniques

Listing: Jot down every idea you have about your topic. Free- associate; don’t hold back anything. Try to brainstorm for at least ten minutes. Write everything down in a list form. This can be one word, a phrase, an entire sentence, or more. Remember do no worry about grammar and spelling at this point, just get your thoughts on paper.

Outline Description: An organized and categorized expression of ideas. Process: All outlines require writers to categorize their ideas. In classic outlines, writers place and categorize ideas using Roman numeral and alphabetical letter headings which fluctuate from upper to lowercase. In other types of outlines, writers do the same, but with bullets or some other type of demarcation headings. Effectiveness: Outlines are effective for writers who have trouble distinguishing where and in what order their ideas should be written. Outlines are valuable tools for guiding writers through structures they may not otherwise feel comfortable with. I. Introduction a. Intro idea (Hook) b. Intro idea (Stretch) 1. Explanation of intro idea (Stretch) c. Thesis Statement (Thesis ) II. Body a. Support evidence (8 paragraph accordion + transition sentence) b. Support evidence (8 paragraph accordion) III. Conclusion a. Closing statements (Insight) PREWRITING: Techniques

Free writing: Some people just prefer to start writing in order to find a focus for their essays. To get started: Take out a blank sheet of paper or open a new word document Begin writing for at least ten to fifteen minutes. Write whatever comes to your mind about your subject. Do not worry about spelling, punctuation, or grammar. Do not change, correct, or delete anything. If you cannot think of something to write about, just write “I can’t think of anything to write right now; I’m stumped.” Simply keep writing until a new thought comes into your mind. Clustering: This is a great technique for visual learners since this type of prewriting allows you to visually see how ideas can go together under each cluster. To get started, place your general subject in a circle in the middle of a blank sheet of paper. Begin to draw other lines or circles that shoot out from the original topic. Cluster the ideas that seem to go together. Try to do this for at least ten minutes. PRE-WRITING: Techniques

Use the 6 sentence structures Sentence, For And Nor But Or Yet So Sentence ; Senten, c,. e and OpenerSentence,... Sent Sentence, closer. interrupter,. ence,

Click for more!!