Travel Writing Please take out your outlines!

Avoid Impetuous Writing  Think before you write  Brainstorm  Live vicariously through the writer- what would you have learned?  Know your story!

Big Question/Thesis  What did the narrator of this story learn about himself/herself from this travel experience?”  Sample Thesis: Through the journey along the Kokoda trail, Sharon Grimberg learns that despite being unprepared, she could emerge as a stronger individual.

Thesis  What did the narrator of this story learn about himself/herself from this travel experience?”):  While exploring Australia, the narrator of “The Adventures of Mega Chicken” learns the importance of facing experience outside of one’s comfort zone.

Finding the RIGHT Evidence  Quotes should be directly connected to the thesis!  While exploring Australia, the narrator of “The Adventures of Mega Chicken” learns the importance of facing experience outside of one’s comfort zone.  “Only weeks earlier, I had abandoned my safe abd secure existence to trvael to the Southern Hemisphere and be among wild things” (119)/  “Nature did its worst and I lived to tell the tale. (122).

Formal Introductions  Narrative Hook  Asks a question  Is the world gaining more awe and mystery or does it appear smaller with the vast amount of information easily available?  Sets context for story  Papua New Guinea’s Kokoda Trail is a rugged trail conquered by hikers around the globe.  Draws the reader’s attention with detail  One might think twice about munching on crispy fried insects.

Introductions  Provide narrative hook  Sets up essential context for the story  Introduces author’s full name and “title of essay”  Ends with a strong thesis statement  All of these components should flow together

Topic Sentence  A topic sentence is the first sentence in each body paragraph.  It does not not contain quotes.  It does state the main focus in the paragraph  It is absolutely directly connected to the thesis AND Quotes

Sample Body  Greenwald realizes the ease in which travel takes away from having an authentic experience. He states, when talking of air travel, “[t]hese journeys weren’t explorations; they were long commutes (3). This moment of a realization reveals that despite the historical appeal of travel, the convenience of modern travel robbed him of a full experience. He further exemplifies his point of missing out on a true experience when he confesses “he had cheated” (3). Clearly this self realization is the cause for Greenwald having a change of vision.

Conclusion  Restates main points  Restates thesis  Brings writing to a close  Reverts back to introduction- continuity  Avoids new info such as quotes.  End with strength- be mindful of your last word

Words to AVOID  Many/a lot  Very  Thing/stuff  Good/bad  I/ You  Replace with One/the reader/we

Writer’s Workshop -Should be very quiet and focused -Complete outline first! -Ensure excellent quotes -Rough Draft, typed, due next class, Thursday. MLA format.

Embedding Quotes  Set UP quote in context:  Clearly Grimberg reveals that she is not prepared when she says, “I had not climbed anything higher than the stairs to my mother’s attic. I barely knew where Papua New Guinea was” (38).  The author reveals that the trail was, “densely forested” with rivers that were “deadly, raging torrents”, and therefore quite dangerous (Grimberg 37).