POP QUIZ (Yeah, it counts!) 1.What are the two nicknames for WI that I shared during snack on Tuesday? 2.Name three famous Wisconsinites. 3.Name three WI agricultural products that WI is known for (not including dairy products). 4.What has WI have more of per capita than any other state? 5.What makes the Packers interesting from an ownership standpoint? 6.How many NFL World Championships do the Packers have under their belt? What makes this special?

The Writing Process Handbook What EVERY Author Should Know BEFORE you write.... Step 1: Gathering: In this step, you brainstorm topics and ideas that you feel a desire to write about.

The Writing Process Handbook What EVERY Author Should Know BEFORE you write.... (continued) Step 2: Focusing: Next, you focus on one of those topics. I usually star the idea that I am going to write about from my list. This helps me to stay on track so that I don’t get off the subject during the drafting step.

The Writing Process Handbook What EVERY Author Should Know BEFORE you write.... (continued) Step 3: Prewriting: Whether it’s by mapping, webbing, sketching, or listing, I must prepare my brain for what I am going to write about. This step organizes the ideas you wish to cover in your writing.

The Writing Process Handbook What EVERY Author Should Know DURING & AFTER you write... Step 4: Drafting: This is where you actually begin writing and getting your thoughts down on paper. Write freely without stopping too much to consider spelling. Let your ideas flow out onto the paper, but make a strong attempt to stay on topic!

The Writing Process Handbook What EVERY Author Should Know DURING & AFTER you write... (continued) Step 5: Revising: Think of the revision step, as you would remodeling your home. After you walk through the halls of your old home and take a good look at it, decide what big changes need to be made to improve your first draft. If you need to add a wall, build it. If you decide to remove a room, delete it. The same thing goes with your writing. After reading the rough drafts, decide what changes must be made to help guide the reader through your writing. Add details. Take out parts that don’t work with the rest of the piece. Change the wording or switch around two paragraphs. Do whatever is needed to make your piece have full impact on the reader. This is the stage where you need to think like a reader and what they need to be engaged into your writing.

The Writing Process Handbook What EVERY Author Should Know DURING & AFTER you write... (continued) Step 6: Read Aloud: Read the piece aloud with a pencil in hand. You should read it aloud to both yourself and to others. If you hear a problem, mark the area with your pencil and continue to read. If you hear many problems, head back to the revision stage to make some changes. If it sounds awkward to you as the author, it will definitely sound awkward to the reader. Continue to read aloud and revise until you feel that it comes out the way you intended it to.

The Writing Process Handbook What EVERY Author Should Know DURING & AFTER you write... (continued) Step 7: Editing: Many people confuse editing with revising. Don’t be one of those people. Editing is very much like getting your house ready for company. Rather than adding rooms or fixing the roof as you would in revising, editing is where you make your house comfortable for your guests by completing the little finishing touches on your home. This may call for dusting the living room, lighting candles or playing music. In writing terms, this means fixing any conventional errors, such as spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc. As you edit your piece, use a highlighter and highlight anything that you aren’t 100% sure is accurate. You wouldn’t want guests to visit your home and find a dirty, old sock on the dining room table. That would kind of ruin the whole image of your home, am I right?

The Writing Process Handbook What EVERY Author Should Know DURING & AFTER you write... (continued) Step 8: Publishing: This step involves typing your piece or putting it into your best handwriting. Here is where you add graphics, dedications, or an author’s note if your writing requires it. This is also where you pick a title for your piece. Always brainstorm several different titles and then pick the best from the bunch. TITLING ALWAYS COMES LAST.

Here Comes Here comes summer, Here comes summer, Chirping robin, budding rose. Here comes summer, Here comes summer, Gentle showers, summer clothes. Here comes summer, Here comes summer - Whoosh - shiver - there it goes. by Shel Silverstein

Here Comes Demo Inspired by Shel Silverstein’s Poem, “Here Comes Summer” Here come demo, here comes demo, Sweaty palms, sleepless nights, Here come demo, here comes demo, Lack of any brain insights. Here come demo, here comes demo, Prep for what feels like combat, Here come demo, here comes demo, Deal with snide comments from Matt. Here come demo, here comes demo, Presenting for the crème de la crème, Here come demo, here comes demo, Fear of its becoming complete mayhem. Here come demo, here comes demo, Can’t concentrate. Man, this blows, Here come demo, here comes demo, WHOOSH! Tremble… there it goes!