1. Make it easier to change the text: Use the Selection Pane to temporarily hide the Picture Placeholder. (Home tab, Select, Selection Pane). Click the eye icon to hide or show an object. To change the sample image, select the picture and delete it. Now click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. The animation is already done for you; just copy and paste the slide into your existing presentation. Sample picture courtesy of Bill Staples.

2. Begin with Truisms A Statement, the truth of which is well known or obvious Look at the photo. Read the “truism”. Think about what it says for 1 minute. Now, indent and write the statement on the top line of your paper. Write for 1 minute about that statement. (What does it mean to you) People invent ways to solve life’s problems.

4. Make it easier to change the text: Use the Selection Pane to temporarily hide the Picture Placeholder. (Home tab, Select, Selection Pane). Click the eye icon to hide or show an object. To change the sample image, select the picture and delete it. Now click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. The animation is already done for you; just copy and paste the slide into your existing presentation. Sample picture courtesy of Bill Staples.

5. Make it easier to change the text: Use the Selection Pane to temporarily hide the Picture Placeholder. (Home tab, Select, Selection Pane). Click the eye icon to hide or show an object. To change the sample image, select the picture and delete it. Now click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. The animation is already done for you; just copy and paste the slide into your existing presentation. Sample picture courtesy of Bill Staples.

6. Make it easier to change the text: Use the Selection Pane to temporarily hide the Picture Placeholder. (Home tab, Select, Selection Pane). Click the eye icon to hide or show an object. To change the sample image, select the picture and delete it. Now click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. The animation is already done for you; just copy and paste the slide into your existing presentation. Sample picture courtesy of Bill Staples.

7. That’s why… Skip a line and indent. Begin your last sentence with “That’s why…” or “I wonder” as you think about a final thought for the truism. I wonder…

8. Make it easier to change the text: Use the Selection Pane to temporarily hide the Picture Placeholder. (Home tab, Select, Selection Pane). Click the eye icon to hide or show an object. To change the sample image, select the picture and delete it. Now click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. The animation is already done for you; just copy and paste the slide into your existing presentation. Sample picture courtesy of Bill Staples.

9. Make it easier to change the text: Use the Selection Pane to temporarily hide the Picture Placeholder. (Home tab, Select, Selection Pane). Click the eye icon to hide or show an object. To change the sample image, select the picture and delete it. Now click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. The animation is already done for you; just copy and paste the slide into your existing presentation. Sample picture courtesy of Bill Staples.

10. Classroom Sample – This is after the 3 rd time we had done this strategy. Knowledge leads to knew opportunities. I did not give them a photo to look at this time because one of my students said that the photo confused him. I used the first truism I just showed you. The second one I used was: First impressions can sometimes be misleading

11. Application to EOC English I

12. Application to EOC English II

13. Spring 2014 Eng. II – Before Strategy

14. Spring 2014 Eng. II – Before Strategy

16. AFTER Strategy

18. What effect does this strategy have on our students’ writing? Helps build student confidence Willingness to write more on several topics Organization is evident where there was none before. Excitement about writing, instead of dread. Do I have to do it exactly like this? Of course not, but if you do it like this, I know it works. My recommendation is that if you follow Gretchen’s instructions exactly, then you will get the results we need for successful writing.