1. Writing with STYLE

2. What is STYLE in writing?

3. “Dude, Where’s My Car?” On your own, read “Dude, Where’s My Car?” As you read, make a mental note of how the topic is organized and what the overarching message/theme is.

4. What is STYLE? Word Choice Sentence Variety Voice Our writing style changes depending on the occasion—just like our clothes. The way we use words to present our ideas

5. WORD CHOICE Uses words that are: Descriptive Interesting to the audience Exciting Fit the audience, purpose, and topic Example - *stay away from: is, as, was, were Weak Word Choice: “I got it,” he said. Strong Word Choice: “I found Woody’s hat!” Bobby screamed from his bedroom scattered with toys.

6. Word Choice Strategies Include specific nouns (Beaver Lake Middle School vs. school) Include specific verbs (She sprinted to class vs. She went to class) Avoid using: is, as, was, and were Include adverbs that show where, when, or how Do not repeat words Your Turn: Read “Dude, Where’s My Car” and highlight specific nouns, verbs, and adverbs.

7. SENTENCE VARIETY Uses sentences that are: o Different lengths o Different structures Weak Sentence Variety: Disneyland is fun. It is sunny there. Magic Mountain is the best. I want to go back. Strong Sentence Variety: While at Disneyland, the sun- drenched theme park in Anaheim, CA, I enjoyed riding my favorite roller coaster Magic Mountain four times. I nearly puked, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. No joke, Disneyland is off the chain!

8. Sentence Variety Strategies Writers can vary sentence length and structure in the following ways: Combine two independent clauses/sentences with: and, but, or, so The wet dog played in the puddle. The wet dog was soaking wet. Combine the two sentences with a conjunction: The wet dog played in the puddle and was soaking wet. Varied sentence structure: Because the dog played in the puddle, he was soaking wet. Appositives: The dog, who played in the puddle, was soaking wet. Your Turn: Reread the front page of the personal narrative. Write down which sentence variety strategies are used.

9. VOICE Uses word choices and sentence variety to show: o Care o Passion o Personality Weak Voice: Yesterday, I found the missing piece under that chair. I lost it a long time ago and I’ve been looking for it for days.” Strong Voice: My grandma bought me this sweet, 850 piece, Justin Bieber jigsaw puzzle for my birthday. I spent forever working on it, only to find that I was missing the last piece. Without that piece, Justin didn’t have a right eye! I searched for Justin’s precious eye for days. Then yesterday while sipping a coke, I nearly spit it all over the carpet when I saw it right there under my grandpa’s well- loved recliner!

10. Strategies to Create Voice The words and phrases you include in your writing create a sense of who your are. Connotation – Words that allude or refer to another meaning. I bought a lemon of a car. Vs. I bought a slightly used car. She is a real firecracker. Vs. She is very motivated to get what she wants. PERSONALITY: Sense of the person behind the text comes through. Your writing should sound like you! PASSIONATE: Shows that the author cares about the subject CONFIDENT: Sounds like the author knows what she or he is talking about; it’s ok to fake confidence APPROPRIATE: The voice fits the occasion and the audience Your Turn: Reread the text, circle examples of strong voice.

11. Apply Learning As your write your personal narrative you are responsible for applying what you’ve learned. Narrative focus establishes a setting, point of view, and characters Narrative is organized ( plot ) Narrative uses effective elaboration strategies Narrative clearly and effectively expresses experiences/events through the use of word choice, sentence variety, and voice Your rough draft must be finished for revisions by next Tuesday, 11/10. We will be in the Black Lab 11/12 - 11/13 to type and self-evaluate Final Drafts. *The Personal Narrative is a summative assessment and is worth 80% of your grade.