1. Let’s compare and contrast! Miss Towne Writing Workshop 6 November 2013

2. The first Thanksgiving http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faUYJ9fMi Gg

3. You already took notes on the first Thanksgiving. And for homework you took notes on how YOU get ready and celebrate Thanksgiving. Now we are going to compare and contrast the two Thanksgivings.

4. When comparing and contrasting it is good to use transition words. Transition words are words that are used to move from one sentence or idea to another smoothly in a piece of writing. Examples are: –“The most important…” –“In other words…” –“For example…” –“In the past…”

5. With the packet I hand to you… Cut out the squares with transition words information on them and staple them together so you end up with a small book of transition words to help you with your writing now and in the future.

6. Now let’s get to Thanksgiving On the next slide is an example writing of the first Thanksgiving using transition words:

7. The pilgrims landed in Plymouth, MA in the year 1620. At first, it was not easy to get used to living off the land. They tried to plant their own crops but did not succeed. The pilgrims also had to build their own living accommodations so that throughout the winter they had a warm place to live. When spring finally came around they decided to try and plant their own crops again. This time they had help from a friendly Indian named Squanto who showed them how to farm and grow their own crops. As a result of this help, the pilgrims were finally able to grow food to eat and ended up with an abundance of food to share with their new found friends the Indians. Giving thanks for all they had and sharing what they had with their friends became known as Thanksgiving and we still celebrate it to this day.

8. Now I want you to find the transition words I used in my first Thanksgiving paragraph.

9. The pilgrims landed in Plymouth, MA in the year 1620. At first, it was not easy to get used to living off the land. They tried to plant their own crops but did not succeed. The pilgrims also had to build their own living accommodations so that throughout the winter they had a warm place to live. When spring finally came around they decided to try and plant their own crops again. This time they had help from a friendly Indian named Squanto who showed them how to farm and grow their own crops. As a result of this help, the pilgrims were finally able to grow food to eat and ended up with an abundance of food to share with their new found friends the Indians. Giving thanks for all they had and sharing what they had with their friends became known as Thanksgiving and we still celebrate it to this day.

10. Now it’s your turn… Write a paragraph about the first Thanksgiving using transition words AND With the information you collected on YOUR Thanksgiving, write a paragraph, using transition words, about how you get ready and celebrate this delicious holiday. Here’s mine!    

11. When Thanksgiving morning arrives it’s time to get to work. First, I wake up and get ready for the day. Next, I head downstairs and get the oven ready to bake some delicious cinnamon buns for my family to eat while we watch the Macy’s Day Parade. As the day goes on many family members start piling into my house making quite the circus scene. Now that I am older I help my mom with preparation of the food for our humongous feast. The best foods, in my opinion, are mashed potatoes, homemade bread and turkey. A tradition we have in my house is that after dinner we go for a long walk around our neighborhood, we’ve been doing this ever since I was little and I love it!

12. Let’s get started!!!

13. Introduction An introduction introduces the topic you are writing about to the reader. For example: Thanksgiving is a time of year when family and friends gather together and give thanks for each other and for what they have. This tradition goes back to about the year 1621. At this time pilgrims from Europe had landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts and after a rough start, eventually learned how to cultivate the land and were able to grow and harvest their crops enough for themselves and their new found friends the Indians. There are a number of similarities and differences between the first Thanksgiving and the Thanksgiving celebrated today and they are discussed in the following paragraphs.

14. Conclusion The conclusion “wraps up” what you have been discussing in your writing. For example: As stated above, there are a number of similarities and differences between the first Thanksgiving and today's Thanksgiving. A similarity is that both are celebrated with family and friends and a difference is that the Pilgrims had to grow and harvest their food whereas today, most people can go to the store, gather their supplies and make their food in their own homes. Regardless of the similarities and differences, Thanksgiving is a holiday where thanks is made for the things we have in our lives and an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones and friends while filling our stomachs with delicious foods!