Let's Start At the Beginning

We will begin with a journal entry. Today you will write for 20 minutes, be prepared to share.  Please get out your journal and begin. ..

What do you think are your biggest strengths as a writer? What do you think you need to improve on? How do you think you could improve your writing.

Your journal should be written in paragraph form. This means you do not simply put #1 and answer the question, then go on to #2. How could you blend it all together so that your ideas flow from one to the next?


THEN. .. ..

We will go over your rubric (how you will be graded/assessed) for the Name Writing assignment. You will get out your writing and we will discuss how to draw your reader in. After all, your reader IS KING! You must bow down to the reader when you write. What can you do to make sure the reader wants to actually read what you've written. Well, you must begin with the beginning. . . creating an interesting opening sentence.

There are many ways to create an interesting opener. Here are a few suggestions:

• Begin with a surprising fact
• Use humor
• Use a quote
• Peak someone's curiousity
• definition
• anecdote
• end with a good beginning
• figurative language (ie: similes, metaphors, onomatopea)

You will take your Name Writing Assignment and rewrite your opening sentence. . . .many times. I would like to you try to choose at least 4 different suggestions from above (or perhaps you have your own) and write an opening sentence for your writing piece. Identify which suggestion or tactic you are using. 

This will be due on Monday, but we will be stopping early to talk about what you have so far.