THE LOOP ENDING Ends at the same place it begins.
THE SURPRISE ENDING Usually has a twist to it that takes the reader by surprise. THE WIZARD OF OZ
THE SUMMARY Repeats the main points of a story, trying to tie together any loose ends. NEWSCAST
THE HAPPY ENDING Leaves the reader with no feeling of sadness. CINDERELLA
THE SAD BUT TRUE ENDING Ends the way reader doesn't want it to know but knows it has to. CHARLOTTE'S WEB
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
DIALOGUE
Writing dialogue -- realistic dialogue, anyway -- does not come easily to everyone. Done well, dialogue advances the story and fleshes out the characters while providing a break from straight exposition.
However, just as realistic dialogue is one of the most powerful tools at a writer's disposal, nothing pulls the reader out of a story faster than bad dialogue. It takes time to develop a good ear, but noting these simple rules and obvious pitfalls can make a huge difference.
• Story Dialogue can impart an enormous amount of information in a seamless way
• Story Dialogue offers clues to a character’s personality and social class
• Story Dialogue offer clues to a characters frame of mind.
But why do we need dialogue?
1. Dialogue adds to the picture by supplying pointers to character’s ages and upbringing.
2. Dialogue can show up traits such as attitude problems.
3. Dialogue between protagonists adds to the reader’s understanding of characters.
4. Dialogue helps differentiate characters, especially minor ones, and shows relationships between them.
However, just as realistic dialogue is one of the most powerful tools at a writer's disposal, nothing pulls the reader out of a story faster than bad dialogue. It takes time to develop a good ear, but noting these simple rules and obvious pitfalls can make a huge difference.
• Story Dialogue can impart an enormous amount of information in a seamless way
• Story Dialogue offers clues to a character’s personality and social class
• Story Dialogue offer clues to a characters frame of mind.
But why do we need dialogue?
1. Dialogue adds to the picture by supplying pointers to character’s ages and upbringing.
2. Dialogue can show up traits such as attitude problems.
3. Dialogue between protagonists adds to the reader’s understanding of characters.
4. Dialogue helps differentiate characters, especially minor ones, and shows relationships between them.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Revision Goals
After a THOROUGH review of your peer response reports, think critically about where you would like to go from here. Keep in mind your own intentions, peer response, and writing techniques. Come up with a couple specific goals you want to accomplish.
Your goals must:
1) Be specific and narrow, not general.
2) Use classroom terminology.
3) Reasonable to complete.
4) State how you arrived at this goal.
Example:
I plan to utilize more snapshots and thoughtshots in order to create a more round, dynamic character with Roger. Many peers commented on wanting to know more about Roger especially at the climax of my story. I will start there and then explore other parts of the story.
Please post your goals here.
Your goals must:
1) Be specific and narrow, not general.
2) Use classroom terminology.
3) Reasonable to complete.
4) State how you arrived at this goal.
Example:
I plan to utilize more snapshots and thoughtshots in order to create a more round, dynamic character with Roger. Many peers commented on wanting to know more about Roger especially at the climax of my story. I will start there and then explore other parts of the story.
Please post your goals here.
Monday, March 21, 2011
BRAINSTORMING A SHORT STORY
Get ideas from here:
http://shortstoryideas.herb.me.uk/characters.htm
http://www.creative-writing-now.com/short-story-ideas.html
http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/giles.shtml
Read collections of short stories:
http://www.google.com/search?q=short+story+collections&tbm=bks&tbo=1&oq=short+story+collec
Possible Topics: remember you can manipulate these any way YOU want!
* Take your favorite word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph from a writing marathon
* Life Experiences: Bio-Fiction
* Current Issue: create a character completing how you want to handle it or how you wish you would handle it
* Take a Reader’s Response where you disliked, questions, or were concerned and rewrite the piece to answer or address those points
* Rewrite the beginning of a story from a different point of view and go from there
* Rewrite an ending or write a sequel
* First memory
* Dreams
* Problematic Fiction
* Favorite Character
* Art…write a story
* Favorite Town days memory—or just summer
* Rewrite the ending from a different point of view
* Find a crucial moment in your story with a character, make them do the exact opposite
* Quotation write: Character? Word? Idea? Event?
* Year in a nutshell
* Labels
* Advertisement write
* Newspaper Headline: what fictional story can you make of this?
* What are your scars, figuratively or literally and visible or invisible? Write about one.
* What scars have you given, figuratively or literally and visible or invisible? Write about one.
* Insert the word “gifts” in place of the word “scars” above.
* What have you not received? What gifts have you not given?
* My craziest experience in a restaurant or shopping mall
* The hardest thing I’ve ever done
* My first encounter with a bully
* The toys I’ll never give up
* A friend who moved away
* I couldn’t believe that my mother made me...
* Putting my foot in my mouth
* What do I worry about?
* My worst vacation
* A “visit” to a hospital, doctor’s office, or dentist’s office
* Coping with brothers and sisters
* A typical evening at home
* Morning madness
* When I was a discipline problem
* We all make mistakes.
* Why do I deserve the job?
* My brother (or sister) made me so mad!
* Hanging out
* Greed
* Alone on a desert island
* How it would feel to walk in space
* What invention would you like to see in your lifetime?
* Why appearance is not so important
NOW WHERE DO YOU GO?
Prewriting Strategies:
Generate ideas, unleash your imagination, brainstorm purpose and genre
Complete ONE of the following suggestions and post to the blog.
1) Create a "graphic organizer" and briefly describe the short story elements.
2) Write a snapshot of the character, setting, or both.
3) Answer the who, what, where, when, why of your short story like an interview.
4) Freewrite: give yourself a time limit; write! Don't stop. Don't worry about spelling, grammar, etc.
5) Write a paragraph as if it were a pitch to a publisher and sell your short story idea.
http://shortstoryideas.herb.me.uk/characters.htm
http://www.creative-writing-now.com/short-story-ideas.html
http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/giles.shtml
Read collections of short stories:
http://www.google.com/search?q=short+story+collections&tbm=bks&tbo=1&oq=short+story+collec
Possible Topics: remember you can manipulate these any way YOU want!
* Take your favorite word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph from a writing marathon
* Life Experiences: Bio-Fiction
* Current Issue: create a character completing how you want to handle it or how you wish you would handle it
* Take a Reader’s Response where you disliked, questions, or were concerned and rewrite the piece to answer or address those points
* Rewrite the beginning of a story from a different point of view and go from there
* Rewrite an ending or write a sequel
* First memory
* Dreams
* Problematic Fiction
* Favorite Character
* Art…write a story
* Favorite Town days memory—or just summer
* Rewrite the ending from a different point of view
* Find a crucial moment in your story with a character, make them do the exact opposite
* Quotation write: Character? Word? Idea? Event?
* Year in a nutshell
* Labels
* Advertisement write
* Newspaper Headline: what fictional story can you make of this?
* What are your scars, figuratively or literally and visible or invisible? Write about one.
* What scars have you given, figuratively or literally and visible or invisible? Write about one.
* Insert the word “gifts” in place of the word “scars” above.
* What have you not received? What gifts have you not given?
* My craziest experience in a restaurant or shopping mall
* The hardest thing I’ve ever done
* My first encounter with a bully
* The toys I’ll never give up
* A friend who moved away
* I couldn’t believe that my mother made me...
* Putting my foot in my mouth
* What do I worry about?
* My worst vacation
* A “visit” to a hospital, doctor’s office, or dentist’s office
* Coping with brothers and sisters
* A typical evening at home
* Morning madness
* When I was a discipline problem
* We all make mistakes.
* Why do I deserve the job?
* My brother (or sister) made me so mad!
* Hanging out
* Greed
* Alone on a desert island
* How it would feel to walk in space
* What invention would you like to see in your lifetime?
* Why appearance is not so important
NOW WHERE DO YOU GO?
Prewriting Strategies:
Generate ideas, unleash your imagination, brainstorm purpose and genre
Complete ONE of the following suggestions and post to the blog.
1) Create a "graphic organizer" and briefly describe the short story elements.
2) Write a snapshot of the character, setting, or both.
3) Answer the who, what, where, when, why of your short story like an interview.
4) Freewrite: give yourself a time limit; write! Don't stop. Don't worry about spelling, grammar, etc.
5) Write a paragraph as if it were a pitch to a publisher and sell your short story idea.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Thinking About Plot...using "The Lady, or the Tiger?"
The plot is the one of the most important elements of the story; however, the characters decide what happens, when it happens, and how it happens. This occurs when the external or internal plot plays a major role. In The Lady or the Tiger?, the external conflict causes the princess to have tremendous internal conflict. Because the plot line ends at the climax, many readers are not satisfied with the author's falling action and resolution. Think about the princess' character (background, upbringing, feelings, thoughts, actions) to determine what you think happens next.
Write a new ending (falling action and resolution) for the story in which you reveal the princess’s decision (falling action) and show the effects of the decision on all the characters (resolution). Use your short story elements graphic organizer as a guide just like an author would. In other words, you must be true to Stockton's story.
Think about questions like...
1. What happens to the young man?
2. How does she feel about it?
3. What does the king do next?
4. What does the princess do next?
Write a new ending (falling action and resolution) for the story in which you reveal the princess’s decision (falling action) and show the effects of the decision on all the characters (resolution). Use your short story elements graphic organizer as a guide just like an author would. In other words, you must be true to Stockton's story.
Think about questions like...
1. What happens to the young man?
2. How does she feel about it?
3. What does the king do next?
4. What does the princess do next?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
What are you thinking???
Create a writing post on your own blog that summarizes your
1) excitements for the upcoming trimester in LA 9-2.
2) fears for the upcoming trimester in LA 9-2.
3) goals for the upcoming trimester in LA 9-2.
You can write a paragraph or two reflection OR write a creative writing piece (poem, character sketch, brief anecdote, etc.)
Once you have completed your own writing post, read your classmates' reflections and comment on a minimum of three posts. Your comments can be in agreement, praise, wishing them well, etc.
1) excitements for the upcoming trimester in LA 9-2.
2) fears for the upcoming trimester in LA 9-2.
3) goals for the upcoming trimester in LA 9-2.
You can write a paragraph or two reflection OR write a creative writing piece (poem, character sketch, brief anecdote, etc.)
Once you have completed your own writing post, read your classmates' reflections and comment on a minimum of three posts. Your comments can be in agreement, praise, wishing them well, etc.
WELCOME!!
Welcome to the classroom blog for our writing workshop experience. You must first begin by creating your own blog account.
Go to "www.blogger.com"
"Create an Account" (big orange box)
Follow the steps. Make sure you use your school email account (gcspartans).
When you get to "Blog Title," make it your name. I would put the same thing as your Blog Address (the actual URL you will use).
Choose a background template
The next screen will say "start blogging." This is where you can enter your first post. I would like you to first create a bio post. Later we'll add Writer/writer perspective.
Now is the somewhat trickier part. :)
Open another window and go to "http://gcla9WW.blogspot.com/"
That is our class home page. You are going to join this page as a follower.
Click on the "follow" button.
Select "google" since our gcspartans accounts are google
It will ask you to login again (use your blogger password, not your school password)
It will ask you if you want to follow publicly. Say yes and hit "follow this blog"
Your account is now attached to the class page, but you need to attach your page as a link.
You will see your name on top next to a blank picture box (you have to be logged in to your blogger account for this to work).
Click on "options" and select "site settings"
Click "add links" and enter the url from your blog and your blog title.
Your blog will now be linked to the class home page. As you get more skilled in blogging, you will want to add a picture to you link so the boxes on the class page do not all look the same (If this hurts your brain, just ask and I can help you). You just click on your box and go to "edit settings," then you can edit your photo.
Now, whenever you enter a writing selection, all you have to do is create a new post on your page. That's it. Then anyone who wants to look at your writing can access your blog from the class page.
Once you have created your blog, you will receive an email asking you to activate/validate your account. Go ahead and do this. I think they just want to verify it is you. :)
Happy blogging!
Go to "www.blogger.com"
"Create an Account" (big orange box)
Follow the steps. Make sure you use your school email account (gcspartans).
When you get to "Blog Title," make it your name. I would put the same thing as your Blog Address (the actual URL you will use).
Choose a background template
The next screen will say "start blogging." This is where you can enter your first post. I would like you to first create a bio post. Later we'll add Writer/writer perspective.
Now is the somewhat trickier part. :)
Open another window and go to "http://gcla9WW.blogspot.com/"
That is our class home page. You are going to join this page as a follower.
Click on the "follow" button.
Select "google" since our gcspartans accounts are google
It will ask you to login again (use your blogger password, not your school password)
It will ask you if you want to follow publicly. Say yes and hit "follow this blog"
Your account is now attached to the class page, but you need to attach your page as a link.
You will see your name on top next to a blank picture box (you have to be logged in to your blogger account for this to work).
Click on "options" and select "site settings"
Click "add links" and enter the url from your blog and your blog title.
Your blog will now be linked to the class home page. As you get more skilled in blogging, you will want to add a picture to you link so the boxes on the class page do not all look the same (If this hurts your brain, just ask and I can help you). You just click on your box and go to "edit settings," then you can edit your photo.
Now, whenever you enter a writing selection, all you have to do is create a new post on your page. That's it. Then anyone who wants to look at your writing can access your blog from the class page.
Once you have created your blog, you will receive an email asking you to activate/validate your account. Go ahead and do this. I think they just want to verify it is you. :)
Happy blogging!
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