The Writer

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The Writers Notebook

• Journey
• Exploration
• Creativity
• Observation
• Self-discovery

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Journal 1

• Create a list of 10 things you know for sure
  about yourself.
• Examples
• I know that I hate to be alone. I like having
  people around.
• I know that spiders give me the CREEPS
• I know that I am very competitive.
• Then, choose one to expand on and try to explain
  why you think you are that way.
• Example
• I think I hate spiders so much because I dont
  know much about them. If I knew which ones were
  dangerous, and how to spot them, I might not be
  so scared of them all. Also, watching the movie
  Arachnophobia in 7th grade terrified me! I still
  remember those big hairy legs and bodies
  scampering all over the house and barn. That
  movie made me see them as evil creatures, and
  maybe thats not fair to them.

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Journal 2

• If you could meet one famous person who is
  currently living, who would it be and why?
• What activity would you plan to do with him/her?
• What 5 questions would you ask?
• What advice would you want from them?

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Journal 3

• Make a list of 3 things you would change about
  your personality.
• Examples
• I would change the fact that I talk too much.
• I would change the way I lose concentration so
  easily.
• I would change the fear I have of being alone.
• Then, choose one to explain further. Why dont
  you like it? How would you change it?

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Journal 4

• To live a creative life, we must lose our fear
  of being wrong.
• Joseph Chilton Pearce
• Copy the quote
• Respond to the quote by telling
• What you think the author is saying?
• What does the quote make you think of?
• How does the quote relate to your life?

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Journal 5

• Make a two column list of positives and negatives
  about one of the 4 seasons.
• Example Winter
• -
• Snow Days COLD!!!
• Sitting by a fire Gray skies
• Fuzzy socks blankets Stuck inside

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Journal 6

• Think about your favorite candy item. Write it
  down.
• Imagine you are a defense lawyer, and it is your
  job to argue why your choice is the best. What
  would you say? What details and persuasive
  techniques could you use to defend your delicious
  sweet treat?

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Journal 7

• Topic Grandparents
• Whether you have them yourself or not, write some
  thoughts about the following
• Why are Grandparents important?
• How do they benefit society and culture?
• What are some things they can they offer that
  parents cant?
• How should society treat the elder members?
• If you have grandparents, take a few minutes to
  write about them.

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Journal 8

• Topic Families
• What is a family?
• Why are families important?
• How does your family effect your image?
• How do you effect your familys image?
• What makes a family work well?
• What makes a family struggle?
• What effects do families have on the larger
  society around them?

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Journal 9

• Respond to the following quote
• "Most of the basic material a writer works with
  is acquired before the age of fifteen."
  Willa Cather
• Be thoughtful in your answer. Do you agree /
  disagree. Explain.

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Journal 10

• Fill in the following blanks
• Today has been ____________ so far.
• Im feeling ________________.
• Its annoying when kids _____________.
• Its cool when kids ______________.
• Its annoying when adults___________.
• Its cool when adults _______________.
• I appreciate ____________.
• I dont appreciate ____________.

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Journal 11

• Answer all of the following
• What are some things that make your generation
  unique?
• What are some things that old people (like
  parents / teachers) dont understand about your
  generation.
• What you like to say to the adults of the world
  if you could?

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Journal 12

• Loyalty is an important quality for a person to
  have.
• Write about a time when you witnessed or
  experienced loyalty, either with friends or
  family.

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Journal 13

• If you could have ONE superpower, what would it
  be? And WHY?
• Would you use it for good or evil?
• What are some WAYS you would use it?

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Journal 14

• How does curiosity encourage learning?
• Make a list of 10 things you are curious about.
• Then pick 2 and write a brief I wonder
  statement for each.

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Journal 15

• Read the poem and respond

The Germ A mighty creature is the germ, Though
smaller than the pachyderm. His customary
dwelling place Is deep within the human race. His
childish pride he often pleases By giving people
strange diseases. Do you, my poppet, feel
infirm? You probably contain a germ. - Ogden Nash
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Journal 16

• Read the poem and respond

I Loved My Friend I loved my friend. He went away
from me. Theres nothing more to say. The poem
ends, Soft as it began I loved my friend. -
Langston Hughes
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Journal 17

• Read the poem and respond

Tree House A tree house, a free house, A secret
you and me house, A high up in the leafy
branches Cozy as can be house. A street house, a
neat house, Be sure and wipe your feet house Is
not my kind of house at all Lets go live in a
tree house. Shel Silverstein
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Journal 18

• Read the poem and respond

If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking If I can
stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in
vain If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool
one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his
nest again, I shall not live in vain. - Emily
Dickinson
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Journal 19

• If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a
  month, which show would you choose?
• Why?
• What would your character do?

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Journal 20

• Write about your spring break
• High notes
• Low notes
• Sensory details (smells, sights, sounds, tastes,
  textures)
• If you went somewherecan you put us there with
  you?

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Journal 21

• Read the poem and respond with thoughts
• What Are Heavy?
• What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow
• What are brief? Today and tomorrow
• What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth
• What are deep? The ocean and truth
• By Christina Rossetti

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Journal 22

• Read the poem and respond with thoughts
• The snow is melting
• The snow is meltingand the village is
  floodedwith children.
• Kobayashi Issa
• What is the pattern?
• Try to write your own haiku about spring /
  opening day.

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Journal 23HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!!

• Get out your WN and wait quietly.
• As you listen to the poet perform, write your
  thoughts, impressions, opinions, and connections.
• Hands by Sarah Kay (18 years old)
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vpn0zAUVkCgEfeature
  player_embedded

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Journal 24

• Answer the following questions
• Have you ever had a problem?
• What do we know about problems?
• Do problems always have a solution?
• Could there be more than one solution?
• Does a solution always solve a problem?
• List some (5 or more) problems that you have
  experienced or noticed in your life.

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Journal 25

• Totally, Like, Whatever, Okay
• By Taylor Mali

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Journal 26

• Rain
• I opened my eyesAnd looked up at the rain,And
  it dripped in my headAnd flowed into my
  brain,And all that I hear as I lie in my bedIs
  the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.I
  step very softly,I walk very slow,I can't do a
  handstand--I might overflow,So pardon the wild
  crazy thing I just said--I'm just not the same
  since there's rain in my head.
• Shel Silverstein
• Respond to the poem, then write how you feel
  about rain.

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Journal 27

• Respond to the poems words, meaning, message,
  images.
• If this sparks a memory write it.
• The Other Me
• The other me knows what to wear,
• Fits in, doesnt stick out,
• Is one of them.
• The other me remembers jokes,
• Doesnt get teased
• By anyone
• The other me doesnt have big feet,
• Doesnt stumble,
• Doesnt drop her lunch tray.
• So where is she,
• This amazing
• Other me?

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Journal 28

• Answer the following questions, then turn and
  talk with a neighbor.
• Why is research important?
• What benefits do we get from research?
• What are some important things to remember when
  doing research?

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Journal 29

• There comes a time When we head a certain call
  When the world must come together as one There
  are people dying And it's time to lend a hand to
  life
• The greatest gift of all We can't go on
  Pretending day by day That someone, somewhere
  will soon make a change We are all a part of
  God's great big family And the truth, you know
  love is all we need Chorus We are the world
  We are the children We are the ones who make a
  brighter day So let's start giving There's a
  choice we're making We're saving our own lives
  It's true we'll make a better day Just you and
  me

• Respond to the lyrics of the song.
• Send them your heart So they'll know that
  someone cares And their lives will be stronger
  and free As God has shown us by turning stone to
  bread So we all must lend a helping hand
• Chorus
• When you're down and out There seems no hope at
  all But if you just believe There's no way we
  can fall Well, well, well, well, let us realize
  That a change will only come When we stand
  together as one

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Journal 30

• Respond to the poem
• A Helping Hand Each day you liveOpen your
  heartLearn to giveLife for manyIs so
  unkindGiving peopleAre hard to findSo open
  your heartGive what you canWere all
  responsibleFor our fellow man

• Its so easy to look
• The other way
• But the tables could turn
• On any given day
• So help if you can
• For one day you may be
• The one whos down and out
• The one no one will see
• Ray Hansell