Writer's Workshop

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Writer's Workshop

• How to Become a More Successful Writer

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Essential Questions

• How do you recognize usage errors in writing?
  (0801.1.14)
• How do you rearrange multi-paragraph work in a
  logical and coherent order? (0801.3.4)
• What are some appropriate time-order or
  transitional words/phrases to enhance the flow of
  writing? (0801.3.5)
• How do you use illustrations, explanations,
  anecdotes, descriptions, and/or facts to support
  key ideas? (0801.3.9)
• QA

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Objective
I can write an introductory paragraph.
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Expectations

• You are on task at all times.
• All talk is confined to discussion of writing
  assessment only - giving advice, helping, etc.
• Volume level needs to stay low, preferably a
  whisper or just above a whisper.
• If you cannot meet these expectations, you will
  return to your assigned seat and work alone.

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Partner Up!

• Find your partner after I assign you. For the
  remainder of the week, you will sit with your
  partner as you work after FOA.
• Trade papers, and read your writing partner's
  paper. Make mental notes for discussion later.
• When finished reading, sit quietly or discuss
  quietly with your partner.
• In five minutes, we will begin our mini lesson.
• Again, you will be handing your writing
  assessment back in. Do not throw it away or leave
  with it.

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Formal Writing Faux Pas

• No Abbreviations or Symbols
• Write out words such as "and," rather than using
  
• Write out first, second, third, etc.
• No abbreviations! For example, write sentence,
  not sent. or paragraph, not para.
• Contractions
• Write them out. For example, write cannot rather
  than can't.
• Be Specific
• Do not use "thing." If there is a "thing," then
  name it.
• Do not use "like." It is much more appropriate to
  say "such as." Better yet, try not to use it all.
• Try to avoid the phrase "kind of" as well.
• You
• Avoid using "you." Replace you with words such
  as one, the reader, the author, the audience,
  etc.

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Introductions

• Hook
• For expository writing, quotes, questions, and
  anecdotes make great hooks.
• Background Info
• It's a great practice to mention the author's
  name and title in your intro.
• Remember, when speaking about literature, stay on
  present tense.
• Thesis
• Write a clear and precise thesis. Support your
  thesis with details throughout your essay.
• This was an expository writing assignment, not
  a narrative assignment.

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Thesis Example
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Hook Examples
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Intro Example
Among the various hardships one faces in a
lifetime, none compares to leaving one's home to
start a new life. In Abraham Cahan's The Rise of
David Levinsky Book V, the author describes one
emigrant's journey across the sea to a new world.
Through his use of figurative language,
analogies, and allusions, the reader can detect
the author's roller coaster of tones throughout
the passage.
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Two Stars and a Wish

• Trade papers with your partner once again. This
  time, read only the introduction.
• On the provided post-it note, write two stars and
  a wish for the introduction.
• A star is something your partner did well.
• A wish is something that you feel they could work
  on.

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Today's Objective

• I can provide evidence to support my thesis
  statement.
• Quotations
• Paraphrasing
• Avoiding plagiarism
• CSI

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Quotes

• When using someone else's quotes in your writing,
  you must indicate clearly that the words are not
  your own.
• Tell your reader who is speaking.
• Avoid using he said/she said too often. Change it
  up.

Added Remarked Exclaimed Announced
Wrote/writes Replied Stated Commented
Responded Argued Proposed Claimed
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Paraphrasing

• Involves putting a passage into your own words.
  It must still be attributed to the original
  source.
• It is normally shorter than the original
  material.
• No quotation marks.
• If you use any of the original words besides a,
  an, the, etc., you are quoting.

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Avoiding Plagiarism

• Always credit the original source. It's not
  enough to just use quotation marks. Example The
  author stated, "..."
• If you're not directly quoting, summarize from
  what you remember.
• Check your writing against the original text.
• Quotation marks!!!

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C.S.I.

• Claim Make your claim
• State State your evidencequote, paraphrase,
  etc.
• Interpret Interpret what it means to you
• ?As an emigrant to America, Cahan begins his
  journey simultaneously anxious, lonely, and
  doubtful. He demonstrates his anxiety in his
  interpretation of the sounds and thoughts
  entering his mind ghastly roars of the
  engine, maddening whispers of the waves, and
  the schizophrenic thought, Are you crazy?
  Certainly, new experiences have made him fearful,
  just as they would for me If I entered a foreign
  land. Adding to Cahans anxiety is a feeling
  of homesickness, no doubt caused by being
  crammed tightly into the belly of a Bremen
  steamer. The sights, smells, and comforts of
  home are surely absent here. Overwhelmingly,
  Cahan is full of self-doubt. He alludes to
  Columbus and his death-defying journey, sharing
  the same worries that he will never reach land.
  When surrounded by an unrelieved, a hopeless
  monotony of water, Cahan likely longs for the
  sweet sight of soil.

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Examples
CSI
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Examples
CSI
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Examples
Good use of words other than "said."
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Two Stars and a Wish

• Trade papers with your partner once again. This
  time, read only the body paragraphs, focusing on
  providing evidence.
• On the provided post-it note, write two stars and
  a wish for the body.
• A star is something your partner did well.
• A wish is something that you feel they could work
  on.

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Writer's Workshop

• How to Become a More Successful Writer

22
Essential Questions

• How do you recognize usage errors in writing?
  (0801.1.14)
• How do you rearrange multi-paragraph work in a
  logical and coherent order? (0801.3.4)
• What are some appropriate time-order or
  transitional words/phrases to enhance the flow of
  writing? (0801.3.5)
• How do you use illustrations, explanations,
  anecdotes, descriptions, and/or facts to support
  key ideas? (0801.3.9)
• QA

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Expectations

• You are on task at all times.
• All talk is confined to discussion of writing
  assessment only - giving advice, helping, etc.
• Volume level needs to stay low, preferably a
  whisper or just above a whisper.
• If you cannot meet these expectations, you will
  return to your assigned seat and work alone.

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Today's Objectives

• I can pre-write before beginning my essay.
• I can write at least two body paragraphs that
  support my thesis statement.

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Let's Review
What does CSI mean?

• Claim Make your claim
• State State your evidencequote, paraphrase,
  etc.
• Interpret Interpret what it means to you

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• The Importance of Pre-Writing
• Helps generate ideas
• Provides a "skeleton" for your essay
• Only takes about 10-15 minutes
• Can be tailored to your learning styleoutlines,
  web charts, pyramids, etc.

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Begin pre-writing (in your FOA journal) for your
body paragraphs. When finished, raise your hand.
I will check your pre-writing and approve you for
beginning your paragraphs. Choose any style of
pre-writing you wish.