5-- Narrative - What is it and assign essay

Collect responses to Shitty First Drafts and Active Reading Outline for Chapter 6 (after we have reviewed the chapter).


Activity #1
Journal: If you could write any story, what would you write about?  Who, what, where, why, when and how -- answer these questions as they relate to your story.

"Narrative is the oldest and most compelling method of holding someone's attention; everyone wants to be told a story." 
William Zinsser


Activity #2

Review Chapter 6 -- Back to the Lake -- Narration

     Why do we write narratives?  to connect with other people, to entertain, to record what people said or did, to explain the significance of events, to persuade others to act in a certain way, or to accept our point of view on an issue.

     The Success Story

     Purpose and audience (p. 99)

     Generating Ideas: Asking what happened -- and who, where, when, how, and why

     Annie Dilliard (p. 100-101)
 
     John Steinbeck told a friend who was writing his life story, "Just take a period. Then try to remember it so clearly that you can see things: what colors and how warm or cold and how you got there ... It is important to tell what people looked like, how they walked, what they wore, what they ate."

     Developing a plot -- chronological order is the best way to write a narrative.  Events need to be related in such a way that one leads directly to another, or causes, another. Should have a beginning, middle, and an end. Then your narrative will form a complete action: a plot.

     How to write the introduction to a narrative 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyU2BujSa4w

     Transitions

     Dialogue -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAFx8agy8u8

Activity #3
Preparing to Read: Are you a good writer? Do you like to write? Did you have any experiences in English class that affected your attitude toward writing? What were they?

In-class: Read and discuss Learning to Write by Russell Baker

(handout)

Handout Narrative Assignment and rubric 

Narrative essay assignment from "Short Prose Reader" builds on Baker's essay.  Write about an eye-opening experience -- some event you really want to write about, some incident you want to recapture and hold" for yourself.  Write an essay in which you describe what happened.

Homework -- Read Chapter 7 on Description in "Back to the Lake" (You will want to use description in you narrative essay.)

Chapter 7 Active Reading Online

4 -- Discuss Chapter 1 Back to the Lake/Wind

Activity #  1

Journal -- Describe someone who is a hero to you and explain why.    

Activity #2

Discuss Chapter 1 in Back to the Lake

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you will go." Dr. Seuss

"Learning to write is similar to learning to play the piano. You have to practice daily to improve your skills. Studying good examples also helps." Juha Haataia  Give an example of something in your life that you have had to work hard at achieving.

"Good writers are usually good readers" ... "they read critically, paying close attention to the strategies and techniques that accomplished writers use all the time for presenting their ideas. (2)"

What does it mean to be an "active reader"?

"The word text, like the word textile, derives from the Latin word for weaving. A text is a written fabric of words.  When you read a text with a critical eye, you unravel that fabric, looking at how the words fit together to make meaning. You also question what you're reading and think more deeply about your own ideas on the subject. (2)"

The Reading Process 
     
Previewing -- looking over the text generally

Reading -- combing through it systematically from beginning to end, trying to discern the author's main point.

Responding --  Do you agree or disagree (or both) with the author's ideas?

Go over Active Reading Outline for Chapter 1

Video on active reading https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhdaOGmXcWs


Activity #3

Let's put that active reading into practice.

First, have you ever been through a tornado, a hurricane, or a severe thunderstorm? Describe how you felt at the time. Were you frightened, excited -- or did everything happen too fast? What were your thoughts and feelings once the incident was over?

The first "essay" you will write for this class is a narrative essay, or a story.  We're going to read a narrative essay now and dissect it.

In-class: Read, annotate, and discuss Wind by William Least Heat-Moon (handout from pages 34-35) from "Short Prose Reader"


Did you notice that Leola and Paul never mentioned their feelings in describing their adventure? What feelings do you think they had? How would you have felt? Would their account have been more interesting if they had included their feelings? Why or why not?

Gaining Word Power
Leola and Paul use some lively, descriptive verbs in telling their story:

...Paul gawked at me. (para. 2)
We hunkered in the corner ... (para. 3)
We clamped on to each other ... (para. 4)
It was just plain imbedded in us. (para. 9)

The same sentences are rewritten below, minus the verbs. Fill in each blank with your own definition of the missing word.

Paul ________ at me.
We __________ in the corner.
We __________ on to each other.
It was just plain ________ in us.

Go to the link below and copy and complete the active reading outline for further discussion.

Active Reading Outline

If there is time remaining, work on your Shitty First Draft response.

Homework: Read and annotate Chapter 6 -- Narration

Complete Chapter 6 Active Reading Online
Active Reading Online

Complete final draft of Shitty First Draft response

3 -- Discuss Shitty First Drafts/How to write a Response

"All good writers write them." Anne Lamott -- What is Anne Lamott talking about?

Journal: Finish this thought in one paragraph: If I could change one thing about myself (if you can't think of anything, you might want to consider telling how you got to be so perfect!) ...



Binder check: Is your syllabus in there? Are your handouts in there?


Shitty First Drafts is the name of an essay in Anne Lamott's book called Bird by Bird.  This is a hugely successful book about the writing process, and I recommend it to anyone interested in the writing process.

I asked you to annotate the story because when you annotate effectively, you are more likely to retain what you have read. Let's go over the essay. 

Active Reading Outline
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14iFNvjnQh6uZjNRkPvl3jRiiETJJ38G523SZBM1-VuM/edit


But Why Encourage Shitty First Drafts?

1. Encourages and enables composition
2. Motivates substantial revisions
3. Increases the writer’s confidence and trust in their writing process
4. Engages rhetorical awareness -- in other words, expects you to  anticipate the questions and needs of your audience. 

Shitty First Drafts motivates substantial revision. What does it mean to revise?

Revising does not mean fixing style, grammar, and mechanics. This is editing. Revising does not mean cutting and pasting, or moving things around, or fleshing out transitions. That is also editing.  

"To revise" means "to look at it again," "to re-see," "to revisit." Revision entails the review and, often, alteration of one's very thinking -- of such elements of one's argument as thesis, agenda, analysis, evidence, and terminology.  Sometimes revising and editing overlap: sometimes one can modify or enhance one's argument without starting from scratch. Often, however, trying to effect such change while working with what is already on paper or on the screen can make an essay worse by rendering it incoherent or contradictory.  

Hence, revising often means rewriting a paper on a blank screen or blank pad of paper. One mark of a good writer is a willingness to revise, where necessary, by starting from scratch. Such revision does not imply that the effort one has put into one's draft is in vain. Rather, it means that one has found out which way to go by finding out which way not to go, while at the same time learning what one needs to learn about one's topic to write effectively on it.

Journal one more time -- Write one paragraph answering this question -- HOW HAS READING SHITTY FIRST DRAFTS CHANGED YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE WRITING PROCESS? In other words, how has it encouraged you? Please put your name at the top of the paper and hand it in.  Thank you!

_________________________________________________________________________

Writing responses.  You will be asked to write several "responses" in this class. A response is to a reading that you have read.

Assignment - Write a response to Shitty First Drafts. 

What is a response to an essay? 
What is the purpose of a response?
How to write a response -- Page 6 in Back to the Lake
     Summarize
     React
     Consider what you learned about the WRITING PROCESS in the essay.

Each paragraph should have a quote from the essay that supports your opinion. 


Cite paragraphs with (par. 3) or (pars. 3-5).

Due Friday, January 31: Response to Shitty First Drafts

Homework for next class: Read and annotate Chapter 1 -- Good Writers are Good Readers. Complete Active Reader Outline
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C9Kx--fDyz1Gn65LQYRoJ04RYLrJr6K0NgQf1KZJvHI/edit

2 -- Sentence/Paragraph writing and practice

Journal -- Write about the best or worst day of your life. (15 minutes) Focus on subject, predicate and punctuation.





Discuss journal entries.


Review the two parts of a sentence. What are they? How do you know which is which?

Grammar: Writing a paragraph 

What makes up a traditional paragraph?  A basic paragraph structure usually consists of five sentences: the topic sentence, three supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1J9ZPVydrc

Discuss Questions on Active Reading Outline for Chapter 5

Back to the Lake Writing Paragraphs

“I didn’t have the vocabulary to say ‘paragraph,’ but I realized that 

a paragraph was a fence that held words.” Sherman Alexie

Go Over Two Paragraphs in Various Modes of Writing

Narration – (p. 80)

Argument – (p. 86)



How do I know when to start a new paragraph?

You should start a new paragraph when:

• When you begin a new idea or point. New ideas should always start in new paragraphs. If you have an extended idea that spans multiple paragraphs, each new point within that idea should have its own paragraph.
• To contrast information or ideas. Separate paragraphs can serve to contrast sides in a debate, different points in an argument, or any other difference.  
• When you readers need a pause. Breaks between paragraphs function as a short "break" for your readers -- adding these in will help your writing be more readable. You would create a break if the paragraph becomes too long or the material is complex.
• When you are ending your introduction or starting your conclusion. Your introductory and concluding material should always be in a new paragraph. Many introductions and conclusions have multiple paragraphs depending on their content, length, and the writer's purpose.

Length and Consistency of paragraphs

 https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/paragraphs_and_paragraphing/paragraphing.html

Writing a paragraph worksheet.

Linking paragraphs  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gku-vSf9Rk


Hand out copies of Shitty First Drafts. Review how to annotate.

Video -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Mz4nwciWc

Homework: Read and annotate Shitty First Drafts. Then answer and print your answers to the questions in the outline below.

Shitty First Draft Active Reading Outline

Be prepared to discuss the essay and answer questions in class.

English 199 -- First Day of Class

Good morning students!

Welcome to College Writing EL199.  I'm looking forward to working with you this semester and making a difference in your writing skills.  


Some Basic Information:

     Class Location: Bingham Hall 107
     Instructor: Kirsten Holmstedt
     Office Hours: Umbrella House, Tuesday and Friday 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
     Blog: https://thamesel199.blogspot.com/

Books: "Back to the Lake: A Reader and Guide" by Thomas Cooley3ed. (Norton) and "They Say I Say with Readings" (4ed) by Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst

Syllabus (handout and review)
EL Spring 2020 syllabus and schedule

Handouts go in your binder.  Binder should have at least three (4) tabs: Syllabus, Handouts, Assignments, and Journal (with lined paper)

Daily classroom expectations

MLA sample (handout and review)

Marooned Icebreaker:  If you were marooned on a deserted island, which three people would you want with you? They can be dead, alive, or imaginary. Introduce yourselves and share with your group. Think about your response for a few minutes.  If you can't think of three people, name one or two.  It could be a musician, artist, famous athlete, or a religious figure.

Journal: I hope to have you journaling at the beginning of every class. 

Why is journaling important? Journal writing provokes more reflection and encourages students to take charge of their learning and their feelings. Journals help students make connections between what is really important to them, the curriculum, and the world. Journaling helps students to be less restrained when expressing themselves..

Today I want you to journal about how you are feeling about starting your second semester at Thames. How does it feel to be back? Good, bad or indifferent and why? What are your goals this semester? When we are all finished writing, you may share some of your writing.  Sharing what you write in your journal is NOT required. (15 minutes)

Grammar:

In the beginning of the semester we will review some essential English concepts (grammar).  As we progress through the semester, we will build on the concepts and touch on new material. 

Refresher on how to write a sentence. A sentence is made up of two parts -- a subject and a predicate. 

     What is a subject? The subject of a sentence is a person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something. You can find the subject of a sentence if you can find the verb. Ask the question, "Who or what 'verbs' or 'verbed'?" and the answer to that question is the subject. 

     What is a predicate?  The predicate of a sentence is the part that modifies the subject in some way.  Because the subject is the person, place, or thing that a sentence is about, the predicate must contain a verb explaining what the subject does.

     
What goes at the end of the sentence? Punctuation. What kind of punctuation can you use?

Video: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/syntax-sentences-and-clauses/subjects-and-predicates/v/subjects-and-predicates-syntax-khan-academy

Subject and predicate worksheets

First Graded Assignment: Using what you just learned about how to write a sentence, compose a letter to your professor about your first semester at Thames, both academically and socially.  In your first paragraph, write about how you did academically. Did you do better or worse than you thought you would do? Why? What do you hope to accomplish academically this semester? What is going to be different to make that happen. 

In your second paragraph, describe your social life (friends, activities, hobbies, sports, ...) at Thames. Who do you hang out with. What do you like to do? What would you like to do more or less of?

Finally (third paragraph), what is your goal in this class and how do you plan to reach that goal?  What are your impressions of your reading and writing abilities? In other words, what are your strengths and weaknesses and how can I help you?

Make sure each sentence has a subject, predicate and proper punctuation.  

You should give this letter your best effort.

How to annotate (worksheet)

Homework: 

Finish letter to professor.

Read and annotate Chapter 5 in "Back to the Lake" on writing paragraphs. Also, fill out Active Reading Outline on Chapter 5 -- copy the outline (link below) and type in it.  Print the outline for class. Thank you!

Chapter 5 Active Reading Outline

Write your assignments in your planner before you leave class today.