PLOT---The PLOT Thickens!

Can you answer the following questions without looking somewhere else for the answers?

• What is expository text? What are some examples?
• What is narrative text? What are some elements of narrative text?
• The main events in the story are called the _________. The side stories and mini-stories within the BIG story are called _________.

(The answers are located at the bottom of this posting!)

So, we have had quite a journey so far. We have really thought about writing and reflected about being writers. Here are some topics we have covered:

1. What kind of writer are you?
2. REVISING
3. What inspires us?
4. Developing a character!
5. Story Ideas
6. Plot

I think it's time for some WRITING. How do you feel about writing a short holiday themed narrative using the conversations we have had so far? Well, I hope you feel good about it...because it is what I am asking you to do!

The prompt I am giving you aks you to write a narrative piece. Think about the plot diagram we looked at last week to "plot out" your story? Make sure your story has all the elements of a good PLOT (set the stage with character and setting, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution).

Your story can be as short, or as long, as you see fit. Write enough to tell the story!

PROMPT:

Tell about a time you had special holiday wish.

• What is expository text? What are some examples? Expository texts provide information. Some examples are non-fiction books, textbooks, and reference books.
• What is narrative text? What are some elements of narrative text? Narrative texts tell a story. They include setting, characters, and a plot.
• The main events in the story are called the plot. The side stories and mini-stories within the BIG story are called subplots.

Section 7: Now We Get to the Weird Stuff: Plot PART I

Before I begin today's post, let me share another cool blog with all of you. Mrs. Wallace brought it to the attention of some students she was working with and someone said, "Hey! That is like our 5th grade blog." See! There is a huge collection of us out there. You are a part of a bigger group of "literacy loving" bloggers in this world. How does it feel?

http://www.byrdseed.com/patterns-in-writing-conflict/

 

PLOT.

PLOT.

PLOT.

Did I mention PLOT?

This week, we are thinking about the PLOT of stories and developing a PLOT when we are writing narratives.  The author of Spilling Ink gives some good suggestions. She says...

A.) Think to yourself. Am I the type of story writer who plans a story ahead of time OR am I the type who just writes page to page and lets the story take on a life of its own?

B.) What does your main character want more than anything? What is their desire? What is their MOTIVE?

C.) What difficulties will your character encounter in reaching thier goal? Don't make it easy on your character. Make the readers want to ROOT for your character.

D.) Within the big PLOT (storyline of events) are there any SUBPLOTS (smaller stories within a bigger story)?

WOAH! There is a lot that goes in to telling a great story. It feels good to figure this writing craft out.

Response for the week:

Pretend you are the main character of your story.

What is your MOTIVE? (What do you want more than anything?)

What challenges are going to get in your way? (This is called the RISING ACTION.)

Section 6: Blackberries, Raspberries, and Story Ideas

" Did you know ideas are everywhere, growing wild, yours for the picking? If you miss one or two, nature will offer you many more?"

This section of Spilling Ink is dedicated to story ideas. Where do we get them? Where do we store them?

If you are like Mrs. Horsley, you must jot down your ideas as you get them or else you will forget them. People have diferent ways to record their ideas.

Some use paper...

Some use sticky notes...

Some text themselves...

Some send themselves emails...

Some record their voices....

Some keep paper or online journals...

People have all kinds of tactics for jotting down their ideas.

Your challenge for the week:

Make an effort to record good ideas this week. How should you record them? Your choice! (See the above list.) Whenever a good idea strikes you (and usually it happens like a bolt of lightning)...jot it down!

Comment to the blog and let us know 2 things.

1. What method of jotting down your ideas did you use?

2. What is one idea this week that STRUCK you? What's something you'd like to write about?

Section 4: Convincing Your Characters That They Are Alive

Think about what inspires you. How could you use that inspiration to come up with an idea for a narrative? Who would be the leading, main character in your narrative?

When we write NARRATIVES, we include CHARACTERS. A rich, strong narrative has a strong, developed main character.

So in Section 4 of Spilling Ink, it encourages you to pretend that your main character is sitting across from you. Get to know your character by asking them some questions. Interview them!  You are imagining what it is like to be them!

Response of the Week: Interview your character!

Question List: (from page 27)

Name of Character ________________________
Role of Character ___________________________

1. What is your happiest memory?
2. What makes you laugh so hard that soda shoots out of your nose?
3. What don't you want anyone to find out about you?
4. What is the best part of your personality?
5. What shoes do you usually wear?
6. Name some things you are not very good at.
7. How would your best friend describe how you look?
8. What irritates you?
9. What are you afraid of?
10. Tell me about your family.
11. What does your bedroom look like?
12. What do you think of yourself when you look in the mirror?
13. What's the most embarassing thing that has ever happened to you?

Here comes the most important question you can ask your character...

14. WHAT DO YOU REALLY, REALLY WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD?

(Check back to the blog by Thursday the 15th to see Mrs. Horsley's response!)

Section 3: Inspiration

I looked up the definition of inspiration and it had the most wonderful definition. It read that inspiration is, "the act or power of moving the mind or the emotions." Some things in our world are SO powerful that they have the ability to INSPIRE us, or move our mind and emotions. The beautiful thing is different things INSPIRE each of us. 

As a writer, writing about my INSPIRATIONS comes easy. Because when I think about things that INSPIRE me, ideas and images come flooding to my mind and emotions run through my heart.  Usually my pencil (or keyboard) can't keep up with my mind!

Reponse of the Week:

Name five things that INSPIRE you. When you think about these INSPIRATIONS, ideas and images come flooding to your mind.

Make sure to read Mrs. Horsley's comment to find out what INSPIRES her.

Section 2: Ugly First Drafts

I had an interesting conversation with Mrs. Risney last week about writing. YES! Teachers and principals talk about schoolwork all the time! She said she can tell the mark of a real writer when she compares a rough draft with a final copy. They should not look the same! In fact, they should look RADICALLY different. The final piece should be a much better version of the first draft. A real writer REVISES thier work. What does that mean? The art of revision is exactly what the word says "RE"= again "VISION"= looking. REVISION means looking at your work again, asking yourself the following questions, and then working to improve your work:

Ideas/Context

❑    Is my topic narrow, clear and focused?

❑   Are my ideas fresh and original?      

❑    Have I included descripitve details? Is there anything I can add more detail about?

❑    Does my writing makes sense?

Organization

❑   Do I have a clear beginning, middle and end?

❑    Can my reader understand my writing?

❑   Does my writing have a logical sequence?

❑    Do my paragraphs transition smoothly? Would transition words help?

❑    Are my paragraphs are in the right order?

Voice

❑    Am I writing to a clear audience?

❑    Does my writing sound like me?

❑   Is my writing expressive?

❑    Am I confident, energized, and passionate about my topic?

Word Choice

❑    Do my words create a vivid image? Can my reader visualize my writing?

❑    Does my piece have powerful vocabulary?

❑    Are my words “just right” and do they make my message clear?

Sentence Fluency

❑    Does my piece have an engaging lead?

❑    Do my words and phrases read smoothly?

❑   Do my sentences begin in different ways?

❑    Are my sentences varied in length and structure, and are they constructed correctly?

This week's challenge:

REVISE the following sentence to make it a POWERFUL piece of text.

Autumn is a nice season.

Section 1: Is It Really This Simple?

I am so excited that we are taking this journey together. Writing. It really is a beautiful thing! Everyone possesses thoughts. Writing allows us to permanently record our thoughts. How cool! One hundred years from now, people can read what I was thinking in 2012. I love that!

So let's have a little fun. Let's share...

What kind of writer are you?
"Do you favor exciting plots, or complex characters? Are you interested in action or emotion or mood? Do you enjoy describing everything in the room, or do you prefer to write pages of dialogue? Do you write about things that you've seen and experenced, or do you love fantasy worlds? Do you prefer science or fiction? Do you like romance, comedy, mystery, or stories about real-life problems? Do you like all the above, none of it, or your own unique mixture?" (Mazer, p.5)

Where do you like to write?
Pick a place in this world that is the PERFECT writing location. It should be a place where you feel calm, comfortable, and INSPIRED.

Try to post a response by next week. Anyone who posts by my next meeting will get a treat.

Remember the posting rules:
1. No last names.
2. Write your teacher's name in parentheses ( ) next to your first name.
3. Reread your post before you submit. Does it make sense? Are you proud of your response. It will be read by everyone.
4. Mrs. Horsley will moderate comments. It will not appear until it is approved by her.

Also, try to read a few of your peers' responses. That is the fun part.
Mrs. Horsley will post first. :)

Have a BEAUTIFUL week.
Mrs. Horsley

Welcome!

Hello Fifth Graders of NLES!

Welcome to your grade level blog dedicated to WRITING!

I recently picked up an AMAZING book entitled Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook. Like every book I pick up, I read the first couple pages. Something happened. I became HOOKED on the book and I thought, "I must share this book with the fifth graders of North Landing. They will love it as well!".

Every week, I will visit your class and share a couple chapters from this amazing book. The power will come from this blog. A blog is a tool for communication. We can all write things for the world to view. We can write our thoughts, our opinions, or even pieces we have written and want to share.

Do me a favor. Keep this blog alive. Visit it once or twice a week. Each time you visit, read my postings and the postings of your peers. I will post every week before I meet with your class. Also, consider writing something yourself. Be a part of the magic.

See you soon!

Mrs. Horsley