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