Introduction Review

Write the introduction to the following essay prompt:

________________ is the best season. Persuade others to agree with you.

Here is the organization your introduction needs to follow:
-An observation
-This makes me realize
-A thesis statement with three reasons

One day, as I was walking home from school, I noticed how the sidewalk was covered with leaves. With every step I took, there was a loud crunch that made it hard to talk to my friend as I walked home. At one point, my friend and I stopped and began to have a leaf fight. We picked up handfuls of leaves and started to chuck them at one another. This made me realize how much I enjoy fall as a season. Fall is an incredible season because it is still nice enough to go outside and be with friends and have fun doing silly activities like having leaf fights with friends. Summer can be too hot to be outside; winter can be too cold. Fall is just right. I believe that fall is the best season because the weather is just right, all of the change in color in trees is beautiful, and because of the most enjoyable holidays all happen during fall.

Song Theme Practice

Think of a song that has a strong message to it (that is not violent or sexual). Tell me the name of the song, the message, and give me one sentence from the song that shows the message. Be sure to explain how the song shows the message. Your response should be at least ten sentences long.

Extra Credit Theme Practice

Read the story below. What do you think the theme is? Explain in one complete paragraph. Be sure to give an example from your life to explain your thinking.


Adapted fom the novel- Call Me Maria

There once was a greedy baker who wanted to charge a starving man for the smell of his fresh-baked goods, aromas which gave the poor manpleasure and hope. He took the beggar to court to make him pay for what he was taking from him. The judge, to everyone's amazement, agreed with the banker. "If a man enjoys the smells of your labor, good panadero, then he must pay you in kind." The judge gave the poor man some coins from his own pocket and called both men to the bench. "Now, my brother, I want you to put those coins in your pocket and jingle them so the baker can hear the sound of money and thus you will settle your debt to the baker.

Theme Practice

Explain the theme (large message/lesson about life) that the person who made this poster is trying to communicate. Explain what the theme means by giving at least two examples from your life. Make the connections specific and clear.

Walk Two Moons

"Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins."

Reflect on this quote, what are some possible meanings of this quote? What situations might it apply to? When do people tend to judge others? Is it ever helpful?

Getting Personal in Your Personal Narrative Writing by Including Character Feelings and Reactions

I wrote a really short personal narrative that I’d like to share with you. It’s about when my car broke down one time in the school parking lot.

Yesterday, when I was leaving the school parking lot my car could go forward, but not backward. Then, all of a sudden, it worked! I drove out of the parking lot and down the street. Then, it made an odd noise and it stopped, right in the middle of the road. I quickly called for a tow truck.

Now. Look at this next one. It is the same story, but I added in my reactions and feelings. See if you can notice what is different about the writing of this small moment.

Yesterday, when I was leaving the school parking lot, I noticed my car was acting strangely. It could go forward, but not backward. I was worried. Then, all of a sudden, it worked! I drove out of the parking lot and down the street. What a relief! Then, it made an odd noise. Thump! It stopped, right in the middle of the road. I was so upset, I thought I might cry. “What am I going to do now?” I thought. I quickly called for a tow truck.


Assignment:

I want you to think about including character feelings and reactions in your writing. Remember that in order to get the highest score possible for a narrative, you need to have these types of character reactions and feelings. Retell a small moment paying close attention to character reactions and feelings.


Here is a student example from last year that earned full credit:
(I put her character reactions in bold)

brittany S. room 304 said...
Five years ago, I was helping my mom get ready for the Fourth of July. I was so excited that time was already here. We all knew that my uncle was really sick but we thought he was going to pull through because he was so strong and determined. I was happy that he might get better but I was also sad that he was sick and couldn't be here for the Fourth of July. I still kept my hopes up. Then as we were going to bed the hospital called and said that there was a drastic change and that he was doing better. I was so relieved. Then we all went to bed and we were just excited that he was doing better and that he might come around. Then just as we were going to bed and falling asleep we got another call from the hospital saying that he was doing really bad and that he might die tonight. After that we didn't sleep at all we just stayed up.I was so sad and was thinking of the worst. Then a couple hours later we got a call that he passed away. I was so sad that I started to cry, but yet I smiled because I knew that he wasn't suffering anymore. We knew that he was in a place far better than the place he was in.

Getting Started on Personal Narrative Practice

I want you to think about a time that you were super excited. Using one of the strategies that I taught you to start a personal narrative (describing the weather, describing what you were feeling, or dialogue), write the start of a personal narrative showing that you know how to do one of the three strategies. Try to do one that you have not done before.