Writing

1. Writing Interpretive, Narrative, Expository, and Persuasive

2. Table of Contents Interpretive Narrative Nonfiction Narrative Fiction Interpretive writing gives different perspectives or explanations on a piece of literature Narrative nonfiction writing tells a true-life story or a person or persons Narrative fiction writing presents characters in a conflict that is first developed and then resolved Expository writing examines a topic in detail in order to better understand it Persuasive writing present’s a writer’s idea or position and then provides evidence to support or prove it Expository Persuasive

3. Writing Interpretive

4. Five Easy Steps Prewriting Brainstorming possible topics Choosing topics Gathering details Organizing Drafting Introduction, body, and conclusion Revising Coherence Development of ideas Word choice Point of view Literary elements Editing Conventions Sentence structure Publish

5. 2. Organize Writing Traits A. Distinctive beginning, middle, and end 3. Development of Ideas A. Effective supporting details for thesis or purpose of the essay 1. Focus and Coherence A. Clear purpose or thesis B Connecting ideas throughout sentences and paragraphs 5. Conventions A. Rules of grammar, sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling 4. Voice A. Evident writer’s personality B. Appropriate language and tone for audience

6. Interpretive Writing Why do you think there could be different interpretations of a literary work? Why might this be important? When someone wants to explain an aspect or idea of a literary text, they use interpreting writing Interpretive writing gives different perspectives or explanations on a piece of literature

7. Subject v. Theme Review your subject and theme. Find four specific examples from the text that support your theme. Include a quote and page numbers. Listen to Ray Bradbury’s There Will Come Soft Rains on page 1000 of your textbook. Pay close attention to possible messages the author is trying present to the audience. To write an effective interpretive essay, you must distinguish between the subject and theme of the literary work. The subject describes what the story is about: In the novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the subject is a story about a young boy who discovers he is a famous wizard born into an infamous destiny. The theme is the message about life the story suggests: The theme in the novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is that though desire is not necessarily wrong or bad, it can be dangerous when overblown desire makes people lose perspective on life.

8. Identifying a Theme Your Turn! Identify the subject (what the novel is about) and three possible themes (messages about life) from your literature circle novel with your group and write them in a three column chart. Remember, a novel usually contains multiple themes. Try identifying the theme of the following short stories. Be sure to identify a message from the author or a life lesson learned from the story. Novel Subject To help you find an important and meaningful theme of your novel, use these strategies and questions to help guide you Strategies Look for clues in the title What clues does the title offer about a main theme? Explain. Look in the novel for the author’s statement about life Identify a life lesson that emerges in the novel What lessons about life do the main character’s actions reveal? Are there any symbols that play a significant role in the novel?How do they relate to the main character’s actions? Theme

9. Interpretive Paragraph Analysis When writing an interpretive paragraph analysis, include some of the following guidelines: In the opening sentence, include the title, author, and subject of the novel. In the body sentences, briefly describe the elements (characters, plot, setting, symbols) of the novel and stylistic devices that reveal the theme in a thorough explanation with direct quotations In the closing sentence, state the theme of the novel Helpful Hint: Use rhetorical devices in your writing to engage the audience!

10. Example Paragraph Analysis Your turn! Use the story There Will Come Soft Rains to write an interpretive paragraph analysis. Be sure to include elements that reveal the theme. Flashbacks character Scrooge’s Awakening In Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is a hard-hearted man who sees no meaning in Christmas. reveal that he has become more and more focused on his business, shunning contact with friends and relatives. Scrooge is a living in a cocoon of selfishness, blinded to the world beyond his counting house. One Christmas Eve Scrooge follows his usual holiday pattern – refusing requests for charity, berating his employee for wanting to take Christmas Day off, and rejecting the holiday dinner invitation of his only nephew. But as darkness falls, the shifts to mysterious images of deceased acquaintances, lost youth, and a prophecy of Scrooge’s own cold and lonely death. What he sees horrifies him and ironically brings him to his senses. Scrooge learns that Christmas is a yearly reminder about the importance of love and the rewards of generosity and kindness toward one’s fellow humans. setting

11. Embedding Quotes Example Embedded Quotes Use your interpretive analysis paragraph of There Will Come Soft Rains to practice incorporating direct quotes. Include one of the quotes and embed it in the rewritten paragraph. Excerpt from Monsters Are Made, Not Born Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein traces the plight of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist tortured by the thought that he is responsible for bringing into the world a hideously deformed, vicious creature. Through Frankenstein, Shelley expresses her fears that science left unchecked could be dangerous. However, in the end that theme is not nearly as moving as the monster’s message –– mistreating others is risky. This theme becomes clear when he states “There was none among the myriads of men that existed who would pity or assist me; and should I feel kindness toward my enemies?” It is the monster’s plight that haunts the reader as the monster recalls that he sought shelter from the weather, but “still more from the barbarity of man,” and no shelter was given. To include an essay with well-developed quotations, keep in mind these following guidelines: Introduce the quote with reference of the author Sir Winston Churchill once said "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." In Shakespeare’s play As You Like It, Touchstone says to Audrey in the Forest of Arden "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.“ Include the quote as part of a larger idea in a sentence The idea of the world void of the novel would not be “because it has exhausted its powers but because it exists in a world grown alien to it” is the basis of an uncreative population. Though including quotes helps build your case with evidence, quote as infrequently as possible to prevent your essay from becoming a parroting of someone else’s ideas

12. Interpretive Essay Guidelines Read the interpretive analysis example essays Land Values, Sharing Control, and For as Long as We Both Shall Live... Write an interpretive essay over a given topic concerning your literature circle novel Introduction with clearly defined thesis, body with topic sentences and supporting details, and conclusion paragraph summarizing ideas Typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12” font. 1” margins 1 ½ - 2 pages in length Citations for three direct quotes from the novel supporting the thesis

13. Gather details from the novel that support your theme by listing literary elements, significant events, and character thoughts and feelings that reveal the theme. Prewriting 2. Choose the theme you will write about 3. Gather details from the story that reveal the theme A. Literary Elements B. Significant events C. Character thoughts 1. Brainstorm several possible themes that fit the novel A. Use the title B. Find the author’s statement about life C. Identify a life lesson 5. Create your thesis statement A. Combine the element, character, or action with the theme to create the thesis 4. Identify direct quotes from the novel that support the theme A. Make sure they make sense in context with the theme

14. Selecting Direct Quotes Your turn! Identify and list 6-8 important quotes that relate to and develop the theme of your essay. Be sure to include the page number! Use direct quotations from your novel to emphasize important points of the theme Things to keep in mind when choosing quotes: Purpose (theme) of the essay Does the quote not only relate to the theme, but does it also develop your evidence? Context (presented evidence) of the essay Does the quote make sense within the context, or the presented evidence of the essay, that you are trying to make?

15. Creating Your Thesis Okonkwo becomes ensnared in the clash of two cultures Okonkwo becomes ensnared in the clash of two cultures. Now that you’ve gathered details, you are ready to write your thesis statement The thesis statement should connect your focus of the novel (elements, characters, or actions) to the theme Character Theme Thesis In this example, the focus was a character and the theme was tradition vs. change. Together, the thesis statement above was formedto connect the ideas.

16. Organize Your turn! Now that you’ve decided upon a thesis, you will need to organize your details. Choose your text structure and organize your details in a graphic organizer. When it comes to organizing your essay, there are four main types to consider: Description – explain a topic by listing characteristics, examples, or features by focusing on one thing and its components Chronological – listing items or events in a sequential order Compare and Contrast – explains how two or more things are alike and how they are different Cause and Effect – listing one or more causes or events and the resulting consequences by explaining how or why something happened, exists, or works Your organization is determined primarily by your thesis

17. Create the introduction for your interpretive analysis essay. Be sure to include the title, author, and subject of the book, as well as the thesis. Drafting 2. Narrow the start of your essay to your focus. 3. Begin the body of your essay with your first main idea A. Make sure you follow the text structure for your main ideas 1. Begin your essay with an introduction A. Make sure you clearly identify your focus that includes the main ideas of your essay B Make sure you establish a unique voice 5. Close your essay with a conclusion A. Make sure you summarize the main ideas and focus of your essay 4. Explain the supporting details for each of the main ideas A. Make sure to create a new paragraph for each new main idea

18. Introduction and Body Create your topic sentences for your essay. Make sure these are IMPORTANT examples that help reveal the theme. Be ready to explain these points. When you write your introduction, be sure to keep in the mind the following things: Title and author Background plot or character information Thesis statement When working on your body, be sure to address the major points or examples that reveal the theme Use your example events, characterization, or literary elements to create your topic sentences Be sure to use transition words and phrases to help connect ideas for coherence

19. Conclusion Create the ending paragraph for your essay. Be sure to review the points and the theme of the novel. Conclusions are a summarization of the main points and thesis of your essay. Think about the following things as you write: Restatement of the theme from the introduction Review of the main examples or points Remember that themes can be shown through characters or conflict. Theme is a perception about life or human nature that the writer shares with the reader.

20. Citations EXAMPLE CITATION for BIBLIOGRAPHY Meyer, Stephanie. Twilight. New York: Hachette Book Group, 2005. Nix, Garth. Abhorsen. New York: HarperCollins Pub., 2003 Before you begin revising and editing your rough draft, you need to include proper citation of your quotes: For each quote, you need to identify the page number: When Deuce asks Fade how he got his name, he replied, “’It came off an old bottle…’” (p. 135). Stalker and Tegan never got along, but after eight days of traveling “they were careful to keep the animosity silent and simmering” (p. 211). The bibliography citation for everyone will be in MLA format: Author’s last name, first name. Title. Publishing City: Publishing Company, Publishing Date

21. Writing Narrative Nonfiction

22. Five Easy Steps Prewriting Brainstorming possible topics Choosing topics Gathering details Organizing Drafting Introduction, body, and conclusion Revising Coherence Development of ideas Word choice Point of view Literary elements Editing Conventions Sentence structure Publish

23. 2. Organize Writing Traits A. Distinctive beginning, middle, and end 3. Development of Ideas A. Effective supporting details for thesis or purpose of the essay 1. Focus and Coherence A. Clear purpose or thesis B Connecting ideas throughout sentences and paragraphs 5. Conventions A. Rules of grammar, sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling 4. Voice A. Evident writer’s personality B. Appropriate language and tone for audience

24. Write about a time in your life when you changed. Prewriting 2. Choosethe topic you will write about 3. List main ideas that help explain your topic A. Make sure the ideasare clearly related to the topic and helpsupport your answer 1. Brainstorm several possible topics that are important to you A. Make sure they will answer the prompt B Make sure you know a lot about the topic 5. Organize your details with a text structure A. Make sure you put your information into a logical order for your text structure 4. List details that help explain your main idea A. Make sure they make sense B. Make sure they are important to the main idea

25. Selecting a Topic Your turn! List a number of important experiences in your life. Circle the experience you want to use as the topic of your personal narrative. Before selecting a topic, you need to write down several possible options that will answer the prompt Examples: Was hospitalized with an appendicitis attack Took a train trip with my grandmother Went canoeing with the youth group Participated in the school’s spelling bee Joined the Junior Drum and Bugle Corp Volunteered at the local nursing home Helped my neighbor take care of her dog

26. Focusing Your Topic Your Turn! Carefully read the following sentences. Then identify the ones you feel you make a good focus for your personal narrative. Christian and I had played in tennis tournaments all summer, but we learned more about friendship than tennis. I met my grandfather for the first time at my cousin’s wedding. I surprised my mother by making supper. I lived with my grandparents for a semester while my parents were busy starting a new business. When my little sister was born, my life changed completely. When focusing your topic, you need to be able to explain what you will be writing about in your essay Weak topics: One Saturday night a year ago, I learned that my friends are not always right. The last month of track meets really taught me something. Strong topic: The last month of track meets taught me that champions are made from discipline, determination, and sweat.

27. Gathering Details The next step in the prewriting step is to gather details for your topic with main ideas and supporting details A main idea is what the paragraph is primarily about and it helps describe the topic A supporting detail are smaller facts in theparagraph that help explain the main idea Using a chart to organize your main ideas and supporting details will help you in the next step.

28. Your turn! Record your key events in a chart like this one with details and resulting changes from the event.

29. Organizing Text Structure In order to accurately write a logical essay, you must decide in what order you present your information Choosing a text structure will allow you to do this Chronological – Step by step Cause and Effect – Something happened as a result of something else Compare and Contrast – Similarities and differences Helpful hint: Use the text structure handout to help you when you are writing - - especially for TRANSITIONS!

30. Drafting 2. Narrow the start of your essay to your focus. 3. Begin each body paragraph with a main idea (topic sentence) A. Create newparagraphs for eachnew main idea B. Follow text structure 1. Begin your essay with an introduction A. Make sure you clearly identify your focus that includes the main ideas of your essay B Make sure you establish a unique voice 5. Close your essay with a conclusion A. Make sure you summarize the main ideas and focus of your essay 4. Explain the supporting details for each main idea Maintain personal voice and tone Include dialogue

31. Introduction Introduction Example The following paragraph introduces the example topic of the summer during the Drum and Bugle Corps: I was never interested in joining any group or sport during the summer. I liked hanging out with my friends and doing odd jobs to make extra cash. But then last summer I decided to do something different. I joined the Warrentown Junior Drum and Bugle Corps. It was the best decision I’ve ever made, because it helped me make a confident and outgoing person who enjoys working with others. When writing an introduction for a personal narrative, you need to think about the following things: Engage the reader Establish a clear focus that includes your experience and how it changed you Establish a unique voice

32. Body Paragraphs Body Example In the examples below, note how the writer changes neutral words to words that illustrate attitude, or tone Neutral – Mr. D. walked before us and spoke loudly. Strong – Mr. D. paced before us and barked loudly. For each of the sentences, determine which word in parentheses helps enhance, or strengthen, the tone The tough schedule (affected, shook) my confidence. Mr. D. told me my playing added (spark, something) to the trumpet section. Before the competition, Mr. D. (huddled, met) with us like (leader, football coach). I will never forget my first day of practice with the drum and bugle corps. The direction, Mr. DeRusha, stepped onto the football field and ordered us all to sit along the 50-yard line. I nervously tapped the keys of my trumpet. I’d heard that Mr. D. had a reputation for being tough. He looked like one of those army drill sergeants on TV. He was tall and had a fresh crew cut, and when his voice exploded through the bullhorn, I shivered, even though it was almost 70 degrees outside. “Listen up, people!” he barked. “Welcome to the Warrentown Junior Drum and Bugle Corps. Being in a drum and bugle corps means you are alert and prepared at all times. Is that understood?” Establishing Tone Now that you have the reader’s attention and established your focus, it’s time to add details. Use your graphic organizer with your main ideas and supporting details to start writing your body, but as you do, keep in mind the following things: Choose words that maintain your voice and create an appropriate tone Use dialogue to help engage the reader Helpful hint: Make sure you refer back to your focus statement and consider the consequences of your own and other’s decisions and actions to show what you’ve learned!

33. Conclusion Conclusion Example Begin the rough draft of your essay. Be sure to keep in mind your focus statement and your text structure as you write. Make sure you explain your change and how it came about through a reflection back on the event or experience I still get goose bumps when I think about the band. Mr. DeRusha is a great director who taught me about discipline and respect. After last summer I am not the same Jon Bowers anymore. Today I feel good about my ability to play the trumpet, and I actually enjoy performing in front of people. When I look back on my decision to join the band, I realize it was one smart move! The ending paragraph of your essay is called the conclusion; it should be a reflection on the decisions or actions you made and the significance of the event of experience A conclusion should: Review the main ideas and focus Add new insight or lesson that is learned from the event or experience The personal change does not have to be a major turning point in the writer’s life; the change can simply be that the writer sees things in a different light.

34. D. Essay about oneexperience/event E. Evident personal voice and point of view Revising & Editing 2. Check for development of ideas and voice A. Use precise nouns, verbs, and adjectives B. Consistent pointof view 1. Check for internal and external coherence Clearly stated focus and change Paragraphs relate and explain focus Follow text structure 4. Check for mechanics and spelling Capitalization and punctuation Spelling and homonyms 3. Check for subject-verb agreement and sentence structure Single and plural subjects match verb tense Varied simple, compound, and complex sentences

35. Strategies STAAR Practice When writing a persona narrative, keep in mind the following writing strategies: Start by brainstorming possible experiences answering the prompt Create a thesis statement that answers ‘what’ and ‘how’ Create a graphic organizer with the main ideas and supporting details and organize with a text structure Write the rough draft with the intro, body, and conclusion Revise for organization, idea development, transitions, and length Edit for grammatical conventions Rewrite the final essay in the test booklet Your turn! Write a personal narrative about a time when you accomplished something important through hard work. Be sure to describe what you were trying to accomplish, and how your hard work paid off. Personal Narrative (non-fiction story about a real event that affected you in some way) Each personal narrative prompt will appear with a picture, an explanation of the picture, and the prompt. Sometimes it’s hard to make a decisionbecause there are so many choices. Write a personal narrative about a timewhen you had to make a decision. Besure to write in detail about the choiceyou made and describe what happenedas a result of your decision.

36. Writing Expository

37. Five Easy Steps Prewriting Brainstorming possible topics Choosing topics Gathering details Organizing Drafting Introduction, body, and conclusion Revising Coherence Development of ideas Word choice Point of view Literary elements Editing Conventions Sentence structure Publish

38. 2. Organize Writing Traits A. Distinctive beginning, middle, and end 3. Development of Ideas A. Effective supporting details for thesis or purpose of the essay 1. Focus and Coherence A. Clear purpose or thesis B Connecting ideas throughout sentences and paragraphs 5. Conventions A. Rules of grammar, sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling 4. Voice A. Evident writer’s personality B. Appropriate language and tone for audience

39. Expository Writing When might you use expository writing? Why would it be important to correctly write an expository essay? When someone wants to separate something into types or parts, you are classifying it Expository writing explains a concept or idea by presenting information with supporting evidence Expository writing Topic sentence begins each paragraph Body sentences present the categories and specific supporting details in the paragraph Closing sentences wraps up the paragraphs

40. Susan B. Anthony once said, “Modern invention has banished the spinning wheel, and the same law of progress makes the woman of today a different woman from her grandmother.” Some inventions have had a huge impact on the way we live our lives. An invention may make our jobs easier, or it could change the way we communicate, or it might provide us with great entertainment. Write an expository essay describing an invention that has influence your life. Prewriting 2. Choose the topic you will write about 3. Gather and sort details A. List details for each of the categories for the topic 1. Diagram several possible topics that you know a lot about List differentcategories undereach topic Check topic for being too narrow or broad 5. Organize your details with a text structure A. Make sure you put your information into a logical order for your text structure 4. Write the topic sentences Topic sentences should name the topic and mention its categories

41. Selecting and Gathering Whenever you are trying to decide between two things, you are comparing and contrasting them. Look at how these things are similar/positive, and how they are different/negative. Then using this information, make a decision about the topic For the topic, list as many details as possible for both subgroups Organize your details in a graphic organizer, such as a two-column graph to help keep your ideas straight The viewpoint that the details best support is the best choice for a topic

42. Creating Your Thesis Now that you’ve gathered details, you are ready to write your thesis statement Remember, the thesis should include the topic being addressed and the viewpoints being explained Forming a Thesis Statement Brainstorm about your prompt, identify the topics, gather details, and create a thesis statement about your topic. School uniforms provide benefits to students, parents, and educators. provide benefits School uniforms When writing an expository text, the focus statement (the guiding statement explaining what the essay is about) is called the thesis statement A thesis statement should contain the topic to be addressed and the specific viewpoint to explain Madison and Seattle may seem different, but they have much in common in terms of entertainment. Hunger persists in certain countries because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable. Topic Thesis Viewpoint In this example, the topic is addressing the benefits of school uniforms. The author then chose to say who they were benefiting, thus producing the thesis.

43. Topic Sentences Your turn! Create the topic sentences for each of your body paragraphs and organize them in a logical order for your rough draft. Topic sentences begin the body paragraphs and should help support your thesis statement Strategies: Keep in mind your thesis statement Make sure each topic sentence supports the viewpoint addressed in the thesis statement Include a transition to introduce the next supporting evidence smoothly Examples: One common way animals protect themselves is by changing color to blend in with their environment.

44. Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Publish C. Use only details that support your thesis D. End essay with conclusion reviewing your viewpoint 2. Revise your rough draft A. Check for focus and coherence B. Check for text structure and the development of your ideas C. Check for voice and tone 1. Create your rough draft using your graphic organizer Start your essay with an introduction that includes the thesis Start each body paragraph with topic sentences 4. Rewrite your essay after making your changes A. Be sure to write clearly and legibly 3. Edit your rough draft A. Check for spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, capitalization, and grammar errors

45. Strategies STAAR Practice Your turn! THINK carefully about the following statement.It has often been said that nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. Every act of goodness and charity, not matter how small, makes the world a better place. WRITE an essay describing something that you can do to make the world a better place. When writing an expository essay, keep in mind the following writing strategies: Start by listing main ideas and supporting details that support your opinion in an organizer Arrange your ideas in a logical text structure Create a thesis statement identifying the ‘what’ and ‘why’ Write the rough draft including the intro, body, and conclusion Revise for idea development, transitions, personal conclusion, and length Edit for grammatical conventions Rewrite final essay in test booklet Expository (non-fiction essay explaining your opinion about something: NOT PERSUASIVE!) Each expository text will have three parts: a quote, a statement explaining the idea, and the prompt READ the following quotation.Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. ~ Will Rogers THINK carefully about the following statement. Success comes from hard work. If you are not willing to work for what you want, then you will probably never achieve it. WRITE an essay explaining why hard work is necessary to be successful.

46. Writing Persuasive

47. Five Easy Steps Prewriting Brainstorming possible topics Choosing topics Gathering details Organizing Drafting Introduction, body, and conclusion Revising Coherence Development of ideas Word choice Point of view Literary elements Editing Conventions Sentence structure Publish

48. 2. Organize Writing Traits A. Distinctive beginning, middle, and end 3. Development of Ideas A. Effective supporting details for thesis or purpose of the essay 1. Focus and Coherence A. Clear purpose or thesis B Connecting ideas throughout sentences and paragraphs 5. Conventions A. Rules of grammar, sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling 4. Voice A. Evident writer’s personality B. Appropriate language and tone for audience

49. Persuasive Writing Persuasive writing helps you address a difference of opinion. By clearly stating a position and defending it with facts and logical reasons, you can convince others to agree with you When writing a persuasive essay, it is important to include a variety of effective supporting details: Facts Statistics Case studies Anecdotes

50. Some people define themselves by what they believe, while others allow their actions to speak for them. Write an essay stating your position on which is more important: what a person thinks or what a person does. Every issue has two sides. Write an essay explaining your issue’s point of view and give logical reasons for your position. Prewriting and Drafting 2. Identify a strong opposition statement to rebut 3. Counter an objection A. List several logical reasons to the important, objectionable statement that support your viewpoint 1. Create a reasons chart to support your position Include variouslogical reasons Explain with supporting evidence using precise, factual data 5. Outline A. Create an outline of your logical reasons to support your viewpoint 4. Organize your logical reasons A. Rank your reasons by order of importance and relative value