Why is sentence variety so important?
Sentence variety is important because it is important. It is important so you don't always say the same thing over and over. Sentence variety is important so you don't sound like a broken record. It is boring if you use the same beginnings to sentences and the same sentence structure every time you write. People will just be waiting for that sentence that says something a little different and adds a little zest to your writing. See!
The paragraph above is an example of BAD sentence variety. This is why we should improve that part of our writing - otherwise, what we write becomes mush.
Here are some links to get you thinking! (and writing varied sentences)
And here!
Showing posts with label Giver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giver. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thesis and Structure
Click here for a PDF about writing thesis statements. This may give you an idea about how to revise the one in your essay if you think it is weak.
Click here for a web site about organization. You can also try this link for a web site on outlining your essay. This will help you to switch where your paragraphs are or where you think they should be. You may even want to move around the sentences in your paragraphs so that they make more sense or flow more smoothly. Think of an outline as a map for your structure.
Click here for a web site about organization. You can also try this link for a web site on outlining your essay. This will help you to switch where your paragraphs are or where you think they should be. You may even want to move around the sentences in your paragraphs so that they make more sense or flow more smoothly. Think of an outline as a map for your structure.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Essay Writing - Exam Week
Let's get to essay writing! Today we are discussing some fine points of essay writing before I send you all to do it tomorrow. Tomorrow, you will be writing the entire period, refining and reworking your ideas INDEPENDENTLY.
After tomorrow's class, then we can rework what you have written and improve the writing for the final draft.
A few tips:
- Make sure you understand what the question is asking - read it through and reread it so that you answer it properly. There is nothing worse than writing an entire essay answering the question in the wrong way.
- Take your time. Even though sometimes we want to write everything all at once, take your time and really think about how you want to construct your idea. Don't take too much time though because then you will find it is the end of the period and you have nothing written. What ever you have at the end of the period on Tuesday is what you can work with from that point on, so make sure it is something substantial.
- Think. Think. Think. (as Pooh Bear says) Make sure you construct a good idea about what you are writing. Don't write what I expect, write about things that are "surprising" to you or that you think I will find interesting. Don't tell me what I know, tell me what you think.
- Most of all - do your best! That is all you can do, right? Your best may not be a five, but hopefully it is not a 1, but whatever it is, just do it!
After tomorrow's class, then we can rework what you have written and improve the writing for the final draft.
A few tips:
- Make sure you understand what the question is asking - read it through and reread it so that you answer it properly. There is nothing worse than writing an entire essay answering the question in the wrong way.
- Take your time. Even though sometimes we want to write everything all at once, take your time and really think about how you want to construct your idea. Don't take too much time though because then you will find it is the end of the period and you have nothing written. What ever you have at the end of the period on Tuesday is what you can work with from that point on, so make sure it is something substantial.
- Think. Think. Think. (as Pooh Bear says) Make sure you construct a good idea about what you are writing. Don't write what I expect, write about things that are "surprising" to you or that you think I will find interesting. Don't tell me what I know, tell me what you think.
- Most of all - do your best! That is all you can do, right? Your best may not be a five, but hopefully it is not a 1, but whatever it is, just do it!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Photo assignment
We are going to continue our discussion tomorrow about MEMORIES and the photographs and memories you guys have. Please bring in your pictures and your written down memories of them, so we can discuss them tomorrow.
I love pictures - don't you?
I love pictures - don't you?
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Color Blindness
Click on this and go to this cool web site that simulates color blindness!
Check out what you see. I almost feel like I might be color blind, but then I realize -- I can see all the differences, so that must mean that I am not color blind (duh). Try it out! Are any of you color blind? Do you know anyone who is? What is it like for them?
Check out what you see. I almost feel like I might be color blind, but then I realize -- I can see all the differences, so that must mean that I am not color blind (duh). Try it out! Are any of you color blind? Do you know anyone who is? What is it like for them?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Reading and Thinking
I want you guys to read and think this weekend (I know - it takes a lot). Think about how what is going on in the novel fits together. We will be writing essays about the novel, so I need you guys to have some thoughts about what to write about when the time comes. We will be doing a practice essay this week, so prepare yourselves.
Make sure you have finished the novel by Tuesday! Also - report to the computer lab on Monday (Burak - you are responsible for getting everyone there).
AFTER POST: Reminder "NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY!" - have as much fun as you can!
Make sure you have finished the novel by Tuesday! Also - report to the computer lab on Monday (Burak - you are responsible for getting everyone there).
AFTER POST: Reminder "NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY!" - have as much fun as you can!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Auteur
Please tell me I didn't butcher the french word for author...is that it in the title?
Anyways -- if you were an author, what would your first book be about? It can be fiction or non-fiction and about anything you think you would write about. How many chapters would it have? What would it explore?
I would want to write a book about education analyzing the way kids learn and teaching teachers more effective ways of engaging students in learning. I would also want to write a book about my sister-in-law's experiences with breast cancer or my sister's experience with infertility and then giving birth to a premature baby. I also have dreams of writing about travel, but sometimes travel writing can get boring, so I am not sure about this one.
Anyways -- if you were an author, what would your first book be about? It can be fiction or non-fiction and about anything you think you would write about. How many chapters would it have? What would it explore?
I would want to write a book about education analyzing the way kids learn and teaching teachers more effective ways of engaging students in learning. I would also want to write a book about my sister-in-law's experiences with breast cancer or my sister's experience with infertility and then giving birth to a premature baby. I also have dreams of writing about travel, but sometimes travel writing can get boring, so I am not sure about this one.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Memories... (you know this song too...I know you do)
Do you guys remember what you have learned about essay writing? What are some of the tips that you have gotten and retained or remembered over the years?
What are some things that make sense about essay writing and what are some things that you think you just don't get? (You need to be a humble learner for this one, so take off your coolness cloak and admit you don't know everything - okay?)
What are some things that make sense about essay writing and what are some things that you think you just don't get? (You need to be a humble learner for this one, so take off your coolness cloak and admit you don't know everything - okay?)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Essays? Really?
We have been told to teach you guys how to write an essay and that it will be the next Exam you take. My first question is WHY?
Why in the world do we have to write an essay? And why in the world does it have to be about The Giver?
Well, we don't and it doesn't, but we are going to write one and it will be about The Giver.
Click here for a web site about how essay writing came about and why in school we usually write about literature when we write about an essay in English class.
Why in the world do we have to write an essay? And why in the world does it have to be about The Giver?
Well, we don't and it doesn't, but we are going to write one and it will be about The Giver.
Click here for a web site about how essay writing came about and why in school we usually write about literature when we write about an essay in English class.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Diversity
If everyone was the same even though we are all born as individuals, would this make things easier or harder?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Color
How does color affect our lives? If everything was in Black and White, would we notice? Would we miss color?
How is this picture:
Different from this one:
How is this picture:
Different from this one:
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Age
Why are years less important as time passes? Usually the celebration of a 16th birthday is treated differently than the celebration of a 52cnd birthday. Why do you think that is?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Not Important?
Sometimes we think our stories are not important enough to be heard. If everyone thought that we would have no TV, no movies, no newspapers or magazines and no books to read.
Everyone's story is important in some way, and they should all be recorded and shared. What are some ways you record and share stories of your own? How can people continue to share and record stories?
Everyone's story is important in some way, and they should all be recorded and shared. What are some ways you record and share stories of your own? How can people continue to share and record stories?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ceremonies and Traditions
What are some ceremonies and traditions you have in your life or in your family? Try to list as many as you can - let's see who has the most!
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Perfect World
Many novels you will read are about what a perfect world or utopia possesses and how an absolute utopia is an impossibility.
What would a Utopian world be like for you? What would some of the rules be? Would there be rules?
What would a Utopian world be like for you? What would some of the rules be? Would there be rules?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Like Life
Literature is a lot like life. The stories we read in class are not only for learning how to pass the exam or for learning a language. The experiences characters have are experiences that are similar to the ones you have in life.
Although The Giver is fictional, there are many things that are similar to what we experience. There is so much more than language and vocabulary that we can learn from reading. I read sometimes so that I can learn about experiences I know I will never have. It teaches me how to react if something like the story happens in my life.
It is not that I am all of a sudden going to be in Jonas' world but that experiences he has are parallel to ones in the real world and that I can also learn from what he does, not only what I do or what my friends do.
Do you find this to be true?
Although The Giver is fictional, there are many things that are similar to what we experience. There is so much more than language and vocabulary that we can learn from reading. I read sometimes so that I can learn about experiences I know I will never have. It teaches me how to react if something like the story happens in my life.
It is not that I am all of a sudden going to be in Jonas' world but that experiences he has are parallel to ones in the real world and that I can also learn from what he does, not only what I do or what my friends do.
Do you find this to be true?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Easy vs. Hard
Why is it important sometimes to do things that we don't want to do? What are some things that you have done that you did not enjoy doing, but after reflection, you have realized that it was something that you needed to do or experience?
Who experiences things they don't want to in the novel and why are these experiences important?
Who experiences things they don't want to in the novel and why are these experiences important?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A Good Reader
As you read you should always have a pen or pencil in hand and always be taking notes, underlining things and really having a written dialogue with the book as you read.
Start underlining all the words you are not sure of as you read. Then -- when you decide you can't read anymore, go to a dictionary and look those words up. Doing this type of exercise will really help with your vocabulary.
I did something similar to this the other day except I was reading a package instead of a book. I learned that "hassas" means damaged.
Start underlining all the words you are not sure of as you read. Then -- when you decide you can't read anymore, go to a dictionary and look those words up. Doing this type of exercise will really help with your vocabulary.
I did something similar to this the other day except I was reading a package instead of a book. I learned that "hassas" means damaged.
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