Sunday, November 22, 2009
Columbian Elementary - Omaha Public Schools
Narrative Writing

    Fourth graders focus the majority of their writing energies on personal narratives.  A personal narrative is a true story based on life experiences.  The usual characters are yourself and the other people who shared the experience with you.  You tell the story from your point of view, using the pronouns I, me, and my.  The events happen in time order, and your thoughts and feelings are as important as the rest.

    We instruct the fourth graders to begin their writing using a modified "4-Square."  This helps him or her to stay focused on one idea that is organized in time order.  We use the Six Traits of Writing to make sure our writing is "good."

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Weekly Prompt & Hints
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Prompt:

Think about an experience when you realized that you suddenly understood an idea, a skill, or something else you had been struggling with.  It might have been a math problem, a sports skill, or a new rule.  Write a story about finally understanding.  Your story should show readers how it felt to struggle, then to understand.

Prompt:

Think about an experience when you realized that you suddenly understood an idea, a skill, or something else you had been struggling with.  It might have been a math problem, a sports skill, or a new rule.  Write a story about finally understanding.  Your story should show readers how it felt to struggle, then to understand.

The Writing Process
Day One
PREWRITING
• brainstorm
• getting ideas down onto paper
• graphic organizer (4-square)
Day Two
WRITING
• use graphic organizer to create rough draft
• form paragraphs
• narrow the topic
Day Three
REVISING AND EDITING
polish draft using traits
• conventions check-up
• use colorful writing
Day Four
REWRITE AND REHEARSE
• change rough draft into a publishable copy
• double check final draft
• create title
• practice reading aloud
Day Five  
AUTHOR'S CHAIR
• share published copy
• compliment and critique
• portfolios
Day One
PREWRITING
• brainstorm
• getting ideas down onto paper
• graphic organizer (4-square)
Day Two
WRITING
• use graphic organizer to create rough draft
• form paragraphs
• narrow the topic
Day Three
REVISING AND EDITING
polish draft using traits
• conventions check-up
• use colorful writing
Day Four
REWRITE AND REHEARSE
• change rough draft into a publishable copy
• double check final draft
• create title
• practice reading aloud
Day Five  
AUTHOR'S CHAIR
• share published copy
• compliment and critique
• portfolios
Previous Hints
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Six Great Ways to Start a Piece of Writing
or
What's a Good Lead? 


With a question:  What could be scarier than spending the night in a haunted house?

With dialogue:  "I dare you stay in there past midnight," my sister said. 

With an interesting fact:  According to surveys, half of all adults believe in the supernatural, and one person in ten claims to have seen a ghost.

With a strong opinion or feeling:  There's no such thing as ghosts!

With a single word or sentence fragment:  Me?  Scared? 

With something that leaves the reader wondering:  There was a sound in the basement, and I knew it wasn't just a mouse.


Personal Editing Process

1.    Whisper read to see if I left anything out.
2.    Circle the beginning word in every sentence to make sure I varied my sentence beginnings.
3.    Square any words I need help spelling.
4.    Star any other questions.
5.    Give my writing a title.
6.    Does my lead make people want to read more?
7.    Is my writing focused on ONE idea?
8.    Does my writing make sense?
9.    Did I end my writing well by writing in a circle? 

Peer Editing Process

1.    Listen to your partner like you would want to be listened to.
2.    Find something you liked about your partner’s writing and make a positive comment about it.
3.    Ask questions about the things you didn’t understand or are curious about.
4.    Share suggestions with your partner, but remember that they must choose what to do on their own.
5.    Some ideas for discussing writing with a partner:
        a.    How do you feel about your writing so far?
        b.    What part do you like the best?  Why?
        c.    What part, if any, doesn’t work for you?  Do you want help reworking it?
        d.    Tell me more about…
        e.    I don’t understand what you meant when you wrote…
        f.    Why did you choose this topic?
        g.    Did you say what you really wanted to in this writing?
        h.    Is this how you would tell the story if you were telling it out loud?

 


Six Great Ways to Start a Piece of Writing
or
What's a Good Lead? 


With a question:  What could be scarier than spending the night in a haunted house?

With dialogue:  "I dare you stay in there past midnight," my sister said. 

With an interesting fact:  According to surveys, half of all adults believe in the supernatural, and one person in ten claims to have seen a ghost.

With a strong opinion or feeling:  There's no such thing as ghosts!

With a single word or sentence fragment:  Me?  Scared? 

With something that leaves the reader wondering:  There was a sound in the basement, and I knew it wasn't just a mouse.


Personal Editing Process

1.    Whisper read to see if I left anything out.
2.    Circle the beginning word in every sentence to make sure I varied my sentence beginnings.
3.    Square any words I need help spelling.
4.    Star any other questions.
5.    Give my writing a title.
6.    Does my lead make people want to read more?
7.    Is my writing focused on ONE idea?
8.    Does my writing make sense?
9.    Did I end my writing well by writing in a circle? 

Peer Editing Process

1.    Listen to your partner like you would want to be listened to.
2.    Find something you liked about your partner’s writing and make a positive comment about it.
3.    Ask questions about the things you didn’t understand or are curious about.
4.    Share suggestions with your partner, but remember that they must choose what to do on their own.
5.    Some ideas for discussing writing with a partner:
        a.    How do you feel about your writing so far?
        b.    What part do you like the best?  Why?
        c.    What part, if any, doesn’t work for you?  Do you want help reworking it?
        d.    Tell me more about…
        e.    I don’t understand what you meant when you wrote…
        f.    Why did you choose this topic?
        g.    Did you say what you really wanted to in this writing?
        h.    Is this how you would tell the story if you were telling it out loud?

 

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