Description of

        Writing Pieces:

journal entries:                         

Journal entries are not busywork. You must write with focus and purpose.

Journal writing, if completed thoughtfully, will improve your comprehension of and attitude toward reading.  

Please note that journal writing promotes self-evaluation within the reading process.

Make connections between your life and the text.     

Connect based on the:                      

1.character-   with someone in YOUR LIFE...yourself, a friend, a family member, an acquaintance

2.plot situation- with a happening in YOUR LIFE... something you have done or seen or been involved in

3.setting- with a place in YOUR LIFE...somewhere you have been, or seen, a place you can relate to

text to text                   connections

text to self                     connections

text to world(news-current events) connections

Types of Journal Entries

reading response entry:  a passage from the reading or a prompt will be provided by the teacher...just respond with your thoughts on and predictions for the character(s)and/or the plot, and/or the theme(meaning)

double entry style: a narrative passage or a dialogue passage will be provided... students are to draw a    T-chart   on their journal page... write the passage provided on the left, and then respond to it on the right

dialogue entry: this is an interactive journal entry between student and student and/or student and teacher  (like a written conversation about the reading)

Writer's notebook cells (creative writing entries): this is purely a creative expression based on dialogue you have heard, ideas that have popped into your head, or feelings you have on one topic or another----thoughts about songs or song lyrics may be written about as well

final writing pieces:

connection piece: connect to an in room poster based on character, plot situation, or setting

descriptive essay: using sensory details (imagery) describe a moment, a slice of time in a particular season

memoir: this is a personal effort...choose two memories that are meaningful to you...that say something about you, about who you are...what is important to you.  Your two memories will be linked somehow to reveal something about your character

metaphor poem: based on seven lines, this poem uses connections between a book's character and natural and inanimate objects.  The basic seven metaphors are extended using nouns and verbs and transformed into a narrative poem

point of view piece: this piece is a three-pronged effort--You will be writing about an exciting event through the differing perspectives of -----  (1st person, 3rd person limited(objective),  and  3rd person omniscient

feature news article/nonfiction

research paper/nonfiction

short story/based on Mysteries of Harris Burdick

short story/mystery

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