Learning Fun ::Teaching Writing

Home School Writing Cooperative

Week One - Ideas

The ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece, the main theme, together with the details that enrich and develop that theme. Ideas are what the writer has to say, a message. The ideas should be fresh and original. The ideas should also come from the writer's experience. The paper should be interesting and hold the reader's attention all the way through. The paper should contain supporting details that enrich the main idea. The main ideas should stand out from the supporting details. The writer should show how people respond to life and to each other.

Lesson: Discuss different ideas in books students have read and the bible. Break students in groups to come up with original ideas for bible stories. Do a timed writing exercise.

Read the paper all the way through.
Read the criteria item and enter Y for Yes, N for No, and S for Sort of.
Mark your score in the space provided.
Give 1 point for each Y, 1/2 point for each S and 0 points for each N

___ ___	it all makes sense.
___ ___	I seem like an expert on this topic.
___ ___	I have included interesting details not everyone would think of.
___ ___	I would be able to answer the reader's questions about this topic.
___ ___	Once you start reading, you won't want to stop.

Homework Week One

For writing this week you will be a writing paragraph that is an autobiography. Remember an autobiography is the story of your life. Since you will only be writing three paragraphs, you will need to focus on only the important things about you. You may want to make a list of ideas or create a web to help you plan your thoughts. A timeline might also be helpful. You may also write about what you want to do in the future.

REMEMBER:

_____	1. Did you use correct paragraph format?
_____	2. Did you work on getting everything spelled and punctuated correctly?
_____	3. Did you focus on the five areas of GOOD WRITING especially PURPOSE?
_____	4. Use 5-8 sentences (including topic and concluding sentence)

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