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Lesson #1:  Introducing the Narrative Account Web Page Assignment/Brainstorming

 

Instructional Objective:  Students will be introduced to the Narrative Writing Assignment by critiquing a sample webpage.

Do Now:  Look at the sample webpage  and write down anything that you notice or that grabs your attention.

Materials Needed:  Student notebooks, copies of assignment sheets, laptop with Microsoft Publisher, sample Publisher webpage with narrative account (see student samples on index page), LCD projector and screen.

 

-On a projector attached to laptop, display sample narrative that you have created.  Ask students to share their do now answers; what on this page did they like/dislike?  What grabbed their attention and why?

-Explain to students that they will be creating a similar webpage that will contain a narrative account that they will create, based on a character that they either invented themselves or someone in real life.

-Hand out narrative writing assignment sheets (attached) and go over the assignment with the class, giving more detail about assignment.  Use the sample webpage to illustrate your points.

 

Mini-Lesson:  Brainstorming

-Brainstorming is a constructive way to think up a number of ideas and inspirations that may be possible topics.  It helps you get your ideas onto paper before you begin writing.  It helps you narrow down possibilities, look at different options, and choose from a variety of subjects.

-When we brainstorm, we focus on the ideas, and don’t worry about spelling and grammar conventions.  This is a very early stage of the writing process, and it’s all about getting down your ideas.

-Today we’re going to brainstorm by listing.  For this project, you are going to have to pretend that you are someone else, real or made-up.  How are you going to decide whom to choose?  By brainstorming!

 -Listing just means to take a few minutes to think and then just list every idea that comes into your head, whether you think you’ll actually use them or not.  Focus your thoughts on the subject, but let your mind wander when it comes to choosing possible individuals.

 

Work Period: 

-In your notebook, create an entry entitled, “Brainstorming for Narrative Writing Assignment.”

-Guide the students:  try to list as many people as you can, either by name or type:  example, farmer, George Bush, astronaut, World War II pilot, etc.  Think about times in history that interest you, people or places that you are familiar or interested in, and start listing!

-Have students spend 5-10 minutes brainstorming/listing.

-Ask them to look over their lists and choose three to five characters that they would be interested in writing about.

 

Homework:

Choose one of those characters to write about.  Put yourself in his or her shoes, and write a 1-2 paragraph journal entry from his or her point of view, describing him- or herself:  what does that person look like, act like, how does he/she feel about him/herself?

 

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