Dive into EnglishDive into English

What to expect inWhat to expect in English? English?

You will not be devoured by Word Sharks!

I’m Ms. Powers and I will be your I’m Ms. Powers and I will be your dive master.dive master.

First of all let’s get rid of some of those word sharks that may have circled you in the past…

You can’t spellYou can’t spell

Your writing stinks!

Don’t let the word shark get you!

What will you learn this year?What will you learn this year?

6 TraitsOf

Writing

Ideas Organization Voice FluencyWord

ChoiceConventions

IdeasIdeasThe gathering of information The gathering of information

on a topic for a specific on a topic for a specific purpose to an identified purpose to an identified audience.audience.

BrainstormingBrainstorming Brainstorming is a quick tool for coming up with Brainstorming is a quick tool for coming up with

writing ideas.writing ideas. How do I brainstorm?How do I brainstorm?

– Make a listMake a list– Make a mind mapMake a mind map– DoodleDoodle– Talk with othersTalk with others– Look at picturesLook at pictures

Techniques to gather ideas brainstorm think/reflect

talk/remember jot ideas/draw read/research observe/view

OrganizationOrganization

Writing that is focused on a Writing that is focused on a topic, has a structure and topic, has a structure and moves the reader easily from moves the reader easily from the beginning to the end of the beginning to the end of the text.the text.

Ways to organize writing outline

map/diagram

construct story frames

consider purpose, audience, point of view, and format

VoiceVoiceThe style/personality of the The style/personality of the

writing that connects the writing that connects the reader to the author through reader to the author through the presentation of specific the presentation of specific points of view and/or points of view and/or emotion.emotion.

4 Types of Writing4 Types of Writing

Narrative: tells a storyNarrative: tells a story Descriptive: describesDescriptive: describes Expository: explainsExpository: explains Poetic: adds emotionPoetic: adds emotion

It started as a normal lunch break, with Josie and Ginny standing It started as a normal lunch break, with Josie and Ginny standing together in line. Suddenly, Tommy Pederson ran up behind Ginny together in line. Suddenly, Tommy Pederson ran up behind Ginny and snatched her glasses off her face. Everyone began the chant as and snatched her glasses off her face. Everyone began the chant as they carelessly tossed her glasses down the line. I watched Josie's they carelessly tossed her glasses down the line. I watched Josie's face as it was happening. There seemed to be an anger beyond face as it was happening. There seemed to be an anger beyond normal 6th grade capacity brewing behind her eyes. Tommy normal 6th grade capacity brewing behind her eyes. Tommy Pederson had gotten the glasses back and was waving them Pederson had gotten the glasses back and was waving them around in the air. That's when it happened. With one hand Josie around in the air. That's when it happened. With one hand Josie grabbed the glasses from him and with the other she punched him grabbed the glasses from him and with the other she punched him in the face. She hit him with such force that he fell over. Everyone in the face. She hit him with such force that he fell over. Everyone froze in shock for a second until Tommy screamed "Get her!" There froze in shock for a second until Tommy screamed "Get her!" There must have been 15 different students who rushed toward Josie. must have been 15 different students who rushed toward Josie. She held the glasses up as if to protect them and looked panicked She held the glasses up as if to protect them and looked panicked until she made eye contact with me. "Josie! Here!" I screamed, until she made eye contact with me. "Josie! Here!" I screamed, gesturing that she throw me the glasses. She tossed the glasses to gesturing that she throw me the glasses. She tossed the glasses to me, and miraculously, I caught them. She then faced the students me, and miraculously, I caught them. She then faced the students who were rushing toward her. She skillfully defended herself by who were rushing toward her. She skillfully defended herself by knocking them down one at a time as they approached her. knocking them down one at a time as they approached her.

The twister had just hit the ground and was gaining power and The twister had just hit the ground and was gaining power and strength as it devoured everything in its path. We found ourselves strength as it devoured everything in its path. We found ourselves even more frightened than we were just moments ago. The whirling even more frightened than we were just moments ago. The whirling "finger of God" was approaching us at a tremendous rate. The "finger of God" was approaching us at a tremendous rate. The sound surrounding us was outrageous, it sounded something like a sound surrounding us was outrageous, it sounded something like a steam locomotive roaring towards us, whining and whistling with steam locomotive roaring towards us, whining and whistling with an awful high pitched roar. As the rumbling cloud of darkness an awful high pitched roar. As the rumbling cloud of darkness approached us, we started to realize it's outstanding power. This approached us, we started to realize it's outstanding power. This event would be one that we wouldn't soon forget. The rain had event would be one that we wouldn't soon forget. The rain had almost completely stopped, but the wind was nearly blowing us off almost completely stopped, but the wind was nearly blowing us off the ground as we huddled together under the overpass. We could the ground as we huddled together under the overpass. We could hear the screeching sounds of car tires as they started sliding hear the screeching sounds of car tires as they started sliding across the rain-soaked cement pavement. Electrical explosions lit across the rain-soaked cement pavement. Electrical explosions lit up the darkened sky as the tornado ripped over power lines, up the darkened sky as the tornado ripped over power lines, snapping them as if they were toothpicks. Screams erupted from snapping them as if they were toothpicks. Screams erupted from the crowd as the tornado crossed directly over us, smashing large the crowd as the tornado crossed directly over us, smashing large objects into the overpass payment. We were terrified as the twister objects into the overpass payment. We were terrified as the twister rumbled over the roadway leaving us untouched.rumbled over the roadway leaving us untouched.

That ivory bracelet you just couldn't resist may be That ivory bracelet you just couldn't resist may be the end of a cruel and illegal process that the end of a cruel and illegal process that threatens the very existence of elephants in Africa. threatens the very existence of elephants in Africa. In many regions, mature elephant populations In many regions, mature elephant populations have been virtually wiped out by ruthless poachers have been virtually wiped out by ruthless poachers seeking large tusks for ivory. Therefore, poachers seeking large tusks for ivory. Therefore, poachers now kill more and more young adults and even now kill more and more young adults and even juveniles to get the same amount of ivory. juveniles to get the same amount of ivory. Because of the slaughter, the elephants' breeding Because of the slaughter, the elephants' breeding patterns have been disrupted. As a result, females patterns have been disrupted. As a result, females bear fewer offspring, shrinking the population even bear fewer offspring, shrinking the population even more.more.

Forgotten LanguageForgotten Language  Once I spoke the language of the flowers,  Once I spoke the language of the flowers,Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,And shared a conversation with the houseflyAnd shared a conversation with the houseflyin my bed.in my bed.Once I heard and answered all the questionsOnce I heard and answered all the questionsof the crickets,of the crickets,And joined the crying of each falling dyingAnd joined the crying of each falling dyingflake of snow,flake of snow,Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .How did it go?How did it go?How did it go? How did it go?

Shel SilversteinShel Silverstein

Word ChoiceWord ChoiceChoosing and using a variety Choosing and using a variety

of powerful, engaging words of powerful, engaging words that are appropriate to the that are appropriate to the purpose, subject, and purpose, subject, and audience of the writing.audience of the writing.

ConventionsConventionsThe appropriate use of The appropriate use of

punctuation, capitalization, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and grammar to spelling, and grammar to make the writing easy to make the writing easy to understand.understand.

FluencyFluencyWriting that flows smoothly Writing that flows smoothly

because of successful use of because of successful use of sentence structure, length, sentence structure, length, and transitions.and transitions.

Fast WritesFast Writes Fast writes means writing very quickly for a Fast writes means writing very quickly for a

timed period of time.timed period of time. When writing quickly sometimes your best When writing quickly sometimes your best

ideas come to the page.ideas come to the page. Fast writes helps you become more Fast writes helps you become more

confident getting words on the page.confident getting words on the page. During fast writes you don’t self-edit.During fast writes you don’t self-edit.

Writing TopicsWriting TopicsCreate a list of possible Create a list of possible

writing topics that you can writing topics that you can explore through journal explore through journal entries or fast writes.entries or fast writes.

Don’t know what to Don’t know what to write?write?

Check out this website for topic ideas…Check out this website for topic ideas…

CanTeach: English Language Arts: Writing Prompts/Journal Topics

Writers write to express ideas, feelings, emotions, and Writers write to express ideas, feelings, emotions, and opinions. Some purposes for writing are: opinions. Some purposes for writing are:

to express personal feelings or viewpoints to express personal feelings or viewpoints

to imagine "What if ...?" to imagine "What if ...?"

to narrate to narrate

to entertain and/or amuse to entertain and/or amuse

to describe to describe

to inform or explain to inform or explain

to persuade or convince to persuade or convince

to request to request

to inquire or question to inquire or question

to explore and experiment with ideas and formats to explore and experiment with ideas and formats

to clarify thinking. to clarify thinking.

Writing GenresWriting Genresadvertisement article advice column autobiography/biography ballad comic strip letter of complaint/request/inquiry campaign speech diary/journal readers theatre/role play/monologue book review report/essay fable/fairy tale

greeting card game rules directions horoscope interview obituary/eulogy news article/editorial poem/song anecdote/personal experience story sports column short story research paper.