ESSAY WRITING Descriptive Writing STATE WRITING DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY

ESSAY WRITING Descriptive Writing

STATE WRITING: DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY • You will be given a prompt on the day of the exam. Every 8 th grader in the state of Nebraska (about 24, 000 students) writes about the same topic. You will be asked to DESCRIBE a person, place, or thing. • The results will be available at the end of the school year and will be sent home to parents/guardians and printed in the newspaper. IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO YOUR VERY BEST!!! • This work will also count for several summative grades and will help prepare you for your writing graduation demonstrations in high school. • Good writers use description to create pictures for the readers to make the characters and action come alive.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ESSAYS: Introductio n Other Parts Essay Body Conclusion Take a minute to write down what are the most important characteristics of an essay, or brainstorm as a class. (Think about the practices you've done and feedback you've received on other essays. ) As we go through the characteristics, write them down in your notebook so you can refer to them when you need to.

Warm-up: January 8 Using your quickwrite from yesterdayadd details to the following senses: SIGHT SMELL HEAR

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY • This is simply what descriptive writing is… creating mental images/pictures about a topic so the reader understands its importance to you • ENTHUSIASM and INTEREST in your topic will help show your voice and personality

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY WRITING:

Descriptive Essay Brainstorming Organizer

Warm-up: January 9

HOW TO BEGIN YOUR INTRODUCTION… 1. A where and when lead… During the summer after fourth grade, I traveled to the most exciting place I've ever been. 2. Opinion or thought lead. . . My perfect place is not just some ordinary spot. Instead, it is a place that casts memories each and every day all year long. Many places are interesting to me. I could choose a place in an exotic location or somewhere people dream of going, but my special place is closer to home. 3. Short list. . . Sweat on my brow. A layer of dust on my face. Feet galloping beneath me. The most exciting place for me is on my horse. Do NOT start with a QUESTION. For this essay, questions are not an appropriate lead.

TURN YOUR LEAD INTO A FULL INTRODUCTION What is needed? • Attention-getting lead: A way to catch your reader's attention that smoothly connects to the next sentences. • Two or three basic things to know about your topic AND why it is important • Thesis statement: Explain what three things you will be writing about (sights, sounds, etc. ).

Introduction #1 • My backyard is a cool place to be. It's close to birds and stuff, but I don't have to worry about being eaten by a bear. I can be solo, but know there are people close. I can't think without being disturbed. I relax and chill out after a hard day. It's really a great place to be. I love spending time in my backyard because it’s real cool.

INTRODUCTION #1: PROFICIENT My backyard is my favorite place to be. It's close to nature, but I don't have to worry about being eaten by a bear. I can be alone, but know there are people nearby. I can't think without being disturbed. I relax and unwind after a hard, long day. It's really a great place to be. I love spending time in my backyard because of the sights, sounds, and how it makes me feel.

Introduction #2 • The sun is kinda out from the clouds. This don’t happen very much, but even without the sun the woods are a cool place in every way. Most of the time, it’s filled with fog and some rain. I love these woods because of the what I see, the stuff I hear, and what I remember whenever I visit.

Introduction #2: Proficient The scorching sun peaks out from the thick blanket of white fluffy clouds, casting endless shadows. This is a rare occurrence, but even without the sun the Michigan woods are a spectacular place in every way. Most of the time, Michigan is filled with hazy fog and light rain showers. I love these woods because of the unique sights, spectacular sounds, and the unforgettable memories and emotions that rush to me whenever I visit.

Introduction #3 I watch the people that walk beside me as I meander down the crowded aisles in Wal. Mart. Watching people is definitely something I can't help but do in a store like Wal-Mart. It may not be an exciting or thrilling place, but when it comes to being interesting Wal-Mart is.

INTRODUCTION #3: NEARING PROFICIENCY I constantly watch the people that walk beside me as I meander down the crowded aisles in the large Wal-Mart in our small town. Watching people is definitely something I can't help but do in a store like Wal-Mart. It may not be an exciting or thrilling place, but when it comes to being interesting Wal-Mart takes the cake and sells it, too.

Warm-up: January 10 Using your quickwrite from this week, Finish the graphic organizer for your 3 body paragraphs

SHOW VS. TELL Use all five senses to describe – help the readers see, hear, and feel the experience – Many writers believe they must use lots of words to tell their readers what is happening in a story. However, good writers SHOW rather than TELL the events of a story. They let the readers see people and ideas in action instead of simply describing what happens… Example 1: The apple was delicious. …of course the apple is tasty! Don’t tell it, show it! When I sank my teeth into the ripe apple, its juice hit me square in the eye. Example 2: It was really snowing hard outside. What actions (verbs) and descriptions (adjectives) can you add to show it (not tell it!) Crystal flakes are swirling down from the cloudy skies like a Christmas snow globe.

Can you change these sentences so they SHOW instead of TELL the reader what is happening? • The people at the table thought the food was delicious. • The broken car sat along the side of the road. • The day was very hot. • The trip to the amusement park was fun. • The dog was mean. • The classroom was a mess. • The movie was awesome! • Michael was very nervous before the math test. • The house on the corner was very old. • The mall was crowded and busy.

Warm-Up: January 11 Using your quickwrite from this week, write a conclusion for your essay….

STRONG CONCLUSIONS What is needed? • Restate Thesis: Review the three sense that you wrote about. . • Show • Give The Importance of the Topic to You an Overall Opinion or Impression of Topic

STRONG CONCLUSIONS Your essay needs to come to an effective ending after the last description is shared. The conclusion can show what you have learned from the experience, show the significance of the event or object, or make a connection with the reader. 1. Show what you have learned or how you’ve changed… That was the only time I ever went to a summer camp. But it made me a better person. Before camp, I couldn’t swim or work as a team member. By the end of camp, I knew how to swim and dive, and I was running on two relay teams. After that experience, I was ready for bigger challenges when school started in the fall.

STRONG CONCLUSIONS …CON’T

STRONG CONCLUSIONS …CON’T 3. Give an overall opinion or impression of your topic… After planting the garden, I take the sweet smells of the spring inside with me and throw open the windows of my room so I can feel the breeze. At night as I lay in my bed, I drift off to sleep thinking of small plants drinking in the gentle rain. Spring holds the promise of new life and new beginnings with every whiff of air. That is why it is my favorite time of year. 4. Make a connection with the reader… Even if you don’t participate in sports, most people enjoy being part of the crowd rooting for their favorite team. As a player, I appreciate the crowd’s energy and support. My teammates and I also rely on each other to do our best and continually try to improve. That is why baseball season is my favorite time of year. Win or lose, the school is united together during the nine innings of each game.

Practice Grading!! “Relaxation at the Beach” LEAD: When I think of relaxation, my mind immediately takes me to a place where I can get away from it all: the beach. This is the place where I feel most comfortable and at home. It is the place I think of during the long, cold winter months which helps me get through the tough Nebraska winters. This is a place where I can be myself; it is my favorite place. First of all, there is nothing like the sensation of warm sand covering my feet, gently polishing my toes as I curl them in and out of the soft grains. When I pick up my frothy drink, I appreciate the delicious contrast of having the cold sweat of the glass run down my fingers while my feet remain as toasty as marshmallows by a campfire. As I close my eyes, a lullaby of splashing waves calms my nerves. The rhythm of the tide, back and forth, is like the gentle swing of a hammock. This background music is occasionally interrupted by the shrill calls of a seagull or even worse, the buzz of a jet that reminds me my time in paradise will not last forever. Looking around, I am surrounded by colors so bright they seem almost phosphorescent. The sky and ocean are jewel blue: the green plants are flushed with life. Salt is carried with the moisture in the air and leaves a tangy touch on my lips and skin. Finally, as the sun begins to set, the warm breeze continues its caress while the shadows point the way home. CONC: Although I obviously enjoy the beach, it is not often that I have the time or money to get that far away. Luckily, there are much quicker and less expensive ways to relieve my stress. For me, an ice cream sundae, bubble bath, or even a favorite movie can provide a temporary escape from everyday problems. The keys are doing what you enjoy and getting away from the normal routine.

FINAL TIPS… 1. Focus on the topic… state the topic in your intro. And again in your conclusion 2. Your rough draft should look different than your final copy 3. You may incorporate a story to show significance, but your paper should focus on the prompt and be a DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY 4. The reader needs to get a sense of the person behind the words. 5. The reader should be able to experience the person, object, or event 6. The difference between 3 and 4 paper is… voice, description, details, dialogue, show of significance

DESCRIPTIVE RUBRIC