That group re-writes the sentence and changes the meaning by changing some of the words to create a better picture in the reader's mind. Once they finish their sentences, each group passes their sheet clockwise to another group. They have to underline the weak verbs and tired words then, they need to re-write the sentence. I give each group of students an 11 x 17 sheet that had a sentence written across the top. It's also one you can do any time during the school year when students need a little reminder about the power of words.
The activity that is pictured here is very easy to do - and quite effective. They learn to identify and improve tired words, to swap weak verbs for vivid ones, and to use imagery and figurative language to show, rather than tell.ĭuring this process we do a lot of collaborative work and challenges, so students can learn from each other. In the first weeks of school, I do a series of lessons that teach students strategies for improving their word choice. The first step is learning how to use language to create meaning. Long before I assign the personal narrative, we start working on the skills the students will need for success. Let me show you five things you can do to improve your students' personal narratives: 1. In fact, it's probably one of my favorite assignments to grade because they are entertaining, and I can get to know my students a whole lot better. Now, we spend a lot more time on what makes a good personal narrative, and I actually look forward to reading my students' work. I'd take the essays in to grade and find myself wishing I'd never given the assignment.īut, I eventually realized that these tales were meandering all over the place because I didn't take the time to break down the process and give my students the skills they needed to write focused and engaging stories about their lives. Or the stories would be flat and missing the detail they need to bring them to life.
I used to shy away from the narrative because I would get so many "breakfast-to-bed" stories, ones that were unfocused and full of unnecessary detail. However, before we dive into the essay, I spend a lot of time scaffolding the skills for narrative writing One of the first major assignments I give my students is the narrative essay It's a great one to begin the year with because, as they say, everyone wants to tell their story. FIVE WAYS TO SCAFFOLD NARRATIVE WRITING SKILLS
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