What Happened in Writing 101, 9/9 & 11

September 11:

9:30-10:50

We read the syllabus in class.

We reviewed the narrative and looked at it for purpose. Some students said it served the purpose of making them realize they were in school. The purpose emerges as the writer progresses.

We then looked at for whom we are writing. One student said he shared his writing with his friends. One of his friends is now gone, due to an automotbile accident. The student said that the writing served the purpose of letting his friends who are still living know how important they are to him.

Next we discussed point of view. The instructor explained how the point of view emerges as one writes. An example given was the student who reached an emotional turning point when he went outside in the storm and rolled around in the mud. After that experience, his point of view was that emotions are handled better if they are expressed. That is also perhaps why he chose to ficus his narrative on his "history of emotions."

Next we analyzed where we could put in dialogue. The instructor wrote sample dialogue on the overhead. Then the students looked for places where they could add their dialogue to the narrative. The purpsoe of such dialogue is to break up the narrative and give it some punch. What to do for next class:

Do the first three chapters in the sentence skills book. These must be completed by Sept. 25. Continue writing the narrative. By Sept. 15 the narrative should be completed. We will revise it and turn in the final for this rhetorical form on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Next week the instructor will introduce descriptive writing. She will also provide a copy of the notebook sections.

Bring all work in progress to class in hard copy form.



September 9:

9:30-10:50:

The instructor talked about narrative writing and spoke from notes that are reproduced later in this blog post.

She asked students to show what they had produced so far on the narrative assignment. Many students had note cards and some had both the cards and a page of writing. A few had the full three pages. Some said they left their materials at home on the computer. The instructor informed students that they are always to bring their writing to class so they can get credit for having progressed on the assignment.

Students began their writing sample at 9:55 a.m. The writing samples will not be returned. The instructor will comment on them at a future class.

What to do for the next class: Continue working on the narrative. See deadline dates in previous post. Check back at this post for a copy of the syllabus. At an upcoming class, we will go over the syllabus and do paired introductions.

Notes from today's class:

What is in a narrative?

A beginning that sets the scene
A setting
A middle that tells a story
An ending that brings the story to a close
Characters
Description


http://www.nj.com/: weather five-day forecast

How is the information arranged?
How does each day’s forecast connect with the previous day’s forecast?
What narrative do the pictures of the five-day forecast tell?
How is the visual narrative the same or different as the verbal?

Why use narration?

a) report information
b) support an argument
c) provide an example
d) set a mood

How do you write narrative?

1) Determine your purpose


2) Consider your audience


3) Establish a point of view


4) Use dialogue


Techniques:

Flashback

Flashforward

Transitions:

2-3:20 class Tuesday

Same as above except the instructor was not able to finish the narrative lecture in the time allowed. Students began the writing assignment at 2:30, leaving 50" to write 2-3 pages. The instructor will continue with the narrative notes at the next class, starting with "considering the audience." Students should bring their work to the next class so they have text with which to work.

2-3:20 class Thursday:

We did an exercise with dialogue. The instructor demonstrated dialogue and students then looked for a spot where they could put dialogue in their own narrative. After students wrote dialogue, we put examples up on the overhead projector.

The class then read the syllabus. By this weekend, the instructor will post the readng schedule, so check back for this document. You will also receive a had copy.

To do for next class: In addition to continuing work on the narrative, students who have the Langan book should begin chapters 1, 2 and 3. These will be due on Sept. 25