Name: ______________________
Date: _________
Narrative Unit I – Goals
You will write a fictional moment-in-time memoir (a fictional account of a personal life
experience; autobiography) that has strong voice, descriptive word choice, and lyrical
(expressive) sentence fluency.
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Voice
-Writing with a strong voice is purposeful, contains a meaningful tone, connects to the audience,
is as individual as a fingerprint, and begs to be read aloud. (Voice comes, in part, from the
words a writer chooses and the way he or she arranges them on the page.)
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Individual, distinctive
A “read-aloud” piece
Passionate, energetic
Speaks to readers
Confident, self-assured
Writer is present on the page
Word Choice
-Writing with descriptive word choice includes strong verbs, memorable words and phrases,
specific and accurate words, and words with deeper meaning. Quality word choice makes the
reader want to read it more than once.
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Clear, aids readers’ understanding
Original, memorable
Concise
Natural
Filled with strong verbs
No modifier “overload”
Paints word pictures
Sentence Fluency
-Lyrical sentence fluency contains well-built sentences that vary in type and length that creates a
smooth and rhythmic flow. Phrasing that is almost musical and makes the reader say “listen to
this.” Sentence structures make it easy to read with inflection that brings out voice.
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Easy to read
Enhances voice
Variety in length, structure
Easy-on-the-ear rhythm
Natural dialogue
Fragments, if used, add punch, flavor
Repetition, if used, adds emphasis
Revision Plan
- Make a revision plan for your writing. Don't check everything. Keep your revision
manageable. Check only a few elements across these three traits (include at least one from
each trait). Don't worry about conventions until the final draft – remember, revision means to
rethink your writing, while editing means to fix conventions.
with respect to Voice
with respect to Word
Choice
I need to—
I need to—
I need to—
o Put more of myself into the
writing-be expressive
o Stretch for the "just right"
word or phrase
o Read my writing aloud to
make sure it flows smoothly
o Say what I really think and feel o Drop the clichés and find my
without holding back
own, original way to say
things
o Know more about this topic so
I can sound confident
o Be more direct and forceful
o Consider my audience: Who
are they? What will interest
them?
o Get rid of generalities (He had
a fun time) and say what I
really mean
o Use stronger verbs to give my
writing life and energy
with respect to Sentence
Fluency
o Start sentences in different
ways
o Vary length so some
sentences are longer, some
shorter
o Use fragments only for effect,
not because I forgot to finish
a sentence
o Stop trying to impress the
o Make dialogue sound naturalreader with inflated language
like real people speaking
and just say it
o Introduce any quotations I
o Cut back on adjectives or
use-not just drop them
adverbs
kerplunk into the text
o _________________________
________________________ o Repeat words or phrases only o Use meaningful sentence
for emphasis
beginnings- After a while, For
this reason- to link ideas
o Use the "language of the
o Make the voice match the
purpose: to entertain and
provide insight into human
nature
o Avoid weak sentence
beginnings: There is or There
are
o _________________________
________________________ o _________________________
________________________
territory" -words that fit my
topic