“A Writer’s Death to Resurrection”
"Teachers: Classroom Change
Agents"
Mrs. LaToyia Watts Jackson
June 2014
Intro Activity
Abbreviated Autobiography
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This is the age of IM, texting, and Twitter. To capture the spirit of the
moment, write the story of your life (your “abbreviated autobiography”) in
150 words or less. Here’s mine for an example:
Born lucky in Georgia. Great mom. Crazy dad. Raised in Alabama. Tuskegee is
the city. Country town. Grandparents raised me. Good people. Honor
student. Played clarinet. Danced. Pageant girl. The 90’s were great. AAMU.
Presidential Scholar. Loved college- books and that boy! Stupid love.
Sorority. Graduated Magna Cum Laude. Moved to Georgia. Haven’t lived
here since 15 months old. Albany. Teaching English. WHS. Masters from
GSW. Married Jesse. Lucky man! Two kids- Jaliya and Trey. Mom died;
relationship with dad needs work. Specialist from Nova. Hope to be Dr.
Jackson by Christmas. Always challenged; rarely bored. Reading. Traveling.
Shopping at New York and Company. Crafts. Music. Movies. Teaching high
school students. Family is important to me. Experiences shape opportunities.
Learning doesn’t prepare you for life; it is life. Optimist. Full of potential.
Grateful for life! Looking to the future; confused but hopeful. Life is hard;
but worth living.
149 words
The objective of this workshop is to
help students bury bad habits in
writing and find new strategies that
will help them enhance their reading
and writing skills.
Common Core: Anchor Standards
Text Types and Purposes*
1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and
relevant and sufficient evidence.
2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and
accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen
details, and well-structured event sequences.
Production and Distribution of Writing
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
5. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with
others.
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating
understanding of the subject under investigation.
8. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of
each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Range of Writing
10. Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time
frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
A Writer’s Tombstone
What are some things that
students should not do in
writing?
Connect Reading
to Writing
Read like a detective; but,
write like a reporter.”
Annotation is a note
of any form made while
reading text.
“Reading with a pencil.”
•The Literary 3x3 is a simple and
ultra brief writing activity to prompt
students to think outside the plot
•The task: students summarize the
novel/story they have read without
using specific names or events
•The catch: they must create this
summary using only 3 lines of 3 words
each.
LITERARY 3x3
•The 3x3 exercise forces students to
think outside the “main character does
this…then this…the end” type of formula.
•Let it be a game – students should try to
create the most insightful 3x3s
•Use the words generated to prompt
further writing
LITERARY 3x3
3 x 3 Rules
3x3 will use:
3x3 may use:
3x3 will not use:
•Complete
sentences
•Effective word
order
•Strong words,
especially verbs
and adjectives
•Abstract nouns
•Contractions
using “is”
•Proper
nouns/names
•Repeated words
•“to be” verbs
•Pronouns
•Clichés
•a, an, the
Literary 3x3 Examples
The fun comes out in the discussion:
consider these examples of “3x3”s for
these popular Disney movies – can you
guess what they are?
A.
B.
Arrogance transforms handsomeness
Mistake creates captivity
Inner beauty conquers
Curiosity seeks freedom
Silence creates confusion
Love breaks spells
C.
Innocence craves recognition
Guilt prompts desertion
Duty calls home
YOUR TURN!!!
CHOOSE A NOVEL AND
WRITE YOUR 3x3.
Bye! Bye! Five Paragraph Essay
•It is important to be able to
communicate to your reader a
coherent and logical essay; it is an
essential skill to have.
•Forget about retelling or
summarizing!
Introduction
Attention-getter (hook)
Necessary Information (author’s name, title
of story, 1-2 sentence summary)
Thesis Statement (a one sentence
statement that answers the prompt and is a
road map for paper).
Body Paragraphs
At least two is needed (depending
on what you are asked to write
about)
Must have the following:
Topic sentence
Introduce Quote
Quote
Analysis
Topic Sentence
•Topic Sentence is your main idea. What are
you going to prove to your reader in this
paragraph?
•Do not restate the plot! Your topic sentence
should be something that can be seen and
realized through the text itself.
Introduction of the Quote
You must always introduce the quote.
You can NEVER have a quote start
sentence. Introduce a quote by
explaining what is going on during the
time of the quote.
Quote
•Pick quotes that truly provide an
explanation of your main idea. This is
your concrete evidence- the actual
words of the characters that you use
to prove your point.
•Always cite your quotes and write
them in MLA format.
•Ex. “Quote.” (Chopin 12).
Analysis of the Quote
This is where you show me what
you got! Truly analyze here-don’t
simply translate.
Conclusion
Restate thesis in new words
Clincher (final thoughts)
Your Turn
“Shame” by Dick Gregory
Analyze the writer’s theme through his
use of tone, word choice, and structure.
Ex-Basketball Player by John Updike
Updike
Question #1
1. Explain the "untold" story of
the poem.
a) Why is Flick working in a garage
if he was so good at playing
basketball?
b) How does Flick fit into his
present job?
c) Does Flick live in the present?
Explain.
Question #2
What is the theme of this poem?
Remember to state theme as a
"general truth about life."
Question #3
Quote one example of each of the
following from the poem and explain
how the example fits the definition
of the term:
Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Imagery
Symbol
Paint the Tone
Paint the Tone
• Look at the paint card you have. Choose one
of the six colors.
• Write a paragraph (5-7 or more sentences) to
explain that color. Tell a story! You must use
the name of the color in the paragraph.
• Based on the figurative language you give to
the reader/listener, other students should be
able to tell what color family that color
belongs to.
• Share with the class!!! Be creative!! Have Fun!!
Fakebook Project
• http://www.classtools.net/FB/homepage
Six Word Memoir
• The legend says
that the great
American writer,
Ernest Hemingway,
was once challenged
to create a novel
using no more than
six words. His
response: "For
sale. Baby shoes,
never worn."
Six Word Memoir
Quote of the Book
~This quote should be that one passage
or quote that captures the essence –
the true meaning – of the novel for
you, the reader. In a well-written
paragraph(s) explain exactly HOW
this passage is the one perfect quote
from the book. Give specific
supporting details. This paragraph
should be at least ½ page.
“Strangers” Short Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpjHSiQLPmA.
“Strangers” Short Film
• Describe the tone of the film.
• Write an analysis of the short film.
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Other Ideas
Digital Storytelling
Current Event Journal Entries
Life Quotes
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
Music Soundtrack
Paper Bag Project
Others: _____________________
QUESTION/ANSWER
THANK YOU!!!!!
LATOYIA WATTS JACKSON
DOUGHERTY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM
ALBANY, GA
latoyia.jackson@docoschools.org