Chris Turner

October 11, 2004

 

Craft Lesson Plan:

Making Sentences Better/Excellent

 

Overview:

����������� This craft mini-lesson will explore the advantage of using different descriptive words in sentences.� By consulting a thesaurus and a dictionary, as well as other resources, such as the teacher and peers, the student will be able to use a wide variety of descriptive words, such as specific nouns and strong verbs, to write papers more effectively.� (38-40 minutes)

 

National Standards:

  1. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
  2. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions, media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and non-print texts.

 

State Standards:

    • 4.03 � Use the stance of a critic.
    • 6.01 � Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
    • 6.02 � Continue to identify and edit errors in spoken and written in English by using correct spelling of words appropriate in difficulty for middle graders; producing final drafts that demonstrate accurate spelling and the correct use of punctuation, capitalization and format.

 

Materials Needed:

 

Example Story to Revise:

����������� �One day Mollie woke up and felt good.� She ate pancakes for breakfast until she was full.� Then she saw how nice it was outside.� And then Mollie went to the Parkway because it was a really nice day outside.� She played Frisbee with her friend until it was dark.� Then she drove home and went to bed because she was tired and then she took a nap.�

 

Example Descriptive Story:

from The Hobbit

����������� �They walked in single file.� The entrance to the path was like a sort of arch leading into a gloomy tunnel made with two great trees that leant together, too old and strangled with ivy and hung with lichen to bear more than a few blackened leaves.� The path itself was narrow and wound in and out among the trunks.� Soon the light at the gate was like a little bright hole far behind, and the quiet was so deep that their feet seemed to thump along while all the trees leaned over them and listened.�

 

Procedure/Assignment:

����������� (9-10 minutes) �Writing is very powerful.� It can be persuasive, knowledgeable, and controversial.� But to achieve effective writing you must be able to write effective sentences and thoughts.� Descriptive words and phrases can help us become better writers.� This section that I am passing out is from one of my favorite books, JRR Toliken�s The Hobbit.� Read it and notice how descriptive it sounds.�� Give them a few minutes.� �What did you feel when you read this?� Did you feel like you were a part of the story?�� Wait for their response.

(1-2 minutes)�What I am passing out now is an example of a paragraph I wrote.�� Pass out the �Example Story to Revise.�� �Take a few minutes to read this.�� Give a couple of minutes for the students to read the paragraph.

(5-6 minutes) �What are some things you noticed about this paragraph?�� Wait for response.� �Notice that the language used in the paragraph are very ineffective words � such as �really ____� or �and then�.�� �What words would be more effective to use?�� Wait for their responses; you may want to write these on the board.� �For example, use this sentence:� �And then the Mollie went to the parkway because it was a really nice day outside.��� What could we change it to?�� Offer:� �Since the weather was so beautiful outside, Mollie then drove to the Parkway and enjoyed the warm sun�s rays on her skin.�� You can also consult a thesaurus to change different phrases and sentences to restructure it into a new, more descriptive paragraph.

(10 minutes) �Now that you have an idea on constructing more effective sentences, pull out one of your pieces.� It can be something you wrote earlier this semester or something you�re about to turn in; a poem, story, or narrative.� Anything.�� Wait for the students to pull out one of their pieces.� �Read your piece very carefully again.� What are some changes you can make?� What are some sections you think are weak?� Take a few minutes to revise it.�� Give the students a few minutes to revise.

(12 minutes) Once the students have completed this, get their attention.� �Ok, now that you have revised, switch papers with a partner.� Take a couple minutes to revise your partner�s paper.� Add descriptive words and phrases when necessary.�� After a few minutes, have them switch back.� �Take a look at your final copy.� How different does it look from your original copy?�

 

Conclusion:

����������� (1-2 minutes) �Are there any questions about what we did today?�� Wait for response.� �Descriptive words and phrases are important to use in effective writing because they can add such a different dimension to a paper.� Adding descriptive words can change a paper from ordinary to extraordinary.� Always keep this in mind when writing papers.� Don�t be limited to yourself and a thesaurus when writing, either, use me, one of your peers, another teacher, or a parent to help you revise.�