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UNIT 1: Writing Workshop
Monitor Progress
then… suggest that they shut
their eyes and visualize the experience, picturing the
place, the people, and their own appearance.
If… students
have trouble
remembering
details,
Differentiated Instruction
Grammar and Writing Practice Book
Grammar and Writing
 Practice Book p. 160
with | without Answers
OBJECTIVES
  • Develop an understanding of
    a personal narrative.
  • Use a strong voice and vivid language to express feelings.
  • Use time-order words to show clearly a sequence of events.
  • Establish criteria for evaluating a personal narrative.
In a personal narrative, a writer
gives a firsthand account of an
event in his or her life.
  • Is about an interesting experience in the storyteller's life
  • Tells the story using I or me
  • Flows from beginning to
    middle to end
  • Provides details to make the event vivid
Personal Narrative
Key Features
Memoir 39g–39h
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Journal Entry 65g–65h
E-mail Invitation
111g–111h
Post Card 87g–87h
Week 4
Connect to Weekly Writing
Week 5
Narrative Writing
133g–133h
Strategic Intervention
Advanced
ELL
See Differentiated Instruction
p. 139g.
See Differentiated Instruction
p. 139h.
See Differentiated Instruction
p. 139h.
PREWRITE 1
Personal Narrative
Writing Prompt: This Land Is Your Land
Write a personal narrative about a time that you were a newcomer to a place or situation (a school, club, team, or neighborhood.) Explain how you felt and what you found challenging or exciting.
Purpose: Explain how you coped in a difficult situation
Audience: Classmates
READ LIKE A WRITER
Look back at Because of Winn-Dixie. Have students recall that the narrator told a story about making friends in a new neighborhood. Point out that a story in which a writer tells about an experience he or she had is a personal narrative.
EXAMINE THE MODEL AND RUBRIC
GUIDED WRITING Read the model aloud. Have students point out sentences in
which the writer uses vivid words to show how he feels and acts. Discuss how the model reflects traits of good writing.
Writing Transparency
Writing Transparency WP1
with | without Answers
Writing Transparency
Writing Transparency WP2
with | without Answers
FINDING A TOPIC
  • Brainstorm with students occasions when they have done something for the first time. List their memories on the board.
  • Suggest that students sort through their memories by talking to their families and reviewing journals and photograph albums.
  • Encourage students to collaborate with others by having them get together in small groups and share stories of the first time they did something.
NARROW A TOPIC
First day in kindergarten I don't remember it very well.
Moving to our new house I don't think I could write about this briefly.
First time at Theater Workshop That was really scary. I remember everything,
and it's a good story.
PREWRITING STRATEGY
GUIDED WRITING Display Writing Transparency WP3. Model how to complete
notes for a personal narrative.
Think AloudMODEL This student's experience sounds really interesting. All the important parts of the story are mapped out. When the student writes a draft, he or she should add some vivid details to make the narrative fun to read.
PREWRITING ACTIVITIES
  • Have students use Grammar and Writing Practice Book
    p. 160 to help them organize information about their chosen topic.
  • Students can make lists of additional details for each part of their story.
Writing Transparency
Writing Transparency WP3
with | without Answers
Taking Notes  
Beginning  
I was really scared felt sick
told Mom I had homework
she didn't believe me