"Writing is simply putting together what you know with how you know it." --Gretchen Bernabei
wrap erb writing test:
Tuesday and Wednesday, JANUARY 29-30
We have been so busy getting ready for the ERB this month! We have learned so many things!!! Look below to see what we've learned (Click on the links to get to the prezis):
We've learned how to attack the prompt, brainstorm, and choose our structure (organization).
We've learned some good leads to start our essays in an interesting way. We also learned more about 3 in 1 info shots.
We've learned how to support our writing with FRIES.
We've learned how to revise what we've written by using STAR.
We've learned different kinds of sentences like AAAWWUBBIS and Openers, Splitters and Closers.
We've learned about what paragraphs should look like (focusing on only one main topic).
We've learned what the ERB graders are looking for by looking at the rubric and some example essays.
Our test is on Tuesday and Wednesday, so review what you need, relax, eat a good breakfast, and get some sleep!
Remember, we have practiced practiced practiced and I've given you all the tools you need. If you work hard, take your time, and apply what you've learned, you will do just fine! Best of luck!! --Mrs. Briseno
We've learned how to attack the prompt, brainstorm, and choose our structure (organization).
We've learned some good leads to start our essays in an interesting way. We also learned more about 3 in 1 info shots.
We've learned how to support our writing with FRIES.
We've learned how to revise what we've written by using STAR.
We've learned different kinds of sentences like AAAWWUBBIS and Openers, Splitters and Closers.
We've learned about what paragraphs should look like (focusing on only one main topic).
We've learned what the ERB graders are looking for by looking at the rubric and some example essays.
Our test is on Tuesday and Wednesday, so review what you need, relax, eat a good breakfast, and get some sleep!
Remember, we have practiced practiced practiced and I've given you all the tools you need. If you work hard, take your time, and apply what you've learned, you will do just fine! Best of luck!! --Mrs. Briseno
the writing process
Step 1: Make a Quick List!
WHY DO WE MAKE QUICK LISTS? QUICK LISTS ARE THE EASIEST WAY TO PULL GREAT IDEAS FOR WRITING OUT OF YOUR MIND. SOMETIMES CHOOSING AN IDEA OR TOPIC IS HARD, BUT WHEN YOU MAKE A QUICK LIST, IT'S EASY AND YOU HAVE LOTS OF THINGS TO CHOOSE FROM!
Things we've added to our quick lists:
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QUICK LIST #1
1. Our pet peeves (things that bother us) 2. A frustrating school moment 3. Things we've always wondered about 4. A time we were mean to someone 5. A time we broke the rules 6. A time we did something bad, but we didn't regret (feel bad about) it 7. Habits we need to break |
QUICK LIST #2
8. A time we learned something new 9. A time we failed at something 10. A time when we succeeded at something |
QUICK LIST #3
11. Things we can do now but we couldn't do before 12. A time when we thought we couldn't do something, but we actually could 13. A time when we thought we COULD do something, but we actually couldn't 14. A satisfying moment at school 15. A time that we were afraid for someone we cared about 16. Times we learned something new 17. Times we were hurt by a friend 18. Times when we hurt a friend 19. A time that we didn't get what we wanted |
Remember, to make sure you have a really great story, choose a level 2 or 3 (more interesting, more personal, has a conflict, doesn't happen to everyone....) experience!!!
STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR STRUCTURE AND WRITE A KERNEL ESSAY!
WHY DO WE USE TEXT STRUCTURES TO WRITE KERNEL ESSAYS? KERNEL ESSAYS ARE A SIMPLE, FAST, AND FUN WAY OF SEEING IF WE HAVE A STORY WORTH TELLING. THE TEXT STRUCTURE HELPS US STAY ORGANIZED AND TELL IF YOUR KERNEL ESSAY GETS READERS HUNGRY FOR MORE, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A STORY THAT YOU SHOULD TELL.
TEXT STRUCTURES WE KNOW:
A MEMORY1. Where was I?
2. What happened first? 3. What happened next? 4. What happened last? 5. What did I learn? (A truism!) |
THE STORY OF MY THINKING1. What I used to think
2. Why I thought this 3. Then this happened 4. Because this happened, I thought... 5. So now I know... (a truism) |
A Box of Chocolates1. What happened
2. What I had expected to happen 3. What I really got 4. How I reacted 5. What I learned (a truism) |
Life Lesson, Past and Future1. What the lesson is (a truism)
2. What it means to me 3. How it affected my life in the past 4. How it will affect my life in the future |
Discovering a LIe1. Someone told me (a lie)...
2. So I believed/thought... 3. Then I found out... 4. So now I think/know... |
Want to see some examples? Check out the class forum!
STEP 3: MAKE A FLIPBOOK AND GET YOUR IDEAS AND DETAILS OUT!
WHY DO WE USE FLIPBOOKS? FLIPBOOKS ARE A GREAT WAY TO ORGANIZE AND FOCUS ON ONLY ONE PART OF THE STORY AT A TIME. IT'S ALSO A GOOD PLACE TO HOLD ALL YOUR IDEAS ABOUT EACH PART OF THE STORY.
LEARN HOW TO MAKE A FLIPBOOK!
Your Flipbook Should Look like:
Your name, the date, your title, the topic, and a picture should be on the top page.
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Your whole kernel essay (the questions AND the answers) should be on the back. Put your title there too.
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JUST the kernel essay sentences should be on the "flips" or tabs.
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You should FILL UP each page with details about each kernel essay sentence. Remember, write small! If you need more room, write on the back of that page.
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sTEP 4: Revise! sTART MAKING YOUR WRITING better!
THINGS THAT MAKE YOUR WRITING POP!
Truisms:
A statement that is true for everyone
--a life lesson--
Have you ever read something, or heard a character
in a movie or TV show say something, and thought, "Wow, that's so true."
That's called a TRUISM--a statement about life that's true for just about everyone. It shows us something about life and how the world works.
Here's some we've written so far this year:
in a movie or TV show say something, and thought, "Wow, that's so true."
That's called a TRUISM--a statement about life that's true for just about everyone. It shows us something about life and how the world works.
Here's some we've written so far this year:
- Hope can make people go forward. –Linda Lee
- Failure is a lesson of success. –Benson Liu
- Sometimes you do something not because you want to do it, but to challenge yourself. –Steven Cheng
- If you want to do something, you shouldn't care about what other people say. –Andre Fontes
Some Awesome Truisms from Mrs. Briseno's Awesome Students!
Steven chang is our truism/simile hunter! Look what he's found!
ba-da-bings! ba-da-bangs! ba-da-booms!
BORING Sentence: I ran.
BA-DA-BiNG: I was in P.E. class and I saw everyone was tired, and I thought, “Man, I hope the teacher doesn’t make us run!””
-- Written by Joyce Jun
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Boring Sentence: I broke the TV.
BA-DA-BANG: I was at home in my room panicking when I saw my door open and heard, “Who broke the TV?” --Written by Andy Chen
BORING Sentence: I lost my homework.
BA-DA-BANG: I was in my house, I saw my homework running away, and I heard it say, “No thanks!” --Written by Steven Chang
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BORING Sentence: I lost my homework.
BA-DA-BOOM: I was sitting in the classroom, I saw my teacher coming, and I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. --Written by Ricardo Yang
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Watch this video on Ba-da-Bings by the creator herself and Mrs. Briseno's favorite writer, Gretchen Bernabei!
similes:
when you compare two different things using like or as
Today we practiced writing similes by comparing tangible things (things we are able to touch) and intangible things (things we are NOT able to touch). Here are some similes we wrote today:
INTANGIBLE is like TANGIBLE, because...
INTANGIBLE is like TANGIBLE, because...
- Fear is like glue, because it's hard to shake it off.
- Fear is like glue, because if it's stuck to you, it's hard to get rid of.
- Fear is like glue, because if you let it stick to you, it's hard to get rid of it.
- Anger is like dogs, because if you keep them on a leash, they usually stay under control, but if you let them loose, they can sometimes cause great damage.
- Books are like relationships (or love), because we're sad when the good ones end.
- Love is like your planner, because both of them have to be filled.
- Sadness is like a bad apple, because if we don't get rid of it, it can spoil everything.
Some amazing Truisms that are also similes written by our class!!
Simile and Metaphor Videos
They finally work! Enjoy!!!
Source: These videos were made by a very cool and smart teacher named Mr. Wasko. They can also be viewed here.