Writer’s Response Notebook - Weebly

NicoleWRITER’S RESPONSE NOTEBOOK8th Grade Language Arts Department2012-2013

OVERVIEWEvery day, you will respond to a daily prompt in yourwriter’s response notebook. The majority of promptscontain writing strategies and examples from the bookWrite Like This by Kelly Gallagher.The goal of these daily activities is to develop real-worldwriters.

EXPRESSIVE AND REFLECTIVE WRITING Expressive WritingPersonal writingwhere the writershares thoughts, ideas,feelings, andquestions about his orher experiences. Thewriter tells the readerhow he or she feels. Reflective WritingAlthough personal,reflective writingmoves beyondrecounting anexperience and intoan exploration of howthe particularexperience hasshaped the writer.Source: Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher

SIX-WORD MEMOIRDirections: Write your life’sstory in only sixwords.Examples: All things considered, I’m doingwell. Escaped my mother. Trapped bygirlfriend. So the water’s deep. Man up.Source: Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher

TWITTER MEMOIRDirections:Write your personalmemoir (life’s story) in140 characters or less.The length of this piece isapproximately 30-40words. You may includepunctuation (commas,periods, colons, etc) as apart of this total. Pleasedo not include spaces,however.Examples:She chased raccoons. Shebit a bee. She raced me inthe pool. She jumped out awindow. She stood by myside. She was more than adog; she was my friend. Imiss her.Source: Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher

MAKING INFERENCES-AEveryday after work Paul took his muddy boots off on thesteps of the front porch. Alice would have a fit if the bootsmade it so far as the welcome mat. He then took off hisdusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag;Alice left a new garbage bag tied to the porch railing forhim every morning. On his way in the house, he droppedthe garbage bag off at the washing machine and wentstraight up stairs to the shower as he was instructed. Hewould eat dinner with her after he was “presentable,” asAlice had often said.QUESTIONS:1.What type of job does Paul work? How do you know this?2.Describe Alice. What textual support can you provide?3.What relationship do Paul and Alice have? Why do you feelthis way?

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AN ORDINARY LIFEDirections:In this book, the authordescribes her life in anencyclopedic format. Overthe course of two to threedays, you will create yourpersonal encyclopediabeginning with “A” andending with “Z”.Examples:Anxious, Things That MakeMeVending Machines. I have todouble-, triple-check. Okay,it’s A5 for the Bugles, right?Is that right? I don’t want toread the codes wrong andend up with the Flaming HotCheetos. But then, what arelief when the Bugles cometumbling down. Yes! I knewit was A5!Sources: Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher. Reprint from Encyclopedia of anOrdinary life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

MAKING INFERENCES-B“Tommy!” Mom called out as she walked in thefront door. “Tommy” she continued shouting, “Isure could use some help with these groceries.”There was still no reply. Mom walked into thekitchen to put the grocery bags down on thecounter when she noticed shattered glass fromthe picture window all over the living room floorand a baseball not far from there. “You’re in bigtrouble Tommy!” Mom yelled to herself as sherealized that Tommy’s shoes were gone.Questions:1. What happened to the window? How do you know this?2. Why did Tommy leave? What textual support can youprovide?

FAVORITE MISTAKES-DAY ONEDirections:Listen to the song “MyFavorite Mistake” bySheryl Crow. Reflecton its meaning. Thinkabout a mistake thatyou have made whichhas eventuallyprovided you with alearning experience.Create and complete achart similar to whatyou see on the right.Examples:What was myfavorite mistake?Getting into a fightwith Phillip Encleyin the 7th GradeExpressionReflectionWhat details do I callLooking back at thesurrounding thatevent, have I learnedmistakefrom the experience?(before/during/after)? Phillip elbowed meduring a lunchtimebasketball game Challenged him toafter school for a fight Got beat up It brought me down Taught me humilitySource: Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher

FAVORITE MISTAKES-DAY TWODirections:Step 2: Complete yourchart from day one ifnecessaryStep 3: Read the essay“A Mistake that ShouldLast a Lifetime”. Usingthis essay as a guide,create a first draft ofyour Favorite Mistake.Gallagher’s Example:“A Mistake that ShouldLast a Lifetime” byJessanne Collins(See Handout)

THE BUCKET LISTDirections:Create a bucket list ofabout ten goals thatyou would like toachieve within yourlifetime. Explain onein detail.Gallagher’s Example:To do: Become involved in apolitical movementTour: See every stadiumMusicians I need to See: U2,Bob DylanTravel: Mt. Rushmore, Montana,Yellowstone, Rio de Janiero,Costa Rico, MoscowLearn: Play guitar, SpanishDare to: Skydive, Parasail,Segway

MAKING INFERENCES-CRuby sat on the couch holding the letter. There wassomething thrilling and, at the same time, terrifying aboutthe letter. Taking a deep, thoughtful breath, Ruby read theletter yet again, reassuring herself that, at least in oneperson’s eyes, she did have what it takes to reach hergoals. After all these years of waiting and summoning hercourage, scrimping and saving, was she finally going totake the opportunity she had been denied those manyyears ago? Ruby tucked the letter back into the envelope.No, today wasn’t the day to tell Max. She had to wait untiljust the right moment; a good day when Max was full ofsmiles and hope and good humor.Questions:1. Why does the letter mean so much to Ruby? What textualsupport can you provide?2. Why doesn’t Ruby tell Max about the letter? What textualsupport can you provide?

SENTENCE STARTERSDirections:Gallagher’s Example:Step 1: Create fivedetailed sentencesusing the sentencestarter:“I appreciatebecause .I appreciate quietbecause I rarelyexperience it.I appreciate writersbecause it is risky toshare your thinking.I appreciate people whoare mechanicallyinclined because I amnot.Step 2: Select yourfavorite sentence andexpand.

WHAT MY CHILDHOOD TASTED LIKEDirections:Step 1: List all of the foodsof your childhood.Step 2: Select the mostdelicious from your list(that also has the beststory attached to it)Step 3: ExplainGallagher’s Example:Waffles---always gooey--made by my dadCottage CheeseGrapesMy grandmother’s piesSlurpeesCap’n Crunch CerealWarm jelly donutsCandy: Lemonheads,Chick-O-Sticks, andNecco WafersBurgers at the beach

CHILDHOOD GAMESDirections:Step 1: List all of your favoritechildhood games.Step 2: From your list, select agame that taught you somethingbeyond the game itself.Step 3: Write a response thatexpresses and reflects uponyour favorite game.Gallagher’s Examples: Ding dong ditch Army Hide and Seek Monopoly Sorry Chutes and Ladders Mr. Potato Head Battleship Operation Concentrations Connect Four G.I. Joe Checkers TagSource: Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher

MAKING INFERENCES-DKyle ran into his house and slammed the door behind him.He paused with his back to the wall and tried to catch hisbreath. The puppy in his coat struggled to get out. Kylelooked out the window worriedly, but he saw that nobodywas coming. Then he let the puppy out of his jacket. Thepuppy yelped while Kyle took the collar off of him. Hethrew the collar in an old soup can in the trash, carefullyflipping over the can. The dog looked around nervously.Questions:1. Why is Kyle out of breath? How do you know this?2. Why is the puppy nervous?3. Why does Kyle put the collar in a soup can?

A HARD MOMENTDirections:Step 1: Create a list of hardmoments of your life.Step 2: Select a hardmoment that taught yousomething about life oryourself. Write about it.Gallagher’s Examples:Breaking up with agirlfriendIntentionally ending afriendshipHolding my dog of thirteenyears as the veterinarianput her down.Getting lost in DisneylandGetting my first “F”Leaving my home countryDiscovering my motherwas reading my privateemailsSource: Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher

A FAMILY PHOTODirections:Step 1: Think about yourfavorite photo. Youmay bring in a copyand attach it to yourresponse.Step 2:Explain/describe/reflect upon why thisimage is so significantto you.Examples:

A TREASURED OBJECTDirections:Step 1: Reflectupon/bring in yourtreasured object.Step 2:Explain/describe/reflect upon why thistreasured object is sosignificant to you.Examples:

MAKING INFERENCES-EKelvin was waiting in front of the corner store at 3:56. Hismuscles were tense and he was sweating a bit more thanusual. The other kids gathered in front of the little storefrontwere much more relaxed, even playful. They joked back andforth lightly to each other but for Kelvin, time slowed. 3:57.Don’t worry, Kelvin. He ain’t even ‘gonna show up.” Kelvinhoped that he wouldn’t. A black four-door Camry with tintedwindows pulled up and parked across the street. Kelvingulped. 3:58. A group of teenagers piled out of the car. Jameswas in the front. “Hi-ya, Kelvin. Glad you could make it,” Jamessaid. Kelvin felt smaller.Questions:1.Why is Kelvin waiting at the corner store?2.How do you know this?3.Are James and Kelvin friends?4.What textual support can you provided.5.Why is Kelvin so nervous?

TOP TENDirections:Gallagher’s Examples:Step 1: Create your own topten list. Some examplesinclude:Favorite foods, studentexcuses for not completinghomework assignments,best albums of all time, etc.Cereals: Cheerios, CornFlakes, Product 19,Shredded Wheat, RiceChex, Total, Special K,Honey Nut Cheerios, Life,Honey Bunches of Oatswith AlmondsTelevision Shows: Cheers,M*A*S*H, PeeWee’sPlayhouse, The LarrySanders Show, Leave it toBeaver, Curb YourEnthusiasm, The Office, Allin the Family, TheSopranos, The WireStep 2:Explain/describe/reflectupon the top ten list in itsentirety or select one itemfrom the list and expand.

SO WHAT?Directions:Step 1: Recall an incidentin your life where youfaced an obstacle, yetmoved beyond it.Step 2: Step 2:Explain/describe/reflectupon why or howmoving beyond theobstacle is so significantto you.Gallagher’s Examples:You broke your arm. So What?You moved. So What?

INFORM AND EXPLAINWriter’s Response Notebook-Section 2

REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES In the past year, I have written to these people,organizations, and companies:My homeowner’s association (HOA) regarding anovergrown tree. My boss explaining what I accomplished during preplanning. My cousins describing my summer vacation and apicture of my daughter that I included in the note Letters of recommendation for my students

MY FAVORITE WORDSDirections:Step 1: List your favorite words.Respond to the majority of thefollowing prompts: Words that make me laugh Words that make me cry Words I have troublepronouncing Words I have trouble spelling Words I will never forget Words of wisdom Words that hurt Words that my parents say thatdrive me crazy Words that teachers should useless often Words that motivated me Words that I wish I hadn’t saidSeymour’s Examples: Words that make Mrs.Seymour Smile-Hearing the word “Mama”Cringe-Hearing the question “Why?” andpeople tapping me on my shoulderLaugh-Sassafras, Jazz Fingers, Got ‘Em,Have a hard time pronouncing- conscientiously,drawingHave a hard time spelling-commercial (Icannot explain why)Hurt-the word “hate”Crazy-The words “Lax”, when peoplepronounce “mature” or “immature” stressingthe “t”Having a hard time remembering thedefinition-conspicuously, inconspicuously

I WAS A WITNESSDirections:Step 1: Considermeaningful events thatyou have witnessed inyour life. Explain whatyou have seen.Gallagher’s Examples: A suspect chased andtackled by policeofficers A cat give birth to sixkittens A presidentialmotorcade A red tide at the beachSource: Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher