the confident writer
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The Confident Writer. Chapter 8: Narrating and Describing. What is Hughes’s thesis? Why is he writing? How are the details organized? What pattern(s) of organization does he use? Can you think of any such defining moments in your own life?. “Salvation” by Langston Hughes. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Confident WriterChapter 8:
Narrating and Describing
“Salvation” by Langston Hughes
What is Hughes’s thesis? Why is he writing?
How are the details organized?What pattern(s) of organization does he
use?
Can you think of any such defining moments in your own life?
What Are Organizational Patterns?
Organizational patterns are…◦Thought patterns◦Options for helping a
writer achieve unity and coherence
◦Frameworks for ideas◦Determined by topic,
audience, and purpose
One organizational pattern is narration.◦ Narration is the
storytelling patternAnother pattern is
description.◦ Description brings
subjects to life.
Which pattern should you use?
Use Narration to Tell a Story
Use narration to develop your topic as a story.
A narration develops a series of events that take place over a period of time.
Tell your readers what you learned from the experience—reflect!
Tools for Narration1. Determine the
story’s significance.2. Follow the sequence
of events.3. Choose a point of
view.4. Add dialogue for
accuracy and variety.
Use Narration to Tell a Story
Determine the Story’s Significance
Follow a Sequence of Events
Try to understand the meaning of the event.
On notebook paper, do Exercise 8.1 on page 201.
In what order did the events occur?
Which details are necessary?
What transitions words will maintain a time sequence?
Use Narration to Tell a Story
Choose a Point of View
Add Dialogue for Accuracy & Variety
POV=the perspective from which a story is told
1st Person: I3rd Person: he, she, it2nd Person: you (Avoid
using this one!)
Dialogue=quoting what someone says
Dialogue makes people come alive.
Dialogue allows people to speak for themselves.
Rules for Using Dialogue
1. New speaker, new paragraph.
2. Put “ ” around the words of the speaker.George said, “Really? I can’t believe it!”
3. Attribute words to the speaker. Ron said,Alexis repliedHamilton quipped
4. Place ending punctuation inside “ ”.Trish murmured, “You know I love you.”“You know,” Trish murmured, “I love you.”“You know I love you,” Trish murmured.
5. After establishing speakers, you can omit attributions.
Using Dialogue
Larry approaches Bob, who is reading with a very intent look on his face, and asks him, “Whuh you reading, Bob?”
“Ees book on how crocs keel prey with death roll,” answers Bob without looking up from the book. “I geet from child’s seshun of library.”
Larry’s brow furrows with intrigue. “Roll keel dem?” His fists clench as he struggles toward an epiphany.
“Oh, yeah. It snap neck,” Bob replies. When he notices Larry’s look of enthusiasm, he cannot help asking, “Why?” But Larry dashes off without a reply.
Several hours later, Larry rings Zebra’s doorbell. “Peese,” he says, when Zebra opens the door, “Eet wid dinner.” Zebra just stares a Larry, wondering at his remarkable resemblance to the Pillsbury Dough Boy, the proffered basked of dinner rolls, and look of bland innocence.
Comic Strip to
Narrative:
Use the above cartoon to write a brief narrative that includes
description.
Use Description to Enliven Your Writing
Use description to bring your topic to life.
Tools for Description1. Find a controlling
idea.2. Choose sensory
details.3. Consider your
audience and purpose.
Use Description to Enliven Your Writing
Find a Controlling Idea
Choose Sensory Details
A controlling idea—◦ Is the overall
impression that a person, place or object conveys
◦ Is part of your thesis◦ Controls your selection
of details
Sensory details appeal to your five senses:◦ Touch◦ Taste◦ Smell◦ Hear◦ See
Use Description to Enliven Your Writing
Consider Your Audience & Purpose
When you describe, you can have either:◦ An objective purpose◦ A subjective purpose
To decide on a purpose, ask yourself:◦ Who am I writing this
for and why?
Think through Your Topic
Questions to Consider:1. What is your topic, and why have you chosen it?2. Is your purpose to relate an event or to create an impression?3. If your topic is an event or story, then what makes it significant?4. If your topic is an impression or feeling, then what is the
controlling idea?5. Is the topic something you know and care about?6. Will the topic interest readers or seem important to them?7. What is your central idea, thesis, or message?8. What point of view will you take?9. What examples or sensory details will bring this topic to life?10. How will dialogue add realism to your story or enliven your
description?
Plan and Write Your Essay
Ask yourself the 5 Ws and a H Questions:◦Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
Plan your essay with:◦A three-level outline
Main Idea Major details Minor details◦A coherence pattern
Time order, emphatic order, and spatial order
Look at Figure 8.4 on page 221.