• Get out your literacy notebook and your Library book.

• In your Notes section in your writing composition: Write today’s date 9/15/11 and write INTRODUCTIONS (this should be your first entry in this section)

• Copy down the first 3 sentences that appear in your library book’s introduction.

• Beneath those sentences comment on the opening sentences of your book…does the author grab the readers attention? What do you like/dislike about the writing?

Modeling Narrative

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

Prompt:

Write a composition about a significant event in your life which you faced a major challenge and were able to overcome it.

Modeling Autobiographical Incident

Step 2: Brainstorm events related to the prompt.

Time I overcame

a challenge

Moving to a new school

Trying out For

cheerleader

ParentsDivorce - who do I live with

Learning howTo become

A better math student

YOUR TURN Look at the circle map you created at the beginning of class, would any of these topics work for the promp?

Brainstorm events related to the prompt.

Time IOvercame

A challenge

Choosing a

uniquetopic is critical!!!

Tree Map-Classifying

• TopicScenes(3) Key People(4) Main Events(2) Lesson(1)-A maximum of 2 -You first-always -Listing the main events in -From this lesson/

Scenes -Any other key people order using phrases experience, I

-Describe your scene -Each person has 3 words learned….

Using 3 adjectives and describing them

2 vivid verbs-appeal to -shift in emotions

The five senses

Narrative Tree Map

Step 3: Explore your memory for details.

Parents Divorce

Scenes

My house(tense, lonely,Melancholy)

Modeling Autobiographical Incident

Step 3: Explore your memory for details.

Memorable Christmas

Scenes Key People

•Me (depressed,Resentful, grateful)

•Dad (angry, Bitter, supportive)

•Mom ( devastated,Insightful, supportive)

Modeling Autobiographical Incident

Step 3: Explore your memory for details.

Parents Divorce

Scenes Key People Main Events•Parents constantly fighting

•Announce Divorce• Have to choose mom or dad•Reflect onDivorce & choice

Modeling Autobiographical Incident

Step 3: Explore your memory for details.

Parents Divorce

Scenes Key People Main Events Lesson

I learned from this experience that

in life you may be faced with

challenges that seem impossible to overcome,

but these challenges can end up being

blessings in disguise.

Modeling Autobiographical Incident

Step 3: Explore your memory for details.

Memorable Christmas

ScenesMy house

(tense, lonely,Melancholy)

Key PeopleMe (depressed,

Resentful, grateful)

Dad (angry,

Bitter, supportive)

Main Events

Announce Divorce

LessonI learned from

this experience that in life you may be faced with

challenges that seem

impossible to overcome, but these

challenges can end up being blessings in

disguise.

Parents constantly fighting

Have to choose mom or dad

Reflect onDivorce & choice

Mom ( devastated,

Insightful, supportive)

Modeling Autobiographical Incident

Step 4: Orally rehearse your autobiographical narrative with another person.

Does anyone have a really awesome lead to share with the class?

Who can remember the steps we discussed yesterday for how to

respond to a prompt???

INTRODUCTION

Step 5: Write an introduction. Include a grabber, some background information, and a hint of the topic.

I was sitting silently in eighth period surrounded by friends; all eyes were on the clock in anticipation for the bell to ring. It was Friday and less than five minutes until the start of the weekend. In the life of a thirteen year old this should have been the best part of the day…for me though, it was the moment I had come to dread. As my classmate’s excitement grew, the knot in my stomach became harder toignore because of the heart ache that I knew awaited me at home. Not even in my wildest dreams though could I have imagined the challenge I would soon face.

Let’s Get Introduced!

Younever get a

second chanceto make a

first impression!

The introductionof your essay is the most

important part!

The reader decides hereif your paper is worth

reading!

Let’s face it – we’ve all read essays like this:

Here’s some examplesof what you DON’Twant to do...

The “it” lead...“It was a beautiful day in Texas...”

The “question” lead...“Have you ever had something

difficult happen to you?”

The “definition” lead...“Webster’s defines thoughtful

as...”

Not another BORING

introduction!AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!

Never fear!Effective introductions are

here!

There are several waysto create an introduction

that immediately grabs yourreader and creates

connections.

Snapshot

Create a picturein the reader’s mind.

Let’s try this one:

“My worst memory was dinnertime.”Boring!

How about...

“The dinner table was bare except the stingy plates

of dry meatloaf and runny mashed potatoes. No one had an appetite—

especially me.”Better!

Ba-Da-Bing!

Start with introducingsomeone’s thoughts or

feelings.

Ba = feetDa = see

Bing = think

“As I stood on the edge of the roof,

I looked downand whimpered, “I hope I don’t

fall!”WOW!

ThoughtshotBegin your essay

with a thought inside a character’s

head.

“I couldn’t imaginewhy my father hollered

for me at 7:00 in the morning! I thought

fast about what I had done.”

Interesting!

Ready...Set...Action!

Begin with your maincharacter doing

something.

“Sally pushed away from the table, bolted out of the

kitchen, and slammed the back door.

She ran down the dock as quick as a lightening

strike, hurrying toward the sound of her father’s voice.”

What’s next?

Onomatopoeia

Introduce your essay with a

sound.

“Crack! The limbsnapped underneath me. I felt the rush of air slip past my arms as I fell to the grass

below.”

Ouch!

LEADS

SNAPSHOT LEAD Create a picture in the reader’s mind.The wind blew silently making the soft, green grass swerve back and forth.

TALKING LEAD Start with a character speaking.“Texas? What do you mean Texas?” I exclaimed furiously as if the world was ending.

THOUGHTSHOT LEAD Start with a thought inside a character’s head.I couldn’t imagine why my father was hollering for me at 7:00 in the morning. I thought fast about what I might have done.

ACTION LEAD Start with the main character doing something.I gulped my milk, pushed away from the table, and bolted out of the kitchen, slamming the screen door behind me. I ran down to the dock as fast as my legs would carry me. My feet pounded on the old wood, hurrying me toward the sound of my dad’s voice.

ONOMATOPOEIA LEAD Start with a sound.Bam! I smacked my head into the wall.

BA DA BING LEAD Where were you? What did you see? What did you think?Standing in the kitchen, I stared at my sister’s broken finger, and I realized I was going to be grounded for life.

What do you think of these intros?• “Noooooo,” I cried hopelessly laying on the soft blue

and white comforter on the guestroom bed.• One of the most difficult things I have done in my

life was admitting to my parents that I broke something extremely valuable.

• The throbbing continued as tears poured down my cheeks.

• It was early Saturday morning, and I could hear birds chirping.

• “Slowly! Hold on tight,” Ms. Smith, my fifth grade teacher, yelled.

• It was the summer of third grade.

• As the giant powdery clumps of snow fell down on my house, I felt as though I never wanted to go inside and leave that spot.

• I think riding a bike is one of the most difficult things you could do.

• Hello! My name is Sandy, and I am going to tell you about something difficult that happened to me one time.

• Sticky sweat dripped from the back of my neck and onto my navy blue pants.

• “I ruined it. I am never doing this again,” I thought to myself.

• Sweat leaked down my face as my hands shook.

• “Christy, if you don’t do this, I am not going to be your friend anymore!” Sally exclaimed rudely.

• As I stared down at the slick rail, my eyes twitched.• My job right now is to write a composition about

something I did that I thought was difficult. • As I glided over the water, a fierce wind blew in my

face.• Trudging slowly up the stairs, I dreaded the doom

that awaited me just beyond my bedroom door. • Have you ever accomplished a goal that you

thought was impossible?

YOUR TURN

Step 5: Write an introduction. Include a grabber, some background information, and a hint of the topic.

Sitting silently in eighth period surrounded by friends; all eyes on the clock in anticipation for the bell to ring. It was Friday and less than five minutes until the start of the weekend. In the life of a thirteen year old this should have been the best part of the day…for me though, it was the moment I had come to dread. As my classmate’s excitement grew, the knot in my stomach became harder toignore because of the heart ache that I knew awaited me at home. Not even in my wildest dreams though could I have imagined the challenge I would soon face.

AUTHOR’S CHAIR

Lets listen to some strong introductions.