Creating Writing Territories

By Lisa Clontz

Purpose:

The purpose of this lesson is to get students to think about writing and topics on their own. This mini-lesson will help students explore ways to be creative in their writing. This lesson should be one of the first mini-lessons taught before beginning writer’s workshop.

Materials Needed:

Notebooks

Pencils

Overhead Projector

Teacher created list of writing territories

Blank transparency or Pre-printed w/teacher territories

Transparency Marker

Time Required:

10 – 15 minutes

Objectives:

NCSCS Language Arts:

Competency Goal 1:

The learner will use language to express individual

perspectives drawn from personal or related experience.

1.01 Narrate a fictional or autobiographical account which:

• includes a coherent organizing structure.
• tells a story or establishes the significance of an event or events.
• uses remembered feelings and specific details.
• uses a range of appropriate strategies (e.g., dialogue, suspense, movement, gestures, expressions).

1.02 Explore expressive materials that are read, heard, and viewed by:

• generating a learning log or journal.
• creating an artistic interpretation that connects self to the work.
• discussing books/media formally and informally.

1.03 Interact appropriately in group settings by:

• listening attentively.
• showing empathy.
• contributing relevant comments connecting personal experiences to content.
• monitoring own understanding of the discussion and seeking clarification as needed.

1.04 Reflect on learning experiences by:

• describing personal learning growth and changes in perspective.
• identifying changes in self throughout the learning process.
• interpreting how personal circumstances and background shape interaction with text.

NCTE:

§ Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information.

§ Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.

Script:

How many of you have ever been stumped about what to write about, either in your journals or when given an assignment? I can remember that happening to me more than once. I can remember getting so discouraged about not knowing what to write about and I hated for my teacher to give me a prompt and tell me I had to write about that certain topic. Well today I am going to give you an opportunity to create your own topics. We are going to call these topics our writing territories. Each of you will create your own list of writing territories. This list can consist of things you have done, family members, genres you have read, or things you are interested in. The possibilities are endless! You will keep your writing territories in your notebooks.

Now I need everyone to look at the overhead. (At this point, I would either write on a blank transparency or have a pre-printed one with my territories) I have created my own list of writing territories that I would like to share with you. This should give you an idea of some things to add to your list of territories.

I am going to give you about 10 minutes to just brainstorm and come up with your own list of writing territories. Don’t think this is a final list. As I said before, you will keep these in your notebooks and add to your list throughout the year. Feel free to add territories at any time. You may come in one day and think of something that happened to you last night and want to add that to your list to maybe write about one day. So please don’t lose this list!