Lesson Details

Descriptive Writing 101

2014-2015

Principles of English 1, fall 2014

Date

Aug. 26, 2014

Additional Info
Learning Target: Students will write an engaging and descriptive introductory paragraph for their name essay.

We will head to the auditorium together after about 20 minutes to take pictures. (Can someone be responsible for watching the time??) Please make sure you have your student ID with you.


This week's grammar sentence is:
someones copy of ethan frome a novel was found in the room but my copy of the play our town is missing

Please take out your Tuesday grammar notes and marking guide to complete today's sentence. 

After grammar, we will quickly finish grading our vocabulary pretests from yesterday. You must score at least a 28/40 to be exempt from the additional vocab activities. If you have to do the supplemental activities, they are due no later than Thursday.

After the vocab grading, we will probably head to the auditorium for pictures.

When we get back from pictures, we will address the following questions as a class. You should take out the chart you made while listening to Dahl's "Lamb to the Slaughter" for reference.
  1. Which specific details that Dahl uses enhance and expand your understanding of the plot?
  2. Which specific details that Dahl uses enhance and/or complicate your understanding of Mrs. Maloney and her motives?
  3. With as much detail as Dahl uses, it becomes very important to notice where he DOES NOT give us any details. What does he leave out, and why do you think that is important?
  4. Do you think it is possible to give TOO MUCH detail? Why or why not? Have you read something that you felt contained too much detail? Have you read something that left you wondering what was going on or what something looked like?
  5. Dahl actually uses details and descriptions as parts of the plot. For example, he draws the readers attention to the whiskey and its relaxing effect on her husband at the beginning of the story several times. This is essential for understanding how Mrs. Maloney uses the alcohol to her advantage later on. What other details and descriptions  can you recall that added to or were necessary for the plot to be successful?

After our discussion, you will use your outlines--graded outlines are in the homework basket--to begin constructing a rough draft. Scores on outlines, awarded for amount of detail, completion, and formatting, were given as follows:
check-plus: 45-50 points
check: 40-44 points
check-minus: 35-39 points
minus: 30-34 points
zero: assignment does not meet minimum requirements.

In order to work on our descriptive abilities, I would like us to start only with the opening paragraph. Description here is essential because this is your audience's first impression of your writing. As "inspiration" we will take a look at the (rough) opening paragraph I've made for my own name essay.