Daily Archives: January 6, 2018


Free Guide: Developing Themes in Literature

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Developing-Themes-in-Literature-1178507

 

Developing Themes in Literature

 

Product Description
This handout has been created to help both teachers and students learn how to develop themes in literature properly. This can be such an abstract concept for some students. Hopefully, this FREE handout will demystify theme development.

This handout includes step by step instructions on how to develop a theme in paragraph form.

I hope you enjoy it!

It’s teaching made easy!

You may also be interested in the following products: 

Thesis Writing Activity with PowerPoint Presentation

Teaching The Essay Package
Essay Evaluation Comments with Drop Down Boxes
Lord of the Flies Unit (No prep required)
Hamlet Unit (No prep – Complete Unit)
Death of a Salesman (No prep required)
Frankenstein (No prep – Complete Unit)
Poetry Unit for Senior Students (NO PREP)
Poetry Unit for Intermediate Students
Poetry Unit: The Art of Interpretation
Romeo and Juliet – A No Prep Unit

Total Pages
1 page
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A

FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON – “Writing – “Just Say, ‘NO!’ to Dull Writing””

by Connie

6th – 12th Grade

 

 

This year-long,”Just Say, ‘NO!’ to Dull Writing” activity has always been one of my star middle and high school lesson plans. On the first day of school, I handed out to my students right after we reviewed the syllabus and classroom rules and expectations.

I explained to the students that they were required to refer to it for any writing-graded or non-graded. Also, I made a poster of it to hang in the classroom and I taped a copy of the list to each desk for continual writing reinforcement.

Although it is a integral part of ‘Chapter 2 – The Foundation’ in my teacher resource book, “The House of Comprehension,” I offer it in my TpT store for FREE. The Taboo Words and Phrases list and coordinating lessons are crucial for empowering students to write clear, specific sentences instead of those with meaningless word choices and weak structures.

Here are some suggestions for using this product:

1. The first day of school, hand out the Taboo Words & Phrases sheet to every student. Explain that they are to refer to it every time that they revise a draft of an essay, an original poem or fiction piece, or a narrative article. Mention that even if they only revise for these particular words and phrases, their writing will dramatically improve.
2. Discuss that
– when they use these weak and clichéd words and phrases, their writing is vague, emotionless, and tells instead of shows.
– no matter what type of writing they are composing, students should strive to create word pictures;
– their writing must show, not tell, and to do this they must use concrete, specific nouns and adjectives.
– Verbs form the backbone of writing, and should always show action as well as the emotion of the subject performing the action.
3. Write some sentences on the board that use these weak words and phrases, and have students revise them for strength and clarity.
4. Repeat this information over and over to the students and address it on their final drafts.

The Taboo Words & Phrases List also works as a poster to hang in the classroom. For a poster, add the following information:

Effective Writing:
-Shows instead of tells
-Creates word pictures
-Uses concrete, specific nouns and adjectives
-Forms strong sentences-writing’s backbone- with verbs that show action and emotion

The other day, a former student who is now a senior in college asked me to send it to her. On my Facebook Profile page she said, “Mrs. C- I am tutoring at CNU’s writing center and have to do a presentation on making writing “concise and precise.” Could you send me a copy of your taboo words list please? It’s been and will continue to be the best advice on writing well that I’ve found ” (Olga S).

When this Taboo Words and Phrases list impacts your students’ thinking and writing, it will become a lifelong tool just as it did for Olga.

Note: for another FREEBIE that is a part of “The House of Comprehension’s” ‘Chapter 2 – The Foundation,’ try my Primary Freebie-
Ten-SentenceFormat

Here is the link to the complete resource, “The House of Comprehension” –
EBook – “The House of Comprehension”

Enjoy a Teach It Now Day,
Connie

Follower Advantage
For an automatic Heads-Up! email about Updated and New products, and also for Sales and other promotions, please click on the Follow Me star under my Store name, Connie.

 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Just-Say-NO-to-Dull-Writing-1555338

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative at
http://www.thebestofteacherentrepreneursmarketingcooperative.com/2014/01/the-best-of-teacher-entrepreneurs.html
and get THOUSANDS OF PAGE VIEWS for your TpT products!

Go to http://www.pinterest.com/TheBestofTPT/ for even more free products!