Unveiling Life: Fresh Ideas and Unexpected Endings
Ideas
The piece’s content—its central message
and details that support the message.
Ideas
Find a topic
Select a fresh, original idea that matters to you.
Focus the Topic
Home in on what’s most important.
Develop the Topic
Include original information from your own experience or research.
Use Details
Present specific, interesting, and accurate details to support your idea.
Ideas: Find a Topic
Select a fresh, original idea that matters
to you.
Have I chosen a topic that I really like?
Do I have something new to say about the topic?
Am I writing about what I know and care about?
Have I gathered enough information about it so
that I’m ready to write?
After Ever After
by Jordan Sonnenblick
What does the phrase remind you of?
“and they lived happily ever after”
With that in mind, predict what the book
might be about.
Jeffrey isn’t a boy with cancer anymore. He’s a teen in
remission.
Even though the cancer should be far behind him, Jeffrey still
worries that it will return. He’s got normal teen stuff to deal with,
too—friends, parents, girls, school. Normally he’d ask his older
brother, Steven for advice. But Steven, always the trusty responsible
one, is finally rebelling and has taken off to Africa to join a
drumming circle and “find himself.” Jeffrey feels abandoned.
Meanwhile, his best friend, Tad, is hatching some kind of secretive,
crazy plan involving eighth-grade graduation. And Lindsey Abraham,
a way hot girl who is new to the school, thinks Jeffrey’s cute…which
totally freaks him out.
There’s a lot about life that cancer has prepared Jeffrey for,
but there’s a lot that’s brand new. Now it’s time for him to learn not
only how to fight for himself but to stick up for the people he loves.
Surprising and delightful at every turn,
After Ever After
is a
real, tender, hopeful, and funny story about what happens when you
stop surviving and start living again.
being cured of cancer = an ending
What other “endings” in life might you
write about?
Choose a life event that’s usually thought of as
an ending.
Discuss what might happen after.
Generate as many alternatives as you can.
10 Minute JAM
Pick one life event and think about what
might happen “after ever after”
Write a JAM that summarizes the main idea and
entices the reader to read further
Share.
Ideas: Focus the Topic
Home in on what’s most important.
Has she zeroed in on one small part of a bigger
whole?
Can the idea be retold in a simple sentence?
Has she chosen the information that best captures
the idea?
Has she thought deeply about what the reader will
need to know?
So the next time you’re at the beach,
think for a moment about what you’re seeing.
The force of tides may take the water in and
out from the shoreline, but it also lengthens
our day, pushes the Moon farther away, creates
volcanoes, eats stars, and viciously tears apart
whole galaxies. Of course, the tides also make
it easier to find pretty shells on the coastline.
Sometimes it’s awesome to think about the
universe as a whole, but other times it’s okay
just to wiggle your toes in the wet sand.
From
Bad Astronomy
by Philip Plait
Henry’s Freedom Box
by Ellen Levine
What is the main idea of the story?
What is the focused topic? Use the following
question to help you decide:
Has she zeroed in on one small part of a bigger whole?
Can the idea be retold in a simple sentence?
Has she chosen the information that best captures the
idea?
Has she thought deeply about what the reader will
need to know?
List details that support the focused topic.
Ideas: Developing the Topic
Include original information from your own
experience or research.
Am I sure my information is correct?
Are my details chock-full of interesting information?
Have I used details that show new thinking about
this idea?
Will my reader believe what I say about this topic?
Compare these two paragraphs.
Country music is America’s music. It’s what everyone likes.
There should be a lot more country music on the radio.
Once known as country-western, country music is a favorite
music genre in America today. It began as folk music that
originated from the southern rural states, but widened its appeal
from coast to coast after World War II. It’s a unique style of music
that is American, through and through. Some people find the
topics of country music songs to be silly, but I think they express
what Americans really value: family, home, hard work, love,
religion, and how to survive hard times. Country musicians are my
favorites, whether it’s an old timer like Hank Williams or the new
star Kenny Chesney. I wish there were more radio stations that
played only country music; I’d listen to them day and night.
“I believe that…” Instructions
Write the first statement in your Writer’s
Notebook.
Decide if you agree or disagree with it.
Write one reason why you agree/disagree with the
statement.
Go to the appropriate corner.
Listen to the reasons of others.
Record a reason that resonates with you.
I believe that…
words can hurt.
people can learn from their
mistakes.
what goes around comes around.
you can only depend on yourself.
money can’t buy happiness.
“I believe that…” Instructions
Pick a statement you feel strongly about.
Move to the table where you see that statement.
Create a group of no more than three students.
The person with the birthday closest to
Valentine’s Day will write the statement at the
top of a piece of loose-leaf paper and record all
the reasons why you agree/disagree with the
statement.
Top-Ten List: What Adults Should Know
about Middle School Students
1. We don’t like to be told what to do. But
if you don’t tell us, we won’t do it! And
even when you do tell us, many times we
don’t do it unless you get mean about it.
We’re kind of flakey.
2. Remembering to put our names on our
papers is harder than being blindfolded and
sending a text message with our thumbs.
Ideas: Using Details
Present specific, interesting, and accurate
details to support your idea.
Did I create a picture in the reader’s mind?
Did I use details that draw upon the five senses
(sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing)?
Do my details stay on the main topic?
Did I stretch for details beyond the obvious?
F for Effort!
The House on Mango Street
“Laughter”
by Sandra Cisneros
Nenny and I don’t look like sisters…not right
away. Not the way you can tell with Rachel and
Lucy, who have the same fat popsicle lips like
everybody else in their family. But me and
Nenny, we are more alike than you would
know. Our laughter, for example. Not the shy
ice cream bells’ giggle of Rachel and Lucy’s
family, but all of a sudden and surprised like a
pile of dishes breaking.
I Love to Laugh
Laughter
Secretly, pick a word for laughter.
Write a paragraph (with your partner) to
describe someone laughing in the manner
of the word you pick
Do NOT use the word in your paragraph.
Make us guess.
Uncover a journey through inspiring ideas, thoughtful reflections, and surprising twists in life events. Explore the central messages behind original topics and dive into the intricacies of post-event scenarios. Delve into the captivating story of "After Ever After" by Jordan Sonnenblick, where resilience, friendship, and living beyond survival are beautifully portrayed. Engage in creative writing exercises to imagine what lies beyond typical conclusions, shaping narratives that resonate with hope and authenticity.
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Presentation Transcript
Ideas The piece s content its central message and details that support the message.
Ideas Find a topic Select a fresh, original idea that matters to you. Focus the Topic Home in on what s most important. Develop the Topic Include original information from your own experience or research. Use Details Present specific, interesting, and accurate details to support your idea.
Ideas: Find a Topic Select a fresh, original idea that matters to you. Have I chosen a topic that I really like? Do I have something new to say about the topic? Am I writing about what I know and care about? Have I gathered enough information about it so that I m ready to write?
After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick What does the phrase remind you of? and they lived happily ever after With that in mind, predict what the book might be about.
Jeffrey isnt a boy with cancer anymore. Hes a teen in remission. Even though the cancer should be far behind him, Jeffrey still worries that it will return. He s got normal teen stuff to deal with, too friends, parents, girls, school. Normally he d ask his older brother, Steven for advice. But Steven, always the trusty responsible one, is finally rebelling and has taken off to Africa to join a drumming circle and find himself. Jeffrey feels abandoned. Meanwhile, his best friend, Tad, is hatching some kind of secretive, crazy plan involving eighth-grade graduation. And Lindsey Abraham, a way hot girl who is new to the school, thinks Jeffrey s cute which totally freaks him out. There s a lot about life that cancer has prepared Jeffrey for, but there s a lot that s brand new. Now it s time for him to learn not only how to fight for himself but to stick up for the people he loves. Surprising and delightful at every turn, After Ever After is a real, tender, hopeful, and funny story about what happens when you stop surviving and start living again.
being cured of cancer = an ending What other endings in life might you write about? Choose a life event that s usually thought of as an ending. Discuss what might happen after. Generate as many alternatives as you can.
10 Minute JAM Pick one life event and think about what might happen after ever after Write a JAM that summarizes the main idea and entices the reader to read further Share.
Ideas: Focus the Topic Home in on what s most important. Has she zeroed in on one small part of a bigger whole? Can the idea be retold in a simple sentence? Has she chosen the information that best captures the idea? Has she thought deeply about what the reader will need to know?
So the next time youre at the beach, think for a moment about what you re seeing. The force of tides may take the water in and out from the shoreline, but it also lengthens our day, pushes the Moon farther away, creates volcanoes, eats stars, and viciously tears apart whole galaxies. Of course, the tides also make it easier to find pretty shells on the coastline. Sometimes it s awesome to think about the universe as a whole, but other times it s okay just to wiggle your toes in the wet sand. From Bad Astronomy by Philip Plait
Henrys Freedom Box by Ellen Levine What is the main idea of the story? What is the focused topic? Use the following question to help you decide: Has she zeroed in on one small part of a bigger whole? Can the idea be retold in a simple sentence? Has she chosen the information that best captures the idea? Has she thought deeply about what the reader will need to know? List details that support the focused topic.
Ideas: Developing the Topic Include original information from your own experience or research. Am I sure my information is correct? Are my details chock-full of interesting information? Have I used details that show new thinking about this idea? Will my reader believe what I say about this topic?
Compare these two paragraphs. Country music is America s music. It s what everyone likes. There should be a lot more country music on the radio. Once known as country-western, country music is a favorite music genre in America today. It began as folk music that originated from the southern rural states, but widened its appeal from coast to coast after World War II. It s a unique style of music that is American, through and through. Some people find the topics of country music songs to be silly, but I think they express what Americans really value: family, home, hard work, love, religion, and how to survive hard times. Country musicians are my favorites, whether it s an old timer like Hank Williams or the new star Kenny Chesney. I wish there were more radio stations that played only country music; I d listen to them day and night.
I believe that Instructions Write the first statement in your Writer s Notebook. Decide if you agree or disagree with it. Write one reason why you agree/disagree with the statement. Go to the appropriate corner. Listen to the reasons of others. Record a reason that resonates with you.
I believe that words can hurt. people can learn from their mistakes. what goes around comes around. you can only depend on yourself. money can t buy happiness.
I believe that Instructions Pick a statement you feel strongly about. Move to the table where you see that statement. Create a group of no more than three students. The person with the birthday closest to Valentine s Day will write the statement at the top of a piece of loose-leaf paper and record all the reasons why you agree/disagree with the statement.
Top-Ten List: What Adults Should Know about Middle School Students 1. We don t like to be told what to do. But if you don t tell us, we won t do it! And even when you do tell us, many times we don t do it unless you get mean about it. We re kind of flakey. 2. Remembering to put our names on our papers is harder than being blindfolded and sending a text message with our thumbs.
Ideas: Using Details Present specific, interesting, and accurate details to support your idea. Did I create a picture in the reader s mind? Did I use details that draw upon the five senses (sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing)? Do my details stay on the main topic? Did I stretch for details beyond the obvious?
The House on Mango Street Laughter by Sandra Cisneros Nenny and I don t look like sisters not right away. Not the way you can tell with Rachel and Lucy, who have the same fat popsicle lips like everybody else in their family. But me and Nenny, we are more alike than you would know. Our laughter, for example. Not the shy ice cream bells giggle of Rachel and Lucy s family, but all of a sudden and surprised like a pile of dishes breaking.
Laughter Secretly, pick a word for laughter. Write a paragraph (with your partner) to describe someone laughing in the manner of the word you pick Do NOT use the word in your paragraph. Make us guess.
