Writing Irresistible LEADS with Grade One Students
I have been reading Australian author, Kate Grenville’s book, ‘The Writing Book – A Practical Guide For Fiction Writers.’ Grenville writes about leads and reminds us that the beginning of a piece of writing needs to be irresistible . Further to this she reminds the reader that it doesn’t matter where you begin a piece of writing- just begin! Grenville quotes Ezra Pound who said, ‘It doesn’t matter which leg of the table you make first as long as it stands up in the end.’ The writer’s aim is to glue the reader to the page. Grenville also makes the observation that sometimes you need to write the whole story before returning to the start in order to write a great beginning or ‘lead’ for it. Recently I have been working with groups of Grade 1 writers alerting them to the various ways in which writers ‘lead’ the reader deeper into their stories. Initially we looked at their own writing samples and I asked students, what did they notice about the words being used in their story leads? Th
As a major word-nerd, I love this word-pondering slice. "Something akin to a skunk at a garden party." Now that's a winning phrase!
ReplyDeleteWord nerds are my kind of people. It is fascinating to ponder words. I am constantly imploring teachers and students to celebrate words.
DeleteOur language really is crazy and difficult. Considering how words have changed over the course of time, and how my students struggle to remember the crazy rules, I would think that elfs, leafs, etc would end up becoming acceptable. We shall see over time I guess.
ReplyDeleteI tend to use the term generalization rather than rule because each time one invokes a rule some bright, and curious student finds an exception. I readily acknowledge I was taught to look at spelling in this way by the renowned spelling guru, Diane Snowball. Language use is an ever changing phenomenon, so usage will change as you suggest. The question is- how will it look and sound?
DeleteI hear the word "leafs" all the time and it drives me crazy! How is anyone supposed to learn English when we are always changing the rules? Don't even get me started with slang....
ReplyDeleteJen
It jars the ears and trouble we pedants severely. Slang is mentioned and I immediately think of that horrid invention -brang! It makes my ears ache!
DeleteIt is heartening to know there are others who care as much as I do about language. Thank you for highlighting this word changing phenomenon. I fear we will lose more language as texting comes to take over our world. I wonder if that is one of our jobs as writers. Not to shame others, but educate. We teachers tend to have a knack for doing this well. I liked the way you posted about this.
ReplyDeleteWe can model, paraphrase but as you mention, shaming is definitely not to be entered into. I'm glad you found a fellow word warrior.
DeleteMoments like these make me SO GLAD I am a native English speaker!
ReplyDeleteI work in so many school with high intakes of English language learners. Idiomatic language and colloquial terms must be so confusing for these curious young learners at times. Language is something we must remain mindful of unpacking, explaining, and sharing.
DeleteYou've inspired my slice for tomorrow. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGo for it Alice. Go for it! Slice away...
DeleteAmazing slice centered around a word. This is giving me ideas for future slices, too!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear you are considering your future slices Morgan. A writer rehearses. We are often prompted by a single word.
DeleteLove it! My daughter and I were discussing today how it doesn't sit right to have an author use the word "cacophonous" more than once in a book, or the word "subsume." It seems, to us, that those kinds of words only get one punch. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI find myself in total agreement with you Marilyn. The impact of a particular word lies in its strategic and judicious use. I often discover upon rereading the raw words in my notebook that I have fixated on a word and I must either jettison it or find a more suitable synonym. It jars the sensibilities. It results in writing that is flowery and somewhat pretentious.
DeleteYes! Those questions pique my curiosity, too. Can one be gruntled if they are not disgruntled?
ReplyDeleteCuriosity is a wonderful thing because once you have it there is no cure. It allows you to ponder matters and chip away at your own ignorance. I like the question you ask Lori. There are numerous examples of this type of inconsistency in the English language. A person can be disingenuous, but not 'genuous' it seems...
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