Fundamentally, the goal of any writer is to hook our attention, keep our attention, and entertain us. Sometimes we forget that our writing is not just boring drudge work that we write for a grade, but it is to entertain or please readers. If anything, you should at least write to entertain YOU!
Non-fiction is often a stumbling block for young writers. We generally prefer fiction over non-fiction. Maybe non-fiction feels too personal or too embarrassing, or we just don't want to write about ourselves and our own experiences or reflect on our own lives. But non-fiction sells better than fiction does. So it might be useful for us to learn how to write it better. But first, let's look at some tips today that may change how we think about and write non-fiction.
After learning about how to improve our non-fiction writing, let's choose a topic from the Proust Questionnaire. Use the advice I gave you during your writing time today. Select at least 1 tip to try. If that tip doesn't work for you, try a different one.
WRITING TASK - The Proust Questionnaire Essay Draft: Start your writing today by either A.) brainstorming and outlining ideas that answer the question you chose, or... B.) start right off with your essay and try to write until you get stuck. When you get stuck (and you will) either... 1.) brainstorm and outline ideas or details that answer the question you chose, or ... 2.) choose another topic from the questionnaire, create a transition between the two questions, and start again writing to answer your next selected question.
When writing comedy, it is okay to digress and move on to another topic--this is often a technique called INCONGRUITY (which means your digression does not logically follow or continue your idea) Once a pattern or expectation is recognized by a reader/listener, breaking this pattern makes us laugh. Usually, however, non-fiction essays focus on ONE topic at a time. Whichever path you choose, be aware when you are digressing and use it to entertain your reader. If you can keep your focus, that's great too!
In GRAMMAR we can indicate digressions by using the em-dash.
Try writing for 20 minutes without stopping or bothering others or getting distracted. If and when you get stuck, try the instructions above. Unstick yourself and keep writing your non-fiction "essay".
At the end of 20 minutes, find a stopping or ending point for your draft. DO NOT TURN IN THE DRAFT YET. Challenge yourself: if you normally can only write a paragraph or two in 20 minutes, try writing at least 3 fully developed paragraphs. If you can normally write half a page or one full page, try to increase this number. Give yourself a goal as a writer and see if that helps you create.
Complete the "exit" ticket evaluating your writing time today. (See handout!) I'm collecting this for credit at the end of class today.
As a model for non-fiction, let's take a look at some of Ellen Degeneres' writing. As we read, look for examples of the non-fiction techniques I covered in class. Your packet includes stories/essays/non-fiction from Degeneres' book Seriously, I'm Kidding. We'll read/watch more of her work next class.
HOMEWORK: Complete your reading of the essays by Ellen Degeneres and work on your Proust Questionnaire essay draft you started in class. Please type it up if you wrote the draft in your journal. Remember to be entertaining!
Non-fiction is often a stumbling block for young writers. We generally prefer fiction over non-fiction. Maybe non-fiction feels too personal or too embarrassing, or we just don't want to write about ourselves and our own experiences or reflect on our own lives. But non-fiction sells better than fiction does. So it might be useful for us to learn how to write it better. But first, let's look at some tips today that may change how we think about and write non-fiction.
After learning about how to improve our non-fiction writing, let's choose a topic from the Proust Questionnaire. Use the advice I gave you during your writing time today. Select at least 1 tip to try. If that tip doesn't work for you, try a different one.
WRITING TASK - The Proust Questionnaire Essay Draft: Start your writing today by either A.) brainstorming and outlining ideas that answer the question you chose, or... B.) start right off with your essay and try to write until you get stuck. When you get stuck (and you will) either... 1.) brainstorm and outline ideas or details that answer the question you chose, or ... 2.) choose another topic from the questionnaire, create a transition between the two questions, and start again writing to answer your next selected question.
When writing comedy, it is okay to digress and move on to another topic--this is often a technique called INCONGRUITY (which means your digression does not logically follow or continue your idea) Once a pattern or expectation is recognized by a reader/listener, breaking this pattern makes us laugh. Usually, however, non-fiction essays focus on ONE topic at a time. Whichever path you choose, be aware when you are digressing and use it to entertain your reader. If you can keep your focus, that's great too!
In GRAMMAR we can indicate digressions by using the em-dash.
Try writing for 20 minutes without stopping or bothering others or getting distracted. If and when you get stuck, try the instructions above. Unstick yourself and keep writing your non-fiction "essay".
At the end of 20 minutes, find a stopping or ending point for your draft. DO NOT TURN IN THE DRAFT YET. Challenge yourself: if you normally can only write a paragraph or two in 20 minutes, try writing at least 3 fully developed paragraphs. If you can normally write half a page or one full page, try to increase this number. Give yourself a goal as a writer and see if that helps you create.
Complete the "exit" ticket evaluating your writing time today. (See handout!) I'm collecting this for credit at the end of class today.
As a model for non-fiction, let's take a look at some of Ellen Degeneres' writing. As we read, look for examples of the non-fiction techniques I covered in class. Your packet includes stories/essays/non-fiction from Degeneres' book Seriously, I'm Kidding. We'll read/watch more of her work next class.
HOMEWORK: Complete your reading of the essays by Ellen Degeneres and work on your Proust Questionnaire essay draft you started in class. Please type it up if you wrote the draft in your journal. Remember to be entertaining!
2 comments:
In the book "Seriously...I'm kidding" by Ellen Degeneres the article essay "What Would Jesus do " displays the tip, getting your audience interested. In the text it says" Opinion polls have become incedibly popular. People love them. I know this I read that in an opinion poll." This is very relatable because opinion polls are all over social media. " all these polls do is make everyone so judgemental. And I don't believe in judgement" After grabbing the readers attention while she enterains us.
In the book "Seriously...I'm kidding" by Ellen Degeneres the article essay "What Would Jesus do " displays the tip, getting your audience interested. In the text it says" Opinion polls have become incedibly popular. People love them. I know this I read that in an opinion poll." This is very relatable because opinion polls are all over social media. "All these polls do is make everyone so judgemental. And I don't believe in judgement" After grabbing the readers attention while she enterains us.
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