“Worldbuilding: Taking the Scenic Route” Writing Session 2017 June 19-23 and June 26-30 // 9-12 & 1-3
Week ONE! Day 1: What’s in My World? (Introduction Day) Writing Section 9:00-9:15// Welcome Activity -Have music playing as they enter, attendance, decorate name tents while waiting for others, get composition notebooks “THE ACT OF CREATING A WORLD IS AN ACT OF REVOLUTION”-KERI SMITH 9:15-9:45// Explain overview of writing camp. Video: Kate Messner’s World Building Video Clip. Warm Up Project: What’s in your world? Identifying the parts of our own worlds. (Mind-Mapping Activity-Have prompt up on the board with different elements, show them your mind map, include things you love, use markers/color) ● Rules: Respect!, Laugh, Write, Think ● Setup of writing session: bathrooms, garbage, drinks, etc 9:45-10:15//Lose a piece of your world activity (different parts of world written on different pieces of paper) Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up with others and discuss what it would be like to lose a piece of your world. -Construction paper: write top 7 pieces of your world that you wouldn’t want to lose (stand up activity) -Goal: What are the writers’ top 3 priorities in their worlds? These will look different based on person and story. This will serve as a generator for ideas. Post these ideas around the room. Gallery Walk top 3 priorities. Discuss. 10:15-10:30//Prep for Break/Writing Time -Two Methods (Inside Out vs. Outside In) -3 Types (Imaginary Worlds-Fantasy, Alternate Reality-Sci Fi/Dystopian, Actual Locations-Realistic Fiction, No Fantasy) -Prep binders with writing prompt pages (blue binders, hole punch all pages) 10:30-10:45//Break 10:45-11:45// Morning Excursion with Writing -Location: Sangren Entrance with Hanging Words Prompt: What words apply to your world now? What are your first inspirations about an imaginary world? -Have them write prompt before you take them out 11:45-12:00// Sharing of Writing for the Morning/Closure/Prep for Lunch -Introduction to how we workshop, sharing, agreements, etc
12:00-1:00// Lunchtime Reading Section 1:00-1:45//Reading in Anchor Text with Focus on Strategy (READ IN BOOK: PP. 1-35) -Explain reading procedure, read at your own pace, may need to catch up in the evening, role of annotation-pencils to write in pages. WRITE IN YOUR BOOK! -Reading Strategy: Identify the Parts of Dashner’s World -Independent or Small Group Reading (Spread out in Sangren) 1:45-2:15//Reading Discussion/Analysis of Passages -Whole Group -Chart Observations 2:15-2:30//Revisit Writing from AM 2:30-2:45//Re-Share Changes 2:45-3:00//Prepare to Leave/Closing Activity Activity: The Mooreeffoc Effect Activity-take something normal or familiar and alter it slightly Pp. xiv-xv in The Imaginary World of - Day 2: Who is in My World? (Character)
Writing Section 9:00-9:15//Review Opening Scenes with Feedback -Hand out planning sheets that deal with characters 9:15-9:45//Characterization Lesson (Pixar Shorts-Use Clips for Notes) -Major vs. Minor -Traits (Thoughts, Feelings, Actions, Appearance, Speech) -Dialogue Notes/Dialogue Tags -Chart Observations 9:45-10:00//Character Brainstorm with Notebooks (Character Brainstorm Sheet) -Brain dump in notebooks: humans, animals, etc. 10:15-10:30//Mini-Writing: Give Life to One Character (Big sheets of paper-stick around the room) 10:30-10:45//Break 10:45-11:45// Morning Excursion with Writing -Location: Bernhard Center Lobby
Prompt: What characters do you see in Bernhard? Who are your characters in your story? Try to write your opening scene with the character. 11:45-12:00// Sharing of Writing for the Morning/Closure/Prep for Lunch 12:00-12:30// Recess 12:30-1:00//Lunchtime Reading Section 1:00-1:15 Notes -Review 4 Types of Narration (First Person, Second Person, Third Person Limited, Third Person Omniscient) 1:15-2:00//Reading in Anchor Text with Focus on Strategy (READ IN BOOK: PP. 36-71) -Reading Strategy: Type of Narration/Thomas Analysis 2:00-2:15//Reading Discussion/Analysis of Passages 2:15-2:30//Revisit Writing from AM -What type of narration do you want to have in your imaginary story? 2:30-2:45//Re-Share Changes 2:45-3:00//Prepare to Leave/Closing Activity Day 3: Where is My World? (Setting)
Writing Section 9:00-9:10// Warm up: Add detail to the setting prompt 9:10-9:30// Sensory Details: Show, Don’t Tell (Well...Sometimes) -Flocabulary: Show It, Don’t Tell It -Practice with a partner: “Let’s Start the Show” Handout -Adding sensory details (Touch, taste, sight, smell, sound) (Setup Notebook) -Sensory Video to Practice with (have notebooks open) 9:30-10:15//Reviewing Map Vocabulary -Look at Western Map together (brainstorm what is included in a map: key, features, compass, buildings, roads, trees, etc) -Make your map checklist for when we brainstorm our maps, start small with city (where the story takes place) -Choose paper: small grid, medium grid, large grid 10:15-10:30//Break
10:30-11:30// Morning Excursion with Writing -Location: The top of Sprau Tower (10th Floor-able to see all of campus) Prompt: Describe your imaginary world setting. Can you draw a map of it? 11:30-12:00// Sharing of Writing/Maps for the Morning/Closure/Prep for Lunch/Walk back from Sprau 12:00-1:00// Lunchtime Reading Section 1:00-1:45//Reading in Anchor Text with Focus on Strategy (READ IN BOOK: PP. 72-112) Focus: Creating Suspense Pt. 1 -Reading Strategy: Pacing (Chapter Breaks): Why does Dashner break the chapters where he does? What chapter breaks are better than others? 1:45-2:15//Reading Discussion/Analysis of Passages 2:15-2:45//Revisit Writing from AM/Work on world writing/map 2:45-3:00//Share Status/Prepare to Leave/Closing Activity Day 4: Describing My World (Building Plot)
Writing Section 9:00-9:15// Warm Up/Welcome -Using Sensory Language Review Video (Look at examples) -Hand out planning papers for blue binders during this 9:15-9:45//Types of Fictional Leads -Discuss what makes a great opening line 1. Snapshot Hook: Describe character or setting 2. Talking Hook: Open with Dialogue 3. Sound Hook: Open with a Sound 4. Heartfelt Hook: Tap into Emotions 5. Famous Words Hook: Open with a Quotation 6. Straight-Forward Hook: Open with a Bold Statement or Fact 7. Funny Hook: Open with a Funny Line or Phrase -Show them the hook lesson with grocery store examples, have them write down examples -Vote with sticky note 9:45-10:30//Review Thoughtshots and Snapshots from Barry Lane -Snapshot and Thoughtshot lesson using images? 1. Thoughts: Thoughtshots 2. Feelings: Thoughtshots
3. Actions: Snapshots 4. Appearance: Shapshots 5. Speech: Dialogue 10:30-10:45//Break 10:45-11:45// Morning Excursion with Writing (Working Toward a Draft) -Location: Amphitheatre Steps near Brown Hall Prompt: Choose one scene to write about in your story. Break it down in detail using either a snapshot or a thoughtshot. ● Elements of a Scene=Dialogue + Snapshot + Thoughtshot ○ Dialogue: Conversation between characters or to self ○ Snapshot: Detail about the scene or setting ○ Thoughtshot: A glimpse inside the character’s head 11:45-12:00// Sharing of Writing for the Morning/Closure/Prep for Lunch 12:00-1:00// Lunchtime Reading Section 1:00-2:00//Reading in Anchor Text with Focus on Strategy (READ IN BOOK: PP. 113-145) -Reading Strategy: Look at Dialect and Diction/Word Choice (klunk, shuck face, shank, etc) 2:00-2:15//Reading Discussion/Analysis of Passages 2:15-2:45//Re-Share Changes/Writing Time to Close Out Day 2:45-3:00//Prepare to Leave/Closing Activity Day 5: Conflict In My World (Conflict)
Writing Section 9:00-9:15// Writing Prompt When They Arrive-Slides Discuss: Prank on the Littles? 9:15-9:45//Lesson on the Six Types of Conflict 1. Man vs. Man a. Toy Story Clip 2. Man vs. Self a. Tangled Clip 3. Man vs. Nature a. Jungle Book Clip 4. Man vs. Technology a. iRobot Clip
5. Man vs. Society a. Mulan Clip 6. Man Vs. God/Fate/Supernatural/Universe a. Avengers Clip Stop 1:30 in b. Transformers Clip Stop 4:30 in 9:45-10:45// Writing Time in Computer Lab CPU LAB 2320 GOAL: ROUGH DRAFT TO MRS. H BY LUNCHTIME (Comments over the weekend) 10:45-11:00//Break 11:-11:45// Finish Typing in Computer Lab 11:45-12:00// Sharing of Writing for the Morning/Closure/Prep for Lunch 12:00-1:00// Lunchtime Reading Section 1:00-2:30//Reading in Anchor Text with Focus on Strategy (READ IN BOOK: PP. 146-184) Focus: Creating Suspense Pt. 2 -Reading Strategy: Using Simple Sentences to Create Suspense (straight-forward writing style, sentence length, formation, syllables, etc) PM Reading Excursion -Location: The Chemistry Building, Periodic Table of Elements Prompt: What conflict is in your story? Describe the conflict between science and magic. 2:30-2:45//Re-Share Changes, Revisit Writing from AM 2:45-3:00//Prepare to Leave/Closing Activity