One Day Workshop SEVEN STEPS TO WRITING SUCCESS. The Seven Steps Goals: Creator: Jen McVeity

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Pamela Fletcher
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SEVEN STEPS TO WRITING SUCCESS One Day Workshop START Intro: The chunking concept Step 2: Sizzling Starts Step 3: Tightening Tension MORNING TEA (20 mins) Step 1: Plan For Success

Endings SUMMARY Food Fight! The Seven Steps Goals: Teach writing step by step Lots of group work verbal and interactive Brainstorm first write second Five minute writing not whole stories.

1 SEVEN STEPS TO WRITING SUCCESS One Day Workshop START Intro: The chunking concept Step 2: Sizzling Starts Step 3: Tightening Tension MORNING TEA (20 mins) Step 1: Plan For Success Narrative/Persuasive planning NAPLAN marking grid Alpha and Beta mind waves Step 4: Dynamic Dialogue LUNCH/NETWORK (40 mins) Step 5: Show, Don't Tell Step 6: Ban the Boring Bits Step 7: Exciting Endings SUMMARY Food Fight! The Seven Steps Goals: Teach writing step by step Lots of group work verbal and interactive Brainstorm first write second Five minute writing not whole stories. Of course, our teacher workshops follow the same goals too. So jump in and enjoy! Creator: Jen McVeity WARNING: These notes are for training purposes only and are copyright. Please do not copy. Tel (61-3) ISBN

2 THE SEVEN STEPS - NARRATIVE WRITING Step 1: Plan for Success Top Tip: A joke, a movie, a TV sitcom, a book and a great story - what do they all have in common? They all follow the same 'story graph'. Start with a bang, slowly build up the tension and end on a real high point. Step 2: Sizzling Starts Top Tip: Start where the action is. Not at the beginning of the day where nothing is happening. Begin when the volcano starts oozing lava or as you walk in the door to the big disco competition. Step 3: Tightening Tension Top Tip: You must believe the hero (male or female) will fail. The tornado is too strong, the villain is too evil, the black forces of depression are too overwhelming. Yet, through strength, talent and determination, somehow our hero wins. Step 4: Dynamic Dialogue Top Tip: Think of dialogue as a mini play in the story. Let your characters walk, talk or even stalk - that's how we get to know them. Step 5: Show, Don't Tell Top Tip: If I tell you I am generous, do you believe me??? No way. But if I buy all 20 raffle tickets to help cancer research, are you more convinced? Actions really do speak louder than words. Step 6: Ban the Boring Bits Top Tip: Everyone gets up, gets dressed, travels to school it's not exciting. So why write about it? Ban all mention of the 'boring B' words - beds, breakfast and bus trips. Think like the movies, the heroes never travel, they just arrive Step 7: Exciting Endings Top Tip: Would you tell a joke without knowing the punch line? If you want to build to a big climax you have to know where you are heading. 1

3 THE SEVEN STEPS - PERSUASIVE WRITING Step 1: Plan for Success How many times have you told your students plan your work and they ignore you? The biggest hurdle is to show thinking is far more important than physically writing. To be original you need to have LOTS of ideas, so brainstorm and practice generating ideas often. Step 2: Sizzling Starts Do you get the same old starts, One day... Once upon a time... I think that... In my opinion... over and over again? Teach students how to start at the moment of change to gain a reader s interest immediately. Step 3: Tightening Tension To persuade (not just set out facts) you have to build up momentum. Start strong, but save your best arguments and persuasive techniques for near the end. Step 4: Dynamic Dialogue Quotations from experts, real words from a flood victim, concise sayings from famous people, even words from the people in your article ( I thought I was going to die from fear... ) give strength and vibrancy to writing. Step 5: Show, Don't Tell If you were told children were dying from lack of clean water, would you send money? Most likely not. However, if you were shown one small skinny child, squatting by a polluted river, exhausted, hungry, and desperately needing water... would you help? Step 6: Ban the Boring The first ideas are usually the worst as everyone else is thinking of them too. students to be better than basic, they can be brilliant, not boring. Step 7: Endings with Impact Challenge First lines and last lines are what people remember the most. In conclusion, I think... is writing by numbers. Be powerful in order to persuade. 2

4 STEP 2: SIZZLING STARTS Top Tips Narrative Start fast At the Moment of Change Use action Backfill as action unfolds. TOP TIP You only have seven seconds to grab your reader s interest. Start fast with action and impact. Persuasive Engage the reader Reveal your position/side (but be subtle) Use emotion, dialogue, word pictures, even narrative. Notes: Action Activities: 3

5 STEP 2: SIZZLING STARTS Five Minute Fast Starts Write five Sizzling Starts in five minutes (yes, it is possible!) One start per minute. 1. You re in the reality show from hell. 2. Ghosts really do exist. 3. The birthday party where everything goes wrong. 4

6 STEP 2: SIZZLING STARTS 4. It s better to be sporty than clever. 5. There s a tree in the school yard that eats kids. 5

7 STEP 3: TIGHTENING TENSION Top Tips TOP TIP To engage a reader s heart and emotions in any genre, you have to build up to a climax. Narrative Tension scenes are long. (20 mins in a movie) What do you see, hear, touch, taste, smell and feel? Short words and sentences The hero must nearly fail. Persuasive Build to a crescendo aim to persuade Paint word pictures Use stories Engage the emotions. Notes: Action Activities: 6

8 STEP 3: TIGHTENING TENSION Brainstorming page The six senses: What do you: See Taste Hear Smell Touch Feel (Emotions) 7

9 STEP 3: TIGHTENING TENSION SIX SENSES Topics: * Murder * Rock concert * Storm at sea * Parachute jump * Stop whaling Speed Writing 8

10 STEP 1: PLAN FOR SUCCESS Top Tips - Narrative Narrative Brainstorm ten ideas to get ONE great idea Use a Sizzling Start then backfill Build up tension a long scene Know your ending before you start. Notes: Action Activities: 9

11 STEP 1: PLAN FOR SUCCESS Narrative - Brainstorming Topics: * Jump * Gold * Risk * The Key * Fly 1. Brainstorm at least ten ways to tackle the topic. eg. Jump * * * The day your sister dared you to jump off the shed roof. A leap of faith. Jump for joy because.. Here is my list for

12 STEP 1: PLAN FOR SUCCESS Narrative - Planning 2. Select your topic 3. Brainstorm 10 problems. Then pick your best ones. 4. Brainstorm 10 characters. Pick your best ones. 5. How will it end? 11

13 Plot on Story Graph SEVEN STEPS TO WRITING SUCCESS 12

14 STEP 1: PLAN FOR SUCCESS Top Tips - Persuasive Persuasive Brainstorm ten ideas - for and against Then pick your side Select three body paragraph ideas Build up to a crescendo - persuade Top and Tail - Sizzling Start and Ending with Impact. Notes: Action Activities: 13

15 STEP 1: PLAN FOR SUCCESS Persuasive - Brainstorming Writing is not something you do with your pen, it s something you do with your brain. Jen McVeity Topics: * Country vs city * Brothers vs sisters * The best school our school. 1. Brainstorm ten ideas FOR and AGAINST the topic. FOR AGAINST 14

16 STEP 1: PLAN FOR SUCCESS Persuasive - Planning 2. Select your side. 3. Select 3-5 ideas each idea will be a paragraph. Some medium ideas may be joined together. Weak ideas need to be deleted. Order ideas with the strongest first and last. 4. Ideas for a Sizzling Start. 5. Ideas for Ending with Impact. 15

17 Plot on Story Graph SEVEN STEPS TO WRITING SUCCESS 16

18 STEP 4: DYNAMIC DIALOGUE Top Tips Narrative Dialogue does three things: o Makes a scene more dynamic o Reveals character o Moves the plot. TOP TIP Real words from real people are incredibly powerful. Use quotations, tips from experts and dialogue to convince. Persuasive Dialogue can connect a person with the reader Convince - quote an expert Engage - use stories. Notes: Action Activities: 17

19 STEP 4: DYNAMIC DIALOGUE Paper Fights Topics: * It only tastes a little bit burnt. * So what about the reports? * I ve told you three times already, empty the dishwasher. * You spent $250 on what!???? * Fine, I ll call my lawyer then. Speed Writing 18

20 STEP 5: SHOW, DON T TELL Top Tips Narrative We are visual creatures e.g. Apple experiment Show ONE person - and that makes the reader identify Walk a mile in someone s shoes Telling is quick, but empathy persuades. TOP TIP Seeing is believing - paint word pictures and use LOTS of detail to give your reader pictures they can see in their minds. Persuasive Facts don t persuade, engaging the emotions does. Notes: Action Activities: 19

STEP 5: SHOW, DON T TELL Persuasive Writing = Word Pictures Your goal: Five people and fifteen minutes to write a full persuasive piece. Topic: Dogs vs Cats. 1. Divide into dog lovers and cat lovers.

21 STEP 5: SHOW, DON T TELL Persuasive Writing = Word Pictures Your goal: Five people and fifteen minutes to write a full persuasive piece. Topic: Dogs vs Cats. 1. Divide into dog lovers and cat lovers. 2. Form groups of FIVE. Each person is in charge of just ONE paragraph of this five paragraph piece. Person 1: Person 2: Person 3: Person 4: Person 5: How do dogs/cats show affection? What games can you play with your dog/cat? Criticise the opposition (have fun!) Sizzling Start. Ending with Impact. Brainstorming: 20

22 STEP 5: SHOW, DON T TELL Speed Writing 21

23 STEP 6: BAN THE BORING Top Tips TOP TIP Less is more. Take a tip from authors slash and be ruthless to make your ideas stand out. Narrative Writing is NOT real life Ban warm up writing bed, buses, breakfasts etc. Five pages of dialogue Waffling due to poor planning. Persuasive The formula does not persuade, a strong original voice does. Notes: Action Activities: 22

STEP 6: BAN THE BORING Ban Beds, Breakfasts and Bus Trips I woke up that morning and got out of bed and raced downstairs. I stuffed my face full of cereal and then had three bits of toast and jam.

24 STEP 6: BAN THE BORING Ban Beds, Breakfasts and Bus Trips I woke up that morning and got out of bed and raced downstairs. I stuffed my face full of cereal and then had three bits of toast and jam. Mum had two cups of coffee and more toast. Then we got into the car and drove through five traffic lights to. Big yawn. Everyone eats, sleeps, combs their hair and spends lots of time traveling. It's part of life - but it's boring. Movie producers know this well. For instance, what's something we do EVERY day? Often several times? Yes, that's right, we go to the toilet. But wait - ever seen James Bond go to the bathroom? So here's a real challenge. List TEN movies that have a toilet scene. (HINT: Often the scene is used for humour.) Movies with Toilet Scenes

25 STEP 7: EXCITING ENDINGS Top Tips TOP TIP Remember the Story Graph, don't start writing until you know the ending. Narrative Know your ending before you start writing Ban the quick fix endings (And then I woke up ) Two endings o Action climax (winning grand final) o Character resolution (gives richness). Persuasive Don t summarize (i.e. boringly repeat) Lead reader into a more powerful realm Write strongly and engage emotions. Notes: Action Activities: 24

26 STEP 7: EXCITING ENDINGS Working Backwards The last line of a story is often the theme. Frequently authors know exactly what their last line will be and write the whole novel from that. Try it! Topics - last lines: I dream most nights about dragon flight. I closed the door. The secret was safe at last. She reached out, caught the bubble and laughed. Tomorrow Dad and I will go to the footy. 25

27 SPEED STORIES Four Person Food Fight Topics: * Fruit and Vegetables * Hot food * Sweets * Drinks I am in charge of Note: Setting is a classroom. Use the names of the people in your group. Brainstorm Speed Writing 26

Start with the Top Techniques: Introduce each Step by giving students the Top Technique handout from the teacher manual. 2.

28 IMPLEMENTATION We've asked Seven Steps schools for the best (and easiest) ways to implement the program. Here's what they say! Each Step takes about two weeks to master - depending on the age and ability of a class. 1. Start with the Top Techniques: Introduce each Step by giving students the Top Technique handout from the teacher manual. 2. Practise with a Five Day Activity: In the first week, spend 5-15 minutes a day practising the chosen Step. Many of the activities in the teacher manual or student workbooks are designed for repeated use. (e.g. Five Minute Fast Starts.) 3. Reinforce with Real Life: In the second week, extend the activities to those that are more unusual or linked to real life. (e.g. analyzing TV ads or telling jokes.) Great for boys, kids with learning difficulties or ESL students. Repeat every two weeks with a different Step. When do students actually write a story? Don't make writing hard work! It's best if students don't create a story until after Step 3 and then once more after Step 7. (Think of the correction time saved.) When writing full pieces scaffold students a lot. Encourage them to: Brainstorm first (10 good ideas = 1 great idea) Plan and plot ideas on a blank story graph Use friends to brainstorm tension scenes (Five Senses tension activity) Try out 2-5 Sizzling Starts Write dialogue scenes with friends. DON'T rush it! Avoid the quick fix mentality. The more consistently you practice the skills in class, the more the change will be successful. Kids' writing WILL improve - and most of all, they will have fun. Laughter and learning really do make a huge difference, (even uni research proves it) so go for it! Don't forget the free Seven Steps newsletter, with top writing tips and activities. 27

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32 SEVEN STEPS RESOURCES 20% OFF - IF ORDERED WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF PD TITLE TEACHER MANUAL - PERSUASIVE Over 60 pages of information including: 7 x Top Techniques - with Before and After samples of writing 7 x pages of Action Activities - students love them 8 x persuasive writing templates - great for NAPLAN practice 5 x pages of topics, sample persuasive piece and NAPLAN marking rubric TEACHER MANUAL - NARRATIVE The original Seven Steps manual that started it all! (UPDATED) 7 x Top Techniques - with Before and After samples of writing 14 x pages of Action Activities - that take 10 mins a day! 8 x narrative writing templates - including the famous Story Graph 7 x pages of topics, sample narrative piece and NAPLAN marking rubric STUDENT WORKBOOKS A superb record of students' work. Get 18 of our top Action Activities, quotes from famous Australian authors and a blank Story Graph. TOP TWENTY TOPICS Top 3 Steps Great topics for Sizzling Starts, Planning and all those tough Tension scenes. 20 x 3 topics = 60 all up! PLUS a brainstorming template AND a five minute writing page. TOP TIPS All resources include intranet and school copy licence. For Parent Newsletters Bring your parents into the Seven Steps system. These tip sheets (formatted for newsletters) give parents a Seven Steps technique and a fun activity for home. MASTER MARKING SHEETS Well planned/use dialogue here/you need a sizzling start/great ending. Give feedback to students the Seven Steps way. Very empowering - so quick and easy! DVD CLASSROOM DEMONSTRATIONS See creator Jen McVeity demonstrating the Seven Steps with real kids in class a fantastic way to PD staff OR show to students. (Steps 4-7) SEVEN STEPS TOOL KIT Get the lot! Get ALL our fabulous resources. Licensed to photocopy or put on the intranet. Seven Steps - Teacher Manual - Persuasive Seven Steps - Teacher Manual - Narrative Student Workbooks Top Twenty Topics Top Tips for Parent Newsletters Master Marking Sheets DVD Classroom Demonstrations. Over $870 value - PLUS another 20% off after PD. Now ONLY $550! Normal Price 20% OFF Inc GST Inc GST $ $ $ $ $ $ $49.50 $39.60 $49.50 $39.60 $49.50 $39.60 $88.00 $70.40 $ $ TO ORDER: Seven Steps to Writing Success PHONE: (03) office@sevenstepswriting.com Online:

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