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Lesson 3

We will draft the opening scenes of our narrative. We will review Chris Anderson’s article to gather ideas on framing our narratives.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I reflect on and adjust my Culminating Task response when valid evidence warrants?

  • Can I develop my Culminating Task draft into a focused, structured, and coherent piece of writing by using strategic organizational structures appropriate to purpose, audience, topic, and context?

  • Can I develop my Culminating Task draft into a focused, structured, and coherent piece of writing by developing an engaging idea reflecting depth of thought with effective use of details, examples, and commentary?

Texts

Core

  • Digital Access
    • “How to Give a Killer Presentation,” Chris Anderson, Harvard Business Publishing

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read

We will review Chris Anderson’s “How To Give A Killer Presentation” to consider what we should include in the opening of our narratives.

Reread the Frame Your Story section from Chris Anderson’s article with the guiding questions in mind:

  1. What clues does Anderson give in terms of organizing a narrative?

  2. What elements are important to keep in mind?

  3. How might following a detective story help you plan your narrative?

  4. What other structures have you seen in a text you have read in the unit that you would like to emulate?

Now, choose an essay, poem, or story you have read in the unit that you think you might model your own writing after. Review how the author sets up or frames the narrative. What elements might you use in your own story?

For example, think about how George Saunders frames his essay by telling a story related to his regrets in life, or how Annie Dillard frames her story about the encounter with a weasel by first claiming, "A weasel is wild," then telling two short but powerful stories about weasel encounters with an eagle and a naturalist. How might you use a technique such as this to frame your narrative?

Activity 2: Discuss

We will discuss our ideas for the beginning of our narratives with our partners.

Discuss with your writing partner what you learned from Anderson’s article and another text you have chosen as a model, and share your ideas for your introduction. Review and discuss what you recorded in the Exposition section of your Storyboard Planning Tool. Revise and take notes as needed as a result of your discussion.

Activity 3: Write

We will draft the opening scenes of our narratives.

Using your story outline or storyboard as a guide, draft the opening scenes of your narrative in a format that will allow you and others to review your draft.

As you begin to write, think about how you can initially establish the key elements of your story:

  • Set the scene and develop context by describing the setting.

  • Establish your narrator’s perspective and point of view (this might be yourself).

  • Introduce one or more characters and their stories through description, their own thoughts, or other characters’ observations.

  • Consider using an inciting incident or an example story to introduce your writing.

If you need ideas or examples, return to the narrative or personal essays or lyrical poems you read in Sections 1-3 of this unit and notice what their authors did to begin their narratives.

Activity 4: Write

We will continue to work on the opening scenes of our narratives.

Continue to work on the opening scenes of your personal response for homework.

Review your Vocabulary Journal. Identify significant words and incorporate them into your writing as appropriate.