Unit of Study: Fiction Writing

This is a link to a great write up about one of Lucy’s units of study:  fiction.  I am always searching for references to Lucy’s units since many of the teachers I work with use the units as a resource. 

http://bestbookihavenotread.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/unit-of-study-fiction-writing-grades-3-5/

Compound Sentences

Name the Craft
Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses. Conjunctions are connectors that link equal words, phrases, or clauses. Coordinating conjunctions cue readers in on the relationships. (Jeff Anderson, Mechanically Inclined)

Conjunctions spell out the acronym FANBOYS:
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So

Do writers need this? Maybe, maybe not! However, on most state tests, students are asked about this rule.

Simile

Name the Craft
A simile is a technique that the author uses to describe the unknown by comparing it to the known. Authors use similes to describe something quickly rather than writing a long description.

Commas in a Series

Name the Craft
Use commas between items in a series

Vary Sentence Length

Name the Craft
Notice that the author uses a variety of different lengths of sentences.

Snapshots

Name the Craft

When the writer wants the reader to picture a moment in time, the writer will describe the sounds, the smells, the specific action. Often the writer will pretend to take a snapshot or a photograph of the setting and visualize it. What do you see in this moment of time? How will you describe this moment for the reader?

Italics

Name the Craft
Notice that the author uses a special font for emphasis when writing.

Homophones

Name the Craft
Homophones – As writers we have to think about the meanings of words.

Apostrophes in Contractions

Name the Craft
Apostrophes
The contraction shows the reader that a letter was left out and two words were put together. We use contractions all the time when we speak. The apostrophe marks the spot where the letters were taken out.

2 word sentence (Jeff Anderson idea)

Name the Craft
A complete thought that tells who and what did you do. A two word sentence tells who and what you did.