Writing

Writing is essential for daily tasks, whether you are a student in school, working for a newspaper company, or any job for that matter. Writing is unique to every individual as everyone has his or her own style, however structure and grammar is important and is incorporated into everyone’s style. Being able to represent feelings and opinions through words positively, and demonstrating a broad vocabulary to enhance your writing skills can help students become professional with their writing.

Not all writing has to be professional though, haven’t you ever wondered if you could write absolutely anything on a page and submit it for an assignment? Create something that isn’t just written with pen and paper? Use your goofy and creative side to make something that is your very own? This is called creative writing, and it allows an individual to emphasize their character development and different narratives. This is where individuals can become more unique with their writing by adding their own style into it. However, it isn’t easy to do, and many students struggle when it comes to being creative, whereas some students have no trouble coming up with new ideas. Starting a writing assignment is probably the hardest for most individuals because they have to set the stage, and if they do not have an idea, it becomes aggravating.

I know I personally wouldn’t have trouble some days, but other days I could stare at either a blank screen or a blank sheet of paper for hours before an idea came to mind. There are many apps to help your students create a plot and engaging beginning to a story such as a Story Wheel. This app allows students to spin the wheel picking a theme, and then spinning to pick different characters.  Setting the stage can help students see where they can take the theme and characters through writing. 

Nicolina Strkalj (November 15, 2016) Story Wheel. (Personal Photo). Retrieved from personal library.

Another great app to get student’s started is with a Plot Generator, this app randomizes over 320,000 different combinations within four key aspects of any story: the premise, the detail, the complication, and the objective. With this amount of combinations it allows for everyone in the classroom to have their own unique story, and can be used more than once.

Nicolina Strkalj (November 15, 2016) Plot Generator. (Personal Photo). Retrieved from personal library.

Another way for students to develop a creative mind is with the use of apps that allow student’s to go above and beyond the use of just a pen and paper. These apps can help students with their core story. Within this week’s class we were able to choose from a written response, short story, graphic novel/comic, or a digital video. These are perfect for students to explore new resources and get out of their comfort zone. This is great for both students that are able to come up with ideas quickly and for the ones that struggle to be creative. Giving students different choices to complete their work lets them become unique with the assignments they are handing in.

Through the use of these apps, it can help implement the four overall expectations for the writing strand into the classroom:

1.     Generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience.

2.     Draft and revise their writing using a variety of informational, literacy and graphic forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience.

3.     Use editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their work effectively.

4.     Reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful at different stages in the writing process.