UIL A Academics Program Coordinator amp Essay Contest Coordinator lparkeruiltexasorg Schedule Contest Basics The 3 Rs of Successful Writing Metropolis Analysis Tips on Using Your Two Hours ID: 640808
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Slide1
Ready Writing
Lisa Parker UIL A+ Academics Program Coordinator & Essay Contest Coordinatorlparker@uiltexas.orgSlide2
Schedule
Contest BasicsThe 3 R’s of Successful WritingMetropolis AnalysisTips on Using Your Two HoursTopic Practice/AnalysisSlide3
1) Contest BasicsSlide4
What is
Ready Writing?A
two-hour
event in which contestants write an
expository essay
on one of two prompts.
The term comes
from the idea that good writers, like good extemporaneous speakers, should be prepared to write well on a wide variety of subjects without prior preparation. Simply, contestants must be READY to write
.Slide5
Expository
Writing explains, proves, explores, or informs. Exposition explains a writer’s ideas or opinions on a subject.Exposition is one of the four basic types of writing along with description, narration, and argumentation. To an extent exposition is a combination of all of these types of writing.The primary focus of exposition is on the TOPIC, unlike an argument where the focus is on audience, and whereas in creative writing, the focus is on self
.
Watch your verbs- if you catch yourself using should, ought, might, for example, then you are drifting into persuasive writing.
What is
Expository Writing?Slide6
Grammar and MechanicsFigurative Language
Expressive VoiceExtensive ReadingAnalytical DiscussionClose Reading Essential SkillsSlide7
What are the PROMPTS like?
Prompt topics are timeless, rather than timely.As writers you should be “Active” readers. Read always- newspapers, magazines, on-line articles, opinion editorials. Listen to NPR, watch the news, and programs such as “60 Minutes” ”20/20” and “Meet the Press.”Slide8
What are the PROMPTS like?
It is key you know what is going on in your community, in the United States, and in the World.Prompts deal with such broad categories as Sociology, Education, Family/Lifestyles, Science/Environment, Arts, Sports, Etc…Slide9
Themes to Consider for Potential Ready Writing Prompts
Heroes as reflections of our values. What makes them good? Great?Loss of innocence- a psychological passage from childhood and innocence to adulthood and wisdomViolence and murder
Destruction of the human race
Man’s pride in his intellectual abilities/false pride in his technology
The feeling of the rightness of one’s cause lending strength in battle (physical and/or mental)
Good works performed by those least likely to do them
Successes and failures of family groups (tension between family members)
The lone individual standing against totally unfair odds and yet succeeding through his/her own personal ingenuitySlide10
Contest Rubric
Have something to say that is worth saying because of its acuteness of analysis and its originality of thought. It depends next upon clarity and upon including specific details.Clarity is the main goal for organization. The plan of the essay should be such that each part contributes to your thesis.
Avoid errors in sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, word usage, and spelling that hinder clear communication.Slide11
Practice writing under the pressure of a time limit, much like post-graduate college entrance exams (PSAT, AP, SAT, ACT Exams).
The chance to take risks, and not harm your GPA.
Why compete in Ready Writing?Slide12
The opportunity to have undivided attention given your writing, and receiving feedback on your work.
The possibility of scholarships.
Why compete in Ready Writing?Slide13
The FUN of competition.
Simply, Expository Writing is the kind of writing you will likely use most often in years to come (exams, term papers, job reports, etc.)
Why compete in Ready Writing?Slide14
How Do I Prepare for Ready Writing?
Suggestions from Writers at the State Meet:Read, a lot: magazines, newspapers, quality classic and contemporary novels such as those suggested on the AP Language and Literature Exam Lists—focus especially on Non-Fiction.Slide15
How Do I Prepare for Ready Writing?
Suggestions from writers at the State Meet:Develop your own Unique Writing Style (“voice”).
Engage, often, in complex, stimulating conversations with your peers, teachers, parents.
*Don’t forget that a “mind is a terrible thing to waste!”Slide16
Getting Started: A Self-Inventory
Answer the following questions:Which books have you gotten “lost in” in the last six months?Have you read the daily newspaper four of the last seven days? What top three current events come to mind?What three prominent figures come to mind? Why?
What are three or four “life” questions that consistently run through your mind?
What have you written recently that represented writing to “find out?” Poetry? Fiction
?
What piece of
FICTION
have you read that “touched” you? Why?
What piece of
NON-FICTION
“touched” you? A speech, essay, opinion editorial?Slide17
Your
responses to these questions will give you a solid foundation to work with when you begin to write expository essays required of you in Ready Writing since utilizing prior knowledge will be an asset to writing an effective essay.Getting Started: A Self-InventorySlide18
2) The 3 R’s of Successful (W)
ritingSlide19
The 3
“R’s” for Successful (W)Riting*RHETORIC
(Close) *READING
(W)*RITINGSlide20
Rhetoric
Rhetoric—Essentially, and at its most basic level, rhetoric is “the language of persuasion.” Ready Writers—all writers--should have a basic understanding of rhetoric and rhetorical devices
and
strategies
. Further, effective and accomplished writers
rhetorically
plan (manipulate) their writing for effect and intent.Slide21
Close Reading
Close Reading—Disciplined re-reading of inherently complex and worthy texts. Because complex texts do not give up their meaning easily, it is essential that readers re-read such texts.Close reading allows a reader to determine what a text says explicitly, as well as implicitly. Good readers also close read in order to note such rhetorical devices and strategies as diction, syntax, tone, imagery, figurative language, and the overall organization of the text.Slide22
Close Reading
Skill 1Reading with a purposePrompts- What main ideas are presented in the prompt? What examples come to mind when I read the prompt? When was the excerpt written?Assignments- Good writers need to see the intrinsic value of any and all written work given to them.Interpretations- How do you interpret the prompt/topic? You should always be aware of OTHERS’ interpretation of the same topic.
Prior knowledge- How aware are you of the topic(s) locally, statewide, nationally, globally? Good writers (citizens) cannot live in a “bubble.”
Predictions- Good writers predict their responses. They can predict (creating/crafting in their writing) an audience’s response in order to elicit the response they want.Slide23
Close Reading
Skill 2QuestioningAuthor’s purpose?Author’s techniques?Author’s organization?Author’s word choice?Patterns?
Figurative Language?Slide24
Close Reading
Skill 3AnalysisWhy did the author make certain choices?How does what I know align with the text?How does the author’s technique impact the message? (communication)Slide25
Close Reading
Skill 4Synthesis and EvaluationIs the information presented credible and reliable?What is my opinion about the topic?Can I see multiple sides of the topic presented?How can I incorporate my knowledge into the ideas presented?Slide26
Close Reading
Skill 5Creating CommunicationHow will I present the synthesized information?How will I organize my thoughts?What style do I use to present the information? (expository plus one more type- description, narration, argumentation)
How will I support my analysis and opinions?Slide27
Metropolis
Close Reading (Viewing)Let’s practice some close “reading” (viewing). As you watch the clip taken from the 1927 German science-fiction film Metropolis, ask yourself- “What main ideas am I presented in this scene?” and focus on one part of Skill
3.
Skill 3 Analysis:
How
do the screenplay writers’
(Lang and
Harbou
) techniques
impact the message? Slide28Slide29
Metropolis
Close AnalysisStrong Verbs:Implies QualifiesSuggests DismissesCompares SupportsEmphasizes AdmonishesDefines NarratesTrivializes ProcessesDenigrates Analyzes
Vilifies Enumerates
Demonizes Expounds
Ridicules Lists
Flatters Describes
Lionizes Questions
Exposes Contrasts
Establishes Argues
Minimizes Warns
Skill 3
Analysis
How
do the screenplay writers
’ (Lang and
Harbou
)
techniques impact the message? Slide30
(Analysis)
How do the screenplay writers’ techniques impact the message? Lang and Harbou’s adaptation of Metropolis exposes the dangers of the loss of humanity in an industrial society demonstrated by the emaciated, dirty, and zombie-like workers en route to their shift change.
Metropolis
Close AnalysisSlide31
Writing
Ready Writers must have a basic understanding of RHETORIC, be able to proficiently CLOSE READ and understand complex texts, and they should, in their own writing mimic the WRITING style(s) of effective writers, and eventually creating their own writing style.
How
does a good Ready Writer become an even better Writer? By reading, noting, and mimicking the writing of effective writers. Slide32
3) Tips On Using
Your Two HoursSlide33
Tips on Using Your Two Hours
Spend the first 5-10 minutes reading the prompts and deciding which one to write on. Do not try to second-guess what the other competitors will choose and then write on the other one; write on the topic that most appeals to you.Slide34
Prewrite for 30 minutes to an hour: brainstorm, find a thesis, organize/outline.
A good question to ask yourself is “What does it mean and why do I care?Tips on Using Your Two HoursSlide35
Write the essay in the remaining time.
Several students said they used the last 20-30 minutes to recopy their first draft, but most think that wastes time.The judges know you are writing a first draft/final copy. Tips on Using Your Two HoursSlide36
Proofread for a few minutes before submitting the essay.
Tips on Using Your Two HoursSlide37
Tips on Using Your Two Hours
An effective titleAn interesting “hook” (lead) and introductionA thesis statement- or a hypothesisWell-organized structure including transitions and the use of other modes (secondarily) besides expositionThorough elaborationAppropriate and consistent point of viewVivid writingStrong, memorable conclusionCorrectness of spelling, grammar, mechanics with no (or few) distracting errorsSlide38
Sample Titles/Leads/
ThesisSports Snafu- The wide world of sports, from its noble beginnings in the 1890s, has grown immeasurably over the past hundred years…The value of sportsmanship has been lost in sports and athletes over the past hundred years. The Change We Want to See- Over a hundred years ago, the sports we enjoy today were in their infancy…
As the years go by, it seems that participants in sports have progressed as athletes, and regressed as role models. Slide39
4) Topic Practice/AnalysisSlide40
Topic Practice
What are the key idea(s) in the quotation?
“He tells lies about us and he is sure that you will believe him and not listen to the other side.’
‘Is there another side?’ I said.
‘There is always the other side, always.”’- Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea, 1966Slide41
What are the key idea(s) in the quotation?
“He tells lies about us and he is sure that you will believe him and not listen to
the other side
.’
‘Is there
another side
?’ I said.
‘There is
always the other side
, always.”’- Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea, 1966
Topic PracticeSlide42
Start thinking of examples of times people don’t listen, times perspective really matters, times when not paying attention to the other side causes trouble
.Use concrete examples from literature, history, personal experience- yes, it’s okay to use the first person (“I”) as long as you stay focused on your subject rather than on yourself.http://bit.ly/2wj7kLYTopic PracticeSlide43
Jot
notes about these times. The more you list, the more ideas will come to you, and usually as you start this brainstorming process, your thesis (main point) or your essay comes easily. Putting things down gets the ideas following.http://bit.ly/2wj7kLYTopic PracticeSlide44
Topic Analysis from State 2001
“In the 1890s, sports then in their infancy had been praised for developing the high moral outlook called sportsmanship. In less than a hundred years, sports had lost their honor, though not their glamour. Competition had enormously increased skill, and better nutrition, physical strength. Participants and spectators numbered by the millions; but amateurism was in decline and corruption was rife. Professionals cheated for money or by taking body enhancing drugs; champions committed rape and other violent crimes. When contests pitted together two national teams, one crowd of fans mobbed the other; riots, wounds, and deaths were the sportsmanship of the day. At the same time, without sports, colleges and universities would have lost their standing and alumni money. Sports were the last refuge of patriotism. On such occasions as the French victory of 1998 in soccer, the whole people’s enthusiasm led the leaders of opposite political parties to fraternize and declare that the event had reunited the nation. Soon after, it was discovered that the governors of the Olympic Games, also reborn in the Nineties, had taken bribes from the countries wanting to be hosts.”- Jacques Barzun, From Dawn to Decadence, 1500 to the Present: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, 2000Slide45
Thank you.
Lisa Parker, UIL Academics512-471-5883lparker@uiltexas.org