Once upon a time: Revising the Beginning Lesson 1.7 (P. 34) Once upon a time: Revising the Beginning

Journal “If a teacher told me to revise, I thought that meant my writing was a broken-down car that needed to go to the repair shop. I felt insulted. I didn’t realize the teacher was saying, ‘Make it shine. It’s worth it.’ Now I see revision as a beautiful word of hope. It’s a new vision of something. It means you don’t have to be perfect the first time. What a relief!”—Naomi Shihab Nye Summarize what Naomi Shihab Nye means about revision. What does this quote make you think about writing and revision?

In the Beginning (PAGE 34) Review today’s LEARNING TARGETS Many writers struggle with how to begin their writing with an interesting lead. A lead, or hook, comes at the beginning. Its purpose is to encourage your reader to keep reading.  What are some hooks you learned in 6th grade? Discuss with a partner at your table.

Review these types of leads, or hooks. Type of Lead Examples from Published Authors REACTION: Some writers choose to open a narrative with a character thinking about or reflecting on the event. “The Jacket” by Gary Soto My clothes have failed me. I remember the green coat that I wore in fifth and sixth grade when you either danced like a champ or pressed yourself against a greasy wall, bitter as a penny toward the happy couples. Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White “Where’s papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast. “Out to the hoghouse,” replied Mrs. Arable. “Some pigs were born last night.” “I don’t see why he needs an ax,” continued Fern, who was only eight. DIALOGUE: Some writers choose to show the reader a key event, using dialogue between characters.

What do you like about each lead? Type of Lead Examples from Published Authors Thank You, M’am, by Langston Hughes She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but a hammer and nails. It had a long strap and she carried it slung across her shoulder. It was about eleven o’clock at night, and she was walking home alone, when a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse. The strap broke with a single tug the boy gave it from behind. But the boy’s weight and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose his balance, so instead of taking off full blast as he had hoped, the boy fell on his back on the sidewalk and his legs flew up. The large woman simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue-jean sitter. Then she reached down, picked up the boy by his shirt front, and shook him until his teeth rattled. ACTION: Some writers choose to open a narrative with the main character doing something; this type of lead puts the reader right in the middle of the action. DISCUSS: What do you like about each lead?

Revisit the openings from the texts you have read in this unit to examine how authors hook readers. Kind of Lead Why is this lead effective? Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers “The Scholarship Jacket” Marta Salinas Independent Reading Sets the stage, tells you the story’s setting, makes you interested to find out what happens to this “bad boy” ACTION Describes the scholarship jacket in great detail and sets the stakes for the narrator, who really wants that jacket; creates a sense of suspense as readers want to find out who gets the jacket. REACTION

Revision of Narrative Lead: Grab your draft! Use the leads of those texts you’ve reviewed as models as you revise your own lead technique – reaction and reflection, dialogue, and action. Remember: Your goal is to open with a strong lead that engages readers, encouraging them to continue reading your personal narrative. Effective writers also reflect! (And this will be part of your EA #1 grade, so make sure you write these ideas down!) Writers do this in order to become more aware of specific techniques they use during the writing process. Describe how you have changed your opening. How did your change make your opening more engaging for your reader? *page 35*