1. “Writing is the Making of Reading” Donald Graves Getting ready to write…

2. Identifying an audience Establishing a purpose… Questions to ask: Who wants to know this information? What is its relevance today? Why is it still important today?

3. Angles and Titles… Some questions to think about: What’s an angle that can make my writing interesting? What’s my controlling idea? What might appeal to readers?

4. Narrowing the focus Establishing a purpose… A title helps identify the topic, narrow the focus, and reveal a writer’s purpose A picture is “worth a thousand words” A connection between the past and present gives writing depth and helps show relevance

5. Life in the Middle Ages

6. Modern Conventions What’s the connection and what can I write about?

7. Some ideas to help us brainstorm an angle…

8. Medieval Combat

9. Modern Conflict

10. Medieval Combat and Modern Conflict: Getting Ready to Fight What are the preparations that all soldiers have shared across the centuries and what about the future?

11. Old Time Archer

12. Modern Day Archers

13. Archery: A Common Bond with Ancient Man What are the benefits of a keen eye and a strong arm?

14. Dressing in the Middle Ages

15. Stylin’ Today

16. Dressing in the Middle Ages and Stylin’ Today: What does the way we dress reveal about us? Looking into the past often helps us to see the present…

17. Medieval Elegance

18. Sophisticated Style

19. Medieval Elegance and Sophisticated Style: How do we know what to wear? Fashion goes in cycles, so they say…

20. Historic Horsepower

21. Modern Day Mobility

22. From Historic Horsepower to Modern Mobility: What does it take to get you where you’re going these days?

23. Healing In the Past

24. Healing In the Present

25. Healing in the Past and Healing in the Present: We’ve Come a Long Way, but Can We Afford to be Healthy?

26. Simple Entertainment

27. Pleasing the Masses

28. From Simple Entertainment of the Past to Pleasing the Masses of Today: Why do we need to be entertained anyway?

29. A Knight in Shining Armor

30. A Super Hero

31. FromKnights in Shining Armor to Super Heroes in Tights Do we still need heroes today?

32. Purpose Statement: As a (personal connection to writing), I am writing a (letter, article, editorial) for (reader: school newspaper, etc.) to develop my idea that (main idea/angle/purpose for writing)

33. Remember… “Writing is the Making of Reading” and there’s someone waiting to read what you’ve written!

34. For more information contact: Jennifer Bernhard Reading/Writing Specialist Clark County Schools Jennifer.Bernhard@clark.kyschools.us