This morning in class you will compose a response to a classmate’s literacy narrative.
Directions
- Go to the class blog page, and click on the link for the blog of the of classmate whose name follows yours on the roster. If you are last on the list, go to the blog of the student whose name is first on the list.
- If the student’s blog is not accessible, choose another student’s literacy narrative for your response.
- Read the classmate’s narrative and compose a handwritten response (75 words, minimum) that addresses one or more of these elements: the title, vivid details, scene and summary, dialogue, the image documenting part of the writing process away from the screen, the embedded link to a relevant website.
- Does the blog post include an image that documents part of the blogger’s writing process away from the screen? ____ (yes or no)
- Does the post include a relevant embedded link? _____ (yes or no)
- After you have composed your handwritten response, review the section of Writing Analytically devoted to basic writing errors, or BWEs (426-44), and correct any that you can identify in your blog response.
- Type your response as a comment for the blogger. You should see a leave comment/reply option at the top or bottom of the post. If you do not see that option, click on the title of the blog post, and scroll down. You should then see leave comment/reply.
- If you do not think that you will have time to type and post your handwritten comment before the end of class, take a picture of your handwritten response. That will enable you to submit your worksheet at the end of class and post your comment afterward.
- Submit this sheet at the end of class today. You will submit this paper copy of your comment because the blogger may not choose to make your comment visible. You will receive credit for this assignment only if you submit this sheet at the end of class today.
- If you complete this assignment before the end of class, devote the remainder of the period to one of the following: (1) reading and commenting on other classmates’ literacy narratives, (2) drafting a blog post based on one or more of your Scrabble debriefings, (2) reviewing your reading handouts and determining which one might serve as the subject of your upcoming analysis.
What makes a title effective? That’s an important question to consider since the title contains the first words of yours that a reader will encounter. First, it should be descriptive; it should evoke an image in the reader’s mind. It should also be relevant to your subject; it should convey something about the writing to follow. Lastly, it should be intriguing; it should create in the reader a desire to keep reading. With those traits in mind, review the titles of your classmates’ literacy listed below. Which of these is most effective and why?
- “Adapting to a New System”
- “Breaking Language Barriers: How I Gained Confidence in Myself”
- “Calmáte: A Summer so Fast”
- “Challenges You Face”
- “Error to Success”
- “Finding My Voice with Spanish”
- “From Panic to Proficiency”
- “From Stumbling to Strength”
- “From Terror to Hero”
- “Fruitful Smells of Learning”
- “G is for Grandma”
- “Growing as a Writer”
- “Hooked on a Book”
- “If You Read, You will Succeed”
- “Inside Look into Dyslexia”
- “The Importance of Life”
- “An Involved Teacher”
- “The Journey of the Greatest Story”
- “Journey to Literacy”
- “The Language Barrier”
- “Learning Spanish”
- “Learning to Write”
- “Lessons from Mr. Brady”
- “Looking Back on Reading and Writing Skills”
- “Mindset in Motion”
- “Morning, Morning!”
- “My Battle with Reading”
- “My Submergence into the Unknown Realm of Words”
- “One, Two, Three, Four, Five Stars for You!”
- “The Pen to Paper Routine”
- “Pushing through the Brick Wall”
- “Removing the Mask”
- “Research Paper to Passion”
- “Ti Amo: The Unknown Leads to Closure Through Language”
- “Who is Most Important to You?”
- “Yo Soy Hockey”
Bonus Assignment Opportunity
Directions
- Determine which of the titles you deem most effective.
- Compose a comment of one complete sentence or more that includes (1) the title enclosed in quotation marks, and (2) a brief explanation of its effectiveness.
- Post your comment as a reply to this blog entry no later than 5 p.m. today, Monday, September 15. (To post your comment, click on the post’s title, and scroll down to the bottom of the page. You will then see the image of an airmail envelope with a leave comment option.)
I will approve your responses (make your comments visible) after the 5 p.m. deadline. Commenters will earn a bonus assignment credit in the course work/short assignments category.
Next Up
In class on Wednesday, we will read a short story by Donald Barthelme. As an introduction to him and his fiction, read this biographical sketch. After you read the sketch, compose a one- or two-paragraph journal entry that includes (1) what you have learned about his writing style, and (2) what you have learned about readers’ and critics’ mixed responses to his writing.
Jane Lucas 
I think the most intriguing title from the the list is “G is for Grandma” because it does not directly give away what I am going to be reading about, but I can infer that it will ne about the authors struggle to pronounce their “G’s”. Since it does not directly give away the topic, but also is a relevant title, it does make me want to read this specific writing.
I find the title “Calmáte: A Summer so Fast” to be the most effective title from my classmates. I deem this title the most effective because of the use of a different language in the title, which intrigues me and makes me want to read the essay to find out what “Calmáte” means. Also, the title provides the insight that the essay is going to have something to do with the writer’s experience over a summer.
I think the most effective title is, “Yo Soy Hockey”. It translates to “I am Hockey” which is grammatically incorrect. It makes the reader interested yet provides some knowledge into what the writing is about.
The title that seems most effective to me is “Removing the Mask”. This is because it is intriguing, descriptive, and most likely relevant to the subject of their writing. As soon as I read it, I was already wondering what kind of mask they were talking about and I could picture some potential options in my head.
The title I believe is most effective is “The Inside Look into Dyslexia.” This title is very effective when I read it for the first time. While reading through the list of titles, it immediately caught my eye. Having gone to school with people who have dyslexia, it grabbed my attention. I think it is a very effective title and would encourage a reader to read the piece to become more informed about what living with dyslexia is like.
I think the most effective title is “From Panic to Proficiency” because it shows a journey of growth and makes me want to read more to see how the change happened.
I think « G is for Grandma” is one of the best title because it is short and it’s the one who caught my eye when I read all of the titles. The title alone made me want to read the Literary Narrative, and I felt really curious about it.
”Error to Success” is a very effective title as it shows that being successful doesn’t come easy. The errors you make will come and go throughout the process but will make the strive for success much more rewarding.
The tittle “Yo soy hockey” really caught my eye as this is wrong in propper spanish. This made me think that maybe that was the writter’s intention as he/she probably was trying to introduce his experience in learning spanish and its differences with the english language. This is becuase the statemnet “Yo soy hockey” is grammatically correct when its directly translated to english, causing confussion to the writter and most english speakers when learning spanish.
The title that I deem most effective is “If You Read, You Will Succeed”. I believe that this title is a great hook for people who don’t like to read. Since many people aspire to be successful, suggesting that reading leads to success will encourage them to read.
”From Stumbling to Strength”
This title caught my eye because I was able to tell that the narrative is going to start from a place of struggle but, as the story goes on it will gradually get easier and the writer will gain confidence.
I like the title “Breaking Language Barriers: How I Gained Confidence in Myself” because it’s clear and personal. It makes me curious about how the person went from being unsure to more confident.
”An Involved Teacher” represents the importance of creating a positive and impactful learning environment with students. Gaining understanding as well as engaging in said topic will help both the teacher and the students.
The title “Fruitful Smells of Learning” is the most effective title because it not only makes the reader stop and think, “What could possibly be fruitful about reading?” but it also implies what’s going to be talked about throughout the story without “spoiling” the plot.
I believe that “G is for Grandma” is the most effective title because it is short and sweet, and really makes me interested in wanting to read the narrative to see what it could be about. I feel like it gives a brief idea of what the narrative will be about without revealing any important information.