Exploring Writing - Gary Robert Muschla 2011
Personally Speaking
Organizing Ideas
Part 1. Finding and Developing Ideas for Writing
1.1 An Autobiographical Sketch
Directions: An autobiography is a true story that a person writes about himself or herself. An autobiographical sketch is a short autobiography. Think about your life. Answer the questions and write an autobiographical sketch. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. Briefly describe yourself (age, height, color of eyes, hair, and so on).
2. Name three things you like about yourself and why you like them.
3. Name three things you dislike about yourself and why you dislike them.
4. What would you most like to do this year? Why?
1.2 My Family
Directions: Some families are big. Some are small. Every family is different from any other. Think about your family and what makes it special. Answer the questions and write an article about your family. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. Who are the members of your family?
2. Briefly describe the members of your family.
3. Describe some things that make your family special.
4. What do you feel is the best thing about your family? Explain.
1.3 Pets and Me
Directions: Think about a pet. (If you do not have a pet, imagine that you can have any pet you wish.) Answer the questions below and write an article about your pet. Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What kind of pet do you have?
2. Describe how your pet looks.
3. Describe your pet’s favorite place in your home.
4. Describe how your pet acts.
5. Describe what your pet likes to do most.
6. How do you help take care of your pet?
1.4 The Future Me
Directions: Pick a time in the future. The time might be a year from now, a few years from now, or many years from now. Imagine yourself in that time. Answer the questions and write about yourself in the future. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What is the time of this story?
2. Where will you be living in the future?
3. Describe yourself in the future.
4. What will you be doing? (For example, will you still be going to school?
Will you have a job? What kind?)
5. Describe your family and friends in the future.
6. What problems might you face in the future?
7. What might you know in the future you do not know now?
1.5 Advice for Younger Students
Directions: Imagine that you can offer advice to students who will be in your class next year. Answer the questions and write an article about what they can expect. Be sure to use an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What class are you in now?
2. What subjects do you study in this class?
3. What materials will new students need to bring to class?
4. How can new students be successful in this class?
5. What would you like to warn new students about?
6. What is the best advice you can give them?
1.6 An Important Lesson
Directions: Think of a time you learned an important lesson. Answer the questions and write a narrative about this experience and what you learned. Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What is the subject you are writing about?
2. When did this happen?
3. Where did this happen?
4. Who was with you?
5. Describe what happened.
6. Why did this happen?
7. What lesson did you learn?
1.7 My Greatest Goal
Directions: Think of your goals. Which one do you want to reach the most? Answer the questions and write an article about your greatest goal. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What is your greatest goal?
2. Why is this your goal?
3. What must you do to reach this goal?
4. Do you expect to one day reach this goal? Explain.
1.8 My Favorite Holiday
Directions: Think about all the holidays you enjoy. Decide which one you like best. Answer the questions and write an article about your favorite holiday. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What are some holidays you enjoy?
2. Which one is your favorite? Why?
3. With whom do you celebrate this holiday?
4. Describe how you celebrate this holiday.
5. If you could make this holiday even better, what would you do?
1.9 My Hero
Directions: Think about a person you consider to be a hero. This person might have lived long ago or might be living now. Answer the questions and write an article about your hero. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. Describe three qualities a hero must have.
2. Who is a hero to you?
3. Why do you feel this person is a hero?
4. Is this person a hero to others? Explain.
1.10 Highlights of the Day
Directions: Think about all the things you did yesterday. Did you finish all you wanted to do? Answer the questions and write a narrative about the day that just passed. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What did you do in the morning?
2. What did you do in the afternoon?
3. What did you do in the evening?
4. What was your most important accomplishment? Explain.
5. What did you not finish? Explain.
1.11 My Greatest Responsibilities
Directions: Think of your responsibilities. Some of your responsibilities might include doing well in school, watching a younger brother or sister, or taking care of a pet. Answer the questions and write an article about your responsibilities. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What are some of your responsibilities?
2. What is your most important responsibility?
3. Give some examples of how you handle this responsibility.
4. Why is this responsibility the most important?
5. How do you feel about this responsibility?
1.12 An Exciting Event
Directions: Think of a time you took part in or watched an exciting event. Answer the questions and write a narrative about this experience. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing.
Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What was the event?
2. When did the event take place?
3. Where did it take place?
4. Who was with you?
5. Describe what happened at the event.
6. Why was the event exciting?
7. What was the best part of the event?
1.13 Someone I Admire
Directions: Think about a person you admire. This person might be living, or he or she might have lived in the past. Answer the questions and write an article about this person. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. Who is the person you admire?
2. How do you know this person?
3. Describe this person.
4. What is special about this person?
5. Why do you admire this person?
1.14 A Special Talent
Directions: Everyone has special talents. Think about what you do better than other people. Answer the questions and write about your special talent. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What is your special talent?
2. What skills or knowledge does this talent require?
3. How did you develop this talent?
4. What advice could you give others so that they may develop this talent?
5. How might you improve your special talent?
1.15 One of the Most Important Things in My Life
Directions: Think about something or someone that is important to you. Answer the questions and write an article about what is important in your life. Be sure to use an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.
1. What is most important to you?
2. Why is this important?
3. What do you do to show that this is important to you?
4. How would your life be different if this was not a part of your life?