Exploring Writing - Gary Robert Muschla 2011

School Days
Organizing Ideas
Part 1. Finding and Developing Ideas for Writing

1.26 My School

Directions: Schools around the country are a lot alike. But each is a little different, too. Think about your school. What is it like? Answer the questions and write an article describing your school. Be sure to use an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What is the name of your school?

2. What grades attend your school?

3. About how many students attend your school?

4. In what town and state is your school?

5. Describe your school (classrooms, gym, cafeteria, auditorium, playground, and so on).

6. What subjects do you learn in school?

7. Describe a typical school day.

1.27 How to Improve My School

Directions: Persuasive writing is an article a person writes about a problem and how it might be solved. Think about the good things in your school. Now think about things that can be improved. Answer the questions and write a persuasive article about how your school can be improved. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. Name something in your school that you feel should be improved.

2. Why should this be improved? Explain.

3. What could students do to help improve this?

4. What could teachers do to help improve this?

5. What could parents do to help improve this?

1.28 School Uniforms

Directions: Many schools have a dress code. Some schools even require that students wear uniforms. Think about your feelings about wearing a uniform to school. Answer the questions and write an article about your feelings. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. Does your school require students to wear uniforms? If yes, describe the uniforms.

2. What are some advantages of wearing school uniforms?

3. Why might students dislike wearing uniforms to school?

4. What is your opinion about school uniforms? Explain.

1.29 Guidelines for Picking a Student of the Month

Directions: Imagine that you are in charge of giving an award for the student of the month in your school. This award may be for excellence in a certain subject or for all subjects. It might be given to someone who does something special for the school. Answer the questions and write an article explaining your guidelines for this award. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing for your article. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What is the name of your award?

2. What is the award for?

3. What will a student have to do to earn this award?

4. What will the award be?

1.30 School Food

Directions: School food is, well, school food. Most students eat it, but few like it. Imagine that you can choose the food your school will serve for lunch. Answer the questions and write an article about your choices for school lunches. (Try to choose healthy foods.) Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What kinds of food does your school serve for lunch?

2. What foods would you like your school to serve for the main part of lunch?

3. What foods would you like for dessert?

4. What types of beverages would you like served with lunch?

5. If your school has snack machines that students can use, what types of snacks should be offered?

1.31 Should Students Have Homework?

Directions: Few students like homework. But most receive homework at least a few times each week. Think about how much homework you receive. Answer the questions and write an article explaining your feelings about homework. Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. Why is homework important?

2. When might homework not be important?

3. How much homework do you feel should be given each night? Explain.

4. Do you feel homework should be given on the weekends? Holidays? Explain.

5. Would it help or hurt students if they never got any homework? Explain.

1.32 Favorite Subjects

Directions: Think of all the subjects you are studying in school this year. Which are your favorites? Answer the questions and write an article about your favorite subjects. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. List all the subjects you are studying this year.

2. Which are your favorites?

3. Why are these your favorites?

4. Do you ever use what you learn in these subjects outside of school? Explain.

1.33 Should Schools Have Honor Rolls?

Directions: The purpose of an honor roll is to recognize students who achieve good grades. But some schools do not have honor rolls. People in these schools believe honor rolls are not needed. Does your school have an honor roll? If yes, should it be continued? If no, should one be started? Answer the questions; then write an article sharing your feelings about an honor roll in your school. Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. List reasons why students may feel a school should have an honor roll.

2. List reasons why students may feel a school should not have an honor roll.

3. Should your school have an honor roll? Explain.

1.34 A Description of My Classroom

Directions: Look about your classroom. Notice how things are arranged. Answer the questions and write a description of your classroom. Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Be sure to include good details.

1. Start at one corner and look around your classroom. List some of the objects you see.

2. Write details of these objects (for example, size, shape, and color).

3. Describe the furniture and how it is arranged.

4. Describe any tables and study stations.

1.35 A Review of an Exciting Program

Directions: Your school probably has assemblies and other special events. For this writing assignment, take notes during an assembly or special event at your school. Answer the questions; then write a review. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What was the name of the program?

2. When and where was the program presented?

3. Who attended the program?

4. Who presented or starred in the program?

5. What was the program about?

6. Describe at least one thing you liked about the program.

7. Describe at least one thing you did not like about the program.

8. What was your opinion of the program? Explain.

1.36 The Best Things About My School

Directions: Most students like some things about their schools. For example, they might feel their school has the best kids, the best drama club, or the best band. Think about what you feel is best about your school. Answer the questions and write an article about your feelings. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What do you feel is best about your school?

2. Provide reasons and examples why you feel this way.

Reason 1: ...

Example: ...

Reason 2: ...

Example: ...

Reason 3: ...

Example: ...

1.37 My Classroom Rules

Directions: Imagine that you could set up your classroom’s rules. What rules would you make? Answer the questions and write about your classroom rules. Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. Describe your classroom (include grade, number of students, size, and so on).

2. Write at least three rules you would make to help your classroom run smoothly.

3. How would these rules help your classroom run smoothly?

4. Do you think most students would agree that your rules are helpful? Explain.

1.38 A New Student

Directions: Imagine that your teacher has chosen you to show a new student around your school. Answer the questions and write a story about this. Include interesting characters, a plot, and a climax in your story.

1. Who is the new student in your story?

2. Describe him or her.

3. How might a new student feel in a new school?

4. What places in your school would you show the new student?

5. Why would you take the new student to these places?

6. What (if anything) would you warn the new student about?

7. Will the new student like your school? Explain.

1.39 My Perfect School

Directions: Imagine that you have the power to create a perfect school. This school could be everything you would want it to be. Answer the questions and write an article about your perfect school. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. Where would your school be located?

2. How long would your school day be?

3. How long would your school year be?

4. What grades would your school have?

5. About how many students would be in each class?

6. What subjects would students in your school learn?

7. What special features would your school have? (For example, a big gymnasium, a swimming pool, a playground?)

8. What would be the most important rule in your school?

9. Would students receive a good education at your school? Explain.