Exploring Writing - Gary Robert Muschla 2011

Leisure Time
Organizing Ideas
Part 1. Finding and Developing Ideas for Writing

1.54 My Music

Directions: Think of your favorite kind of music. Answer the questions. Then write an article about the music you enjoy the most. Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What kind of music do you most like to listen to?

2. Describe this type of music.

3. What makes this type of music different from other kinds of music?

4. Name some singers or groups who perform this type of music.

5. Which is your favorite? Why?

6. Why do you like this type of music? Explain.

1.55 My Favorite Singer

Directions: Think about popular singers and musical groups. Who or which is your favorite? Answer the questions and write an article about this singer or group. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. Who is your favorite singer or musical group?

2. What type of music does this singer or group perform?

3. What do you feel is the best song of this singer or group? Why do you feel this is the best?

4. How is this singer or group different from others?

5. Why is this singer or group your favorite? Explain.

1.56 What the Song Says to Me

Directions: Most songwriters try to share ideas through their songs. The message they wish to share with their listeners is in the lyrics (or words) of the song. Choose a favorite song and think about the message of the songwriter. Answer the questions and write an article about what the song means to you. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What is the title of the song?

2. Who wrote and recorded the song?

3. What is the song about?

4. Which lyrics do you like the best? Why?

5. What is the message the songwriter is trying to share? Explain.

1.57 A Book Review

Directions: A book review tells a reader what a book is about. It should include the reviewer’s opinion of the book. Think about a book you recently read. Answer the questions and write a review of this book. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What is the title of your book?

2. Who is the author?

3. Who is the publisher?

4. When was the book published?

5. Is this book fiction or nonfiction?

6. Explain what the book is about. (For fiction, tell about the setting, characters, and plot, but do not tell the ending.)

7. Did you like this book? Explain.

1.58 Video Game Review

Directions: Writing a review of a video game can be a lot of fun. You have to play the game before you can write about it. Think of a video game you enjoy. Answer the questions and write a review of it.

Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What is the name of the video game?

2. What age levels is it recommended for?

3. What must a player do to win?

4. Describe the action of the game.

5. What strategies can you suggest that will help a player to win?

6. Do you like this game? Why or why not?

1.59 A Favorite Thing to Do

Directions: Think of something you enjoy doing—for example, sports, reading, or a hobby. Answer the questions and write an article about your favorite thing to do. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What is your favorite thing to do?

2. When and where do you enjoy this?

3. Describe your favorite thing to do.

4. Why is this your favorite thing to do? Explain.

1.60 A Most Special Day

Directions: Imagine you could spend a day doing anything you wished. What would you do? Answer the questions and write an article about this special day. Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. Where would you go on this special day?

2. Why would you go there?

3. With whom would you spend this day?

4. Why would you choose this person or these people?

5. Describe all you would do on this special day.

1.61 The Scariest Movie Ever!

Directions: Think of the scariest, most frightening movie you ever watched. Answer the questions and write an article about this movie. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What is the name of the movie?

2. What is the setting of the movie?

3. Who are the main characters?

4. What is the movie about?

5. Describe the scariest scene.

6. Why do you think this scene is so scary? Explain.

7. Would you recommend this movie to your friends? Explain.

1.62 TV in My Life

Directions: Think about how much TV you watch each day. Answer the questions; then write an article about TV in your life. Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. About how much TV do you watch each day?

2. Do you think the amount of TV you watch is too much, just about right, or too little? Explain.

3. What types of TV shows do you enjoy the most? Why?

4. What types of TV shows do you enjoy the least? Why?

5. What is good about TV? Explain.

6. What is not good about TV? Explain.

1.63 Character Changes

Directions: In most stories, the main characters change during the story. They may learn something new about themselves or about life. Think of one of your favorite characters in a story you read. Answer the questions and write an article about how the character changed. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What is the title of the story?

2. What is the name of the character?

3. Describe the story.

4. Describe the character at the beginning of the story.

5. Describe the character at the end of the story.

6. Describe the changes in the character.

7. What caused these changes? Explain.

1.64 A Fantasy Lunch

Directions: Imagine having lunch with a famous person of your choice. Answer the questions and write about your fantasy lunch. Be sure to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. With whom would you have lunch?

2. Why would you choose this person?

3. Where would you have lunch?

4. What would you have for lunch?

5. If you could ask this person three questions, what would they be?

6. What do you think the answers would be?

1.65 A Great Product

Directions: Think of a product you are very pleased with—for example, a pair of in-line skates, a new bike, or a DVD player for your room. Answer the questions and write an article describing this product to others. Remember to include an opening, body, and closing in your writing. Support your ideas with details and examples.

1. What is the product?

2. Where can people buy this product?

3. Describe what the product does.

4. Why are you so pleased with this product?

5. What, if anything, could make this product even better? Explain.

1.66 Changing Places

Directions: Imagine that you and a lead character of one of your favorite stories changed places. You are now the character in the story, and you change the ending. Answer the questions and write a new ending to the story. Create interesting characters, exciting action, and a climax for the new ending of the story.

1. What is the title of the story you are in?

2. Which character did you replace?

3. Name and describe the main characters in the story.

4. Summarize the original story.

5. Describe the new ending.

1.67 The Un-Fun Funhouse

Directions: Imagine going in a funhouse that had no way out. Answer the questions and write a story about how you escaped this frightening funhouse. Create interesting characters, an exciting plot, and a climax for your story.

1. Where is the funhouse located?

2. Name and describe the main characters in your story.

3. Describe the funhouse.

4. Why were you unable to find your way out?

5. How did you finally escape the funhouse?