DownWRITE Funny Using Students' Love of the Ridiculous to Build Serious Writing Skills (Grades 7-12)

Avoiding Sentence Fragments Fragment Frustration Complete Thoughts Avoiding Run-on Sentences No Jamming No Jumbling Starting and Stopping Using Active Voice Straightforward and Simple Active and Clear To the Point Writing for a Purpose On Purpose A Goal in Mind No Accidents Being Aware of Audience The Changing Audience Working Together Just the “Write” Magazine Matching Tone and Purpose Revealing Attitude The Writer’s Attitude Diplomacy Counts Using Transitions Smoothing the Way Smooth Connections Tied Up Connecting with Pronouns Three in One Using Specific Words In Focus “Uncool “Awesome” Isn’t Good Enough Using Similes and Metaphors Simple Similes Metaphorically Speaking Using Details to Create a Word Picture Word Magic Getting Rid of the Gray Face It Appealing to the Senses Common Sense Virtual Reality Generic Images Using Details to Create a Mood Details for Atmosphere Describing Logically Focal Points Focus Attention Step by Step Avoiding Clutter Too Much of a Good Thing Description Out of Whack Overdone Avoiding Overblown Language Plain Silly Big Words—Little Meaning Picking a Perspective It All Depends Who’s Talking Showing Instead of Telling Description in Motion Keep It Moving Cause and Effect Answer Keys

Biography

Randy Larson grew up in Michigan and now lives in the small town of Gillette, Wyoming, with his wife Judy and their son Gabriel. He has taught English, grades 7-12, for over 25 years.