We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
How to Write a Story
For years, teachers and aspiring writers have asked Lee Roddy (author of "Grizzly Adams," countless short stories, and over 50 novels) to compile a guide from his 20 years of convention seminars. This is that much-anticipated guide. Whether adults use this book to instruct young students or utilize the guidelines to write a best-selling short story or novel of their own, the practical system for writing laid out in this guide will be beneficial. This is not a workbook, and it's not very fancy either, but it lays out a straightforward approach to writing which has been proven to work for the author and many others. It's filled with tips, outlines, suggestions, and rules for writing techniques that will get students to write proper stories and enjoy it as well. The guide begins with a helpful introduction that tells teachers how to use the book and then contains eight lessons on ideas, story building, objectives, obstacles, outcome, characters, plots, and scenes. Goals and the importance of these eight story aspects, outlines, ideas for writing, examples, and so much more are included in each lesson. The end of each lesson also includes a few short-answer questions and a simple writing assignment that will help them use what they have just learned in their own writing. An encouraging conclusion is also included in the guide, with the author giving final tips for making sure your writing is strong and successful. A handy guide presenting a solid method for writing fictional stories. 88 pgs.
Based on specific topics or on events in history, IEW’s theme-based writing lessons (same grade-range levels as the SSS) offer comprehensive, almost scripted instruction. All necessary source texts have been developed for busy parents and teachers like you. An IEW veteran and aficionado myself, I couldn't conceive of anything more complete than what is provided here. All necessary source texts are provided and are reproducible for one parent/one homeschool. Some courses (particularly the Hillsdale College K12-connected courses) provide suggested reading lists. Clear assignments (sometimes differentiated between levels) along with a checklist aid both the student in preparation and the parent in grading. These are also designed to be used by the student to work on throughout the week. Based on specific topics or events in various segments of history, the lessons include grammar exercises, vocabulary development, quizzes, and games for review and reinforcement – along with the writing instruction, of course.
In all lessons, students are encouraged to polish their final draft, perhaps even adding illustrations. At the end of each course the student will have a personal portfolio collection of poems, stories, reports, essays and research papers. Lessons are taught at the beginning of each week allowing the rest of the week for students to complete the assignment which they should be able to do on their own. Teacher preparation is minimal. (Do I hear an emphatic "Yes!"?)
The courses are targeting a progressively more competent student with the assumption that students are working through the courses according to suggested grade levels. Therefore, there is an increasing complexity to the instructions, expectations, and assignments. Accordingly, teachers are encouraged to be flexible with plans. The beginning writer may need to spend more than the suggested week on difficult lessons or omit some of the grammar. Mature students may move more quickly to allow time for additional research writing and/or more creative essay writing.
Many of these courses can be used equally well within a homeschool with several different aged students and all can be used in a co-op/support school setting with more grade-specific groupings of students. It's assumed that parents/teachers have completed or have access to Teaching Writing Structure & Style (TWSS), IEW's seminar for parents and teachers.
Except for Bible Heroes, courses include both a Teacher and a Student Book. Both books are necessary as the course is designed to be interactive between the teacher and student. Teachers should plan to read over the lessons with the students and help as necessary, especially with specific tasks such as outlining and brainstorming. ~ Janice/Ruth
Product Format: | Softcover Book |
---|---|
Brand: | Institute for Excellence in Writing |
Author: | Lee Roddy |
Grades: | 9-AD |
ISBN: | 9780977986033 |
Length in Inches: | 11 |
Width in Inches: | 9 |
Height in Inches: | 0.5 |
Weight in Pounds: | 0.65 |