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Writing Activity #1: Tell Us Your Story
Ryan.pdf
Welcome to Unit 3 – Exploring other stories*
In this unit, we will explore various story structures to determine what makes them unique, what makes them similar, and how they create meaning. We will explore texts that tell a story (narrative), texts that explain or instruct (expository), texts that make an argument (argumentative), and texts that blur the lines between them. Through these explorations, we will learn how to use evidence from the text to draw conclusions, make connections, and make inferences that help us find the purpose and meaning in the text. We will also engage in about the role cultural elements play in shaping the perspectives present in the texts.
Think
What role do stories have in your life? What stories do you know?
Think back. Think way, way back.
What was the first story you recall hearing or reading?
In the first two learning activities of this unit, we will explore some of the common elements of a short story. First, let’s clarify what a short story is.In its simplest form, a short story is a fictional work of prose that is shorter in length than a novel.
Action - Learning a lesson: Expository texts
In this learning activity, you will be consolidating what you have learned about argumentative texts to create a draft of a text designed to persuade its audience.
Try it!
An argument can often be an attempt to prove something between two options. For instance, Is a hot dog a sandwich? It’s a silly question, but you may already have an answer in your head. Why is a hot dog a sandwich? Why might it not be a sandwich? Which side would you argue, and what evidence might you use? Share your arguments with a friend or family member.
In this learning activity, we will focus on the following grammar goal.
Grammar goals: Adjective clauses
In this learning activity, you may need complex sentences to make your argument as clear as possible. Adjective clauses are often part of a complex sentence and use words like that, who, and which to begin the clause. Examine the following example.
“The students, who looked determined, made some great arguments!”
In the sentence, “who looked determined” is the adjective clause that describes the students.
Argumentative Writing
Argumentative writing is meant to persuade. In this course, we have studied a variety of persuasive texts, techniques, and elements of argumentative texts. No matter the purpose or topic, every argumentative text contains some version of a claim or thesis statement. The argumentative text you draft will require a thesis, but the topic, purpose, and text type of your argument is up to you. To help ensure you are in a persuasive frame of mind, you will engage with a few more mentor texts.
Do you need convincing?
Check out the following mentor texts. As you explore, note the characteristics you want to use in your own work. Pay attention to what the author says, and the process and thinking they engaged with. Keep in mind, these represent a small sample of the kinds of texts you can write. Do not feel limited to only these options. You will soon be planning and writing an argumentative text of your own!
Text 1: How Animal Crossing Will Save Gen Z
The following annotated version of the text entitled How Animal Crossing Will Save Gen Z* by Ananya Udaygiri is part of The New York Time "Annotated by the Author" series. To better understand the text and the author's writing process, you will explore an excerpt with a brief introduction to the text, the original published text, and the text annotated by the author.
See/listen to her video below.
Nam Kiwanuka interviews an author about her process, the purpose of writing:
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