Exceptional Writing products for teachers grades 6 through University, specializing in writing essays, creative writing and writing prompts, editing, proofreading, the workshop process, fiction and its elements, usage/style and much more. Proud to be rigorous, skill-based, scaffolded, step-by-step, and organized: from directions and lessons plans to worksheets and grading rubrics - you'll find complete and easy-to-use resources!
Exceptional Writing products for teachers grades 6 through University, specializing in writing essays, creative writing and writing prompts, editing, proofreading, the workshop process, fiction and its elements, usage/style and much more. Proud to be rigorous, skill-based, scaffolded, step-by-step, and organized: from directions and lessons plans to worksheets and grading rubrics - you'll find complete and easy-to-use resources!
“Dialogue Writing & Editing Lesson with Sample and CCSs Gr. 6-12” is the second resource in our line of dialogue writing resources. Part one of our dialogue writing series focused on learning the definition and rules of writing and formatting dialogue.
THIS second resource is the next step, a logical 9-day lesson with a step-by-step approach that scaffolds students from “information getting” to writing and editing on their own. This more challenging resource focuses on writing purposeful, authentic-sounding dialogue, cutting lines that don’t work, and rewriting as needed.
Self-assessments, task- and skill-based handouts, and discussions in which students are asked to explain why they made certain choices all assure an increased ability on the part of the student to perform the required tasks, but also ensure that the instructor knows where the students are regarding their skill and comfort level.
The goals of this resource are:
• To make student writers actively aware of the many roles and purposes dialogue can serve in fiction, plays or screenplays so that the fiction writing as a whole will improve.
• To have students recognize, discuss, and apply natural-sounding dialogue in their own work, thereby improving overall writing quality and character “believability.”
• To actively pursue an annotation process in which they will label a useful purpose to each line in a sample dialogue or cut it, as a practice for their own editing process.
• To write their own dialogue scene with a natural voice and with purposes that serve the plot or the characters, and to go through a rigorous editing process as performed previously in the annotation practice.
• To rewrite their final dialogue scene for a grade.
Students will:
o Refresh, reintroduce key concepts. Worksheets are provided
o Recognize and report on natural patterns of authentic dialogue in “Real-Life Dialogue Activity” discussing ways they will apply it to their own written dialogues.
o Immediately apply what they’ve learned about authentic dialogue in an introductory dialogue writing exercise, “An Unlikely Pair!”
o Learn about “purposes” in dialogue. Just a few of these are:
background information,” “forwarding the plot” or “character development.” In an annotation activity, students label a strong sample dialogue sample, “One Minute to Armageddon!” with the purpose each line serves, but cut the lines that are useless or extraneous.
o The final activity – “Kill Your Darlings, Darling!” Complete an entire dialogue scene from beginning to end. They
Introductory Dialogue Writing is ideal for any educator interested in creating or enhancing a creative writing curriculum.
Introductory Dialogue Writing is step by step and logical. It BEGINS with definition and qualities of great dialogue, pitfalls to avoid, activities and strong samples to look at along the way, and it ENDS with students being able to write one complete dialogue scene.
This 30-Page Common Core Aligned Lesson Includes:
• Introduction: KEY DEFINITIONS and Qualities of Good Dialogue
• Common Dialogue Problems with writing icebreaker Activity;
• Formatting Rules, with “strong sample” activity and Key;
• Dialogue’s Purposes with strong writing sample, activity, and Key;
• Dialogue Mastery - rewrite a strong dialogue sample, with Key; and
• Application. students apply their learned knowledge of natural/ authentic-sounding dialogue and proper formatting to write a complete, original dialogue scene (prewrite and rubric included).
This is an exceptionally handy introduction – usable by ANY level. The depth and scope of work is determined by the level of the students.
If you need more fiction support, pair with our existingCharacterization: Learn and Write! Activities for Grades 6 - 12,or Introduction to Character. They go perfectly together.
Annotation with Purpose! Comparing and Contrasting Sonnets begins with a refresher on annotation but goes far beyond for your Grades 6-13 students.
Annotation has traditionally been used to increase critical thinking about texts, and as an entry point for writing about how a text works. This is only ONE of the reasons why annotating, close reading and reader response criticism was adopted and favored at the university level.
We are proud to offer a FULLY COMPLETE UNIT for Middle and HIGH SCHOOLERS, and to make it EASY for you to use, and for students to learn and apply. Get students thinking critically and ready for the sophisticated writing expected in the first semester of college!
Why it’s Great – This 8-10 Day Common Core Lesson Plan is Ideal because it allows students to not only to Annotate Sonnets by Shakespeare and Edmund Spenser, it provides time for students to discuss the major layers and elements they noticed during their annotation. Additionally, It gently scaffolds students towards independently writing a compare/contrast essay. Finally, it is fully COMPLETE with all the materials your students need to take the leap from annotation to USING their annotations in a compare/contrast essay.
You Receive:
• 8-10 DAY Unit PLAN with Common Core Standards that scaffolds students with increasing skill acquisition and responsibility.
• Advice on Annotation
• A set of Sonnets for student annotation – Please see our Preview!
• Teacher Key for EACH SONNET
AND MUCH more - Writing Tips, Essay Organizers, ESSAY RUBRIC etc . . .
In Short, Everything is Provided, CULMINATING in a Compare and Contrast in-class writing assignment.
PLUS – This enhanced unit is complete with an extra set of sonnets. You may repeat the unit again during the year and gauge student essay writing for improvement.
You may also like:
Annotating Sonnets – A Complete Common Core Standards Unit for Middle and High School. A Fantastic, and thorough 7-Day Unit to Begin Annotation. Great for Introduction and Annotation Activities.
The Peer Edit and Workshop! Critical Thinking and Analysis Lessons, with SAMPLES!
The Sonnet 2: Meter and Structure with Shakespeare. A Complete Common Core Unit – Grades 8-12. A presentation followed up with notes, activities and assessment ensures students understand the sonnet form.
Annotating Sonnets is a Common Core Standards Unit for all students grades 6-12, created to address close reading, annotating and then, WRITING ABOUT what one has found! This activity has long been practiced at the college level because it encourages nuanced and flexible thought, critical thinking and a holistic approach to tackling difficult text and hopefully all kinds of real-life issues once students move on after graduation. In preparation of this college practice, close reading and the process of text annotation is fast becoming essential in middle and high school.
We are happy to bring you this an all-inclusive starter pack that will make close reading and annotating easier, as well as fun and interesting.
This The Seven-day Unit has been carefully devised for teachers to do SEVERAL things, with the least amount of personal work:
1. Introduce annotation.
2. Have students understand and discuss a less-than ideal, or “Developing” version of an annotation in the hopes that they will recognize all the layers that exist and that CAN be addressed. This will encourage more effort and thoughtfulness in their own future annotations.
3. Provide the teacher a STRONG annotation to model for students.
4. Provide opportunities for students to practice, allowing them to annotate, first in pairs or in groups, and finally ON THEIR OWN, so that they can WRITE ABOUT THEIR FINDINGS as a closing activity.
Students learn through modelling, and then by doing. This COMPLETE UNIT comes fully equipped with:
- An OVERVIEW describing what annotation is, what it entails, why it is important, what its ultimate GOAL is, and some of the types of annotations one can make.
- An Advice page for students
- 6-7-day Lesson Plan with corresponding Common Core Standards
- Sonnet 18 (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?), with both Developing and Strong Annotated Samples to serve as Discussion and Model, respectively.
- Sonnet 130 (My Mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun) for use in paired or group activity, as students apply their knowledge. (Complete with Activity Worksheets and Strong Annotated Sample for Instructor to share with students afterward in class discussion!)
- Closing, Mastery Activity – Individual Annotation and writing about Sonnet 29 (When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes). Complete with Strong annotation sample for teacher plus writing organizers for students so they are prepared to write.
FREE Creepy Themed Creative Writing Prompt Demo - Grades 6-12
is ONE small part of a larger loosely themed product
This FREE DEMO version was specially selected to show you how you can group certain prompts together.
In this download, You receive not only 4 picture prompts, but up to 11 writing options in total!
WE suggest you Print out and laminate. You can post on a wall or place face down on the desks for a fun “run around” activity. You can project on a wall with PowerPoint or a projector. Lastly, let student use the computers if your school is so equipped – they can work in writing teams on one picture but write from different perspectives…OR, work alone. You’ve got a lot of options with this freebie!!
This product is one small part of our much larger complete product Creative Writing Prompts To Improve Setting, POV, and Character!, a 47-page writing-improvement prompt resource that is fully complete with directions, implementation ideas, writing rubrics, and more. This FREE DEMO version was specially selected to show you how you can group certain prompts together within the larger version!
PLEASE ENJOY this fun little sampler from us, PerfettoWritingRoom(c)! And happy Halloween, but also feel free to use this writing resource with any writing unit on suspense, descriptive writing, Poe or Shelley, Gothic literature, or wherever ELSE you deem appropriate!
Do You Like this product? Please Consider these related Items!
product Creative Writing Prompts To Improve Setting, POV, and Character! - The Larger More complete product from which this freebie was taken, complete with directions, implementation ideas, student handouts, CCSs, and rubrics!
Preparing Students for the Writer’s Workshop, and 8-Day Common-Core, Skills Based Unit (Grades 8-12).
Peer Edit and Workshop: Learning Critical Thinking and Analysis with Samples.
Peer Edit Starter Kit for ANY Writing Topic, Grades 6-12.
The Characterization Master Course bundle and Analytical Essay – Grades 9-12.
The Hanukkah Master Activity Pack with Common Core Standards Grades 6-12 is actually two products. An Information-text activity, and a project!
Here are some of the great benefits:
• Up to 11-eleven days of activities
• Common Core Standards broken down by specific activity
• Teacher and Student directions, rubrics, keys – YOU NAME IT – Fully complete, utterly clear. Print and Go!!
• Thorough lesson plan suggestion still provides enough wiggle room for you to move things around according to your own time constraints and student needs.
• Two very different lessons offer variety and interest, and cover a multitude of standards.
• Subject matter is culturally inclusive while also encouraging improvement in critical reading of informational texts.
YOU RECEIVE
Informational Text and Critical Reading. Includes – 3 day lesson. Please See Preview for samples.
This includes:
Value and Goals Statement, Table of Contents, Lesson overview, Common Core Anchor Standards and Grade Specific Standards by Grade for Grades 6, 7, 8, 9-10, and 11-12, an original 2-page passage “History of Hanukkah” with Active Reading Sheet. Two types of informational-text questions. The first is a Multiple-Choice “Test Prep” style, the second is a long-form worksheet requiring text-based evidence, quotes, and reasons. KEYS included.
8-Day Hanukkah Project – A Group Research, Writing, Presentation and Demonstration Project. This engaging and multiple intelligence project ends with a closure activity of art, music, food, and dreidel games.
It includes:
Value and Goals Statement, Table of Contents, Student Directions, Participation Log, Project Rubric, Student Time Management Sheet and Checklist, Suggested 8-Day Lesson Overview, Common Core Anchor Standards, presentation assessment sheets to ensure student attention, COMPLIMENTARY: origami dreidel as a secondary or tertiary art input in lieu of lesson plan; “Free Supplemental Teacher Resources” with links to music, and information on how to play dreidel games.
We know the best lessons are multilayered. This project is one your students will LOVE and will remember for years to come. They will enjoy learning from each other and working together. We sincerely hope YOU enjoy how easy it is to use!
You May also REALLY Like:
The Steadfast Tin Soldier Critical Thinking and Writing Activity Pack Gr. 6-12.
The Elves and the Shoemaker, Writing and Critical Thinking Activity Pack – Gr. 6-12.
Gift of the Magi Complete Activity Pack – Grades 6-12.
Enjoy “Gift of the Magi” Complete Activity Pack for Grades 6-12. It is unique because it is a “loose Unit” meaning it comes complete with all that you need to create your own specialized approach.
Do as much or as little of our pack as you’d like, or go beyond it. We feel that O. Henry’s story is a masterpiece, perfectly suited for ALL middle to high school grades and worthy of revisiting over and over. The magic is in the message, and in the ideas that YOU bring to it. WE are proud to provide all of the ESSENTIALS that you can use, year after year.
We have taken the liberty of including for you:
• The complete Story, unabridged. . .
• With underlined vocabulary words.
• Vocabulary Definitions
• A Vocabulary Quiz
• A Vocabulary Key
• Flexible Comprehension Questions (use as quiz or classwork)
• Comprehension Question Key.
• A Vocabulary Icebreaker Activity.
• Four Writing Activity Suggestions of varying difficulty. Do as many or few as you’d like.
• Rubrics that may prove helpful. (Note, this is not a unit on how to write)
• Lesson/Activity Ideas
• 31 pages Total!
Use some or all of these ideas, or go beyond and include into your own plans. Use for the holiday season or ANYTIME OF YEAR.
We do hope that you’ll enjoy this product, and . . .
Thank YOU for being a teacher, working so hard and for all that you do every day.
You may also enjoy other Short Story Products such as:
The Four Senses – A Guided Short Story Writing Lesson. Three days to a week of engaged writing for grades five through 12. All you need is paper bags. Students of all ages – even reluctant writers, love this mystery bag activity. Requires students to bring in one item.
Hop-Frog Complete Packet – Activities, Quizzes, Keys, and Writing (Gr. 8-11). Fantastic any time of year, for Victorian or Gothic Literature, for the short story unit, suspense writing and of course, Halloween!!
Dr. Heidegger Complete Story Packet, Activities, Quiz and Keys.
The Steadfast Tin Soldier is an often overlooked tale that was originally written for children, but has been analyzed for years by critics for its many themes ranging from politics, love, socioeconomic status and more. THIS COMMON CORE UNIT is IDEAL for middle and high school students grades 6 through 12, this packet is a PERFECT SCAFFOLD, with close reading and critical thinking questions that prepare students to write an essay. Our “Rewrite the Ending” activity is also chock full of critical thinking activities, including a pre-write and an activity where students write about their own process and writing decisions. We also think you’ll enjoy the rubric and two corresponding writing samples that provide students the opportunity to compare and contrast the samples against each other and an analysis sheet before it’s time to start their own outline.
In this very organized 47-page pack, 3-Major-Activity Package you will receive:
• MAJOR ACTIVITY Close Reading, Critical Thinking, and Comprehension
• Answer KEY
• MAJOR ACTIVITY – Rewrite the Ending: Teacher and Student Handout, Pre-Write, Alternate Ending, Rewrite (Lined and Unlined), Discussion Questions about Writing
• MAJOR ESSAY ACTIVITY – This activity is really several activities in one, all specially created to prepare students for facility in writing a nuanced essay.
This includes overviews for both,Teacher and Student, directions, a rubric, a comparison activity with two writing samples so students may discern writing expectations, and a pre-write sheet (organizer) for the essay.
• The full story “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” is included for your convenience.
• All Applicable Common Core Standards, broken down by each activity.
• Freebie, secret handout for you our customer in thanks for your purchase.
Your students will learn a lot, and we hope this is a story they will cherish for years to come.
You May Also Enjoy:The Writer’s Workshop for High School, an 8-Day Common Core Unit.
The Elves and the Shoemaker – Writing and Critical Thinking Activity Pack Gr. 6 - 12.
Gift of the Magi, Complete Activity Pack Grades 6-12.
Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment, Complete Story Packet, Activities, Quiz and Keys.
Hop-Frog Complete Packet with Activities, Quizzes, and Keys (GRADES 8 -11) is fantastic and reasonably priced resource. Not only is it a COMPLETE packet, it includes:
PRE-Vocabulary Activity
Vocabulary Terms with definitions
Gothic Elements Overview, essential for any
lesson or unit on Gothic literature.
2 Vocabulary Quizzes with Keys
TWO Text-Based Activities
Story Questions
Story Answers/Key
Three Essay Prompt Options
Formatted and Complimentary story with underlined
vocabulary terms.
A secret freebie at the end of this product!
Value:
- Use this as you see fit . . . great flexibility!
- Or use our organized Table of Contents as well as our . . .
- Handy Lesson Plan with up to two weeks of activities
- Several of these pieces are usable for other Gothic stories or lessons.
- Enjoy our text-based and critical thinking activities as well as our freebie.
- Use as part of a larger Romantic or Gothic lesson/unit.
IF YOU LIKE this product, please consider:
Gothic Literature: Elements and Motifs (available in PDF or in PPT). This product is a fantastic introduction to Gothic Literature, its elements and motifs. It’s fun, entertaining, and makes every Gothic story or novel you teach that much easier to discuss.
Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment: Complete Story Packet, Activities, Quiz, and Key. Complete story packet with Activities, Vocabulary, Comprehension questions, Quiz and Keys. If you are doing a Gothic theme or unit, consider this fantastic print-and-go packet. Students enjoy this story that also comes complete with writing topics interchangeable with our Poe story!
Characterization is an essential first step in writing a master work. Fiction writing, its introduction, overview, and application, challenges the brain to think critically, and forces the writer to rethink even the minor steps of fiction and NONfiction writing, from pacing, order, logic, even SENTENCE STRUCTURE.
The GOALS of this lesson and activity unit are: to recognize and write character well in a full scene, BUT ALSO to ultimately apply the knowledge of character in an analytical essay.
80 pages, a 3 PART, 7-week Master Course is that it is based on the premise that through the INTEGRATION of FICTION AND NONFICTION, writers of all stripes ultimately are stronger in BOTH.
Thoughtful, organized and complete, it begins with a glossary of terms, and then tackles essential writing information and application, through the lens of the first element of story, characterization. The information and activities prepare students for their final major writing projects: writing a character scene; and writing an analytical essay.
With lesson plans, common core standards, rubrics, assessments, and keys, all carefully organized. The work is CHALLENGING and FUN!
YOU RECEIVE:
• FULLY COMPLETE. JUST ADD YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS!!!
• Informational Handouts and Tip Sheets for Students to refer to
as they work through this increasingly more complex plan.
• Glossary of terms (in-depth, to be used for years to come!)
• THREE assessments with multiple key options.
• NINE Activities in increasing level of difficulty, with answer
keys. (Recognition, differentiation, explanation, and proving one’s point with evidence; NINETEEN activities in all!)
• The topics covered include: Make Your Verbs Sweat! Dump Those Adverbs! Show Don’t Tell, Direct Versus Indirect Characterization - Is One Really Better Than the Other? Stock Characters: Defy the Mold!, Indirect Writing Activity! Analytical Essay Prewrites, Post Activities, and MORE!
• Creative writing activities directly related to characterization.
• TWO MAJOR CULMINATING WRITING PROJECTS. Fiction:
Character in a Scene. An Analytical Essay: Determine the effectiveness of the characterization in a Story by Kate Chopin (provided).
• Overview on how to Workshop
• 3 Lesson Plans, (one for each section of this Master Course)
• CCSS for every activity,
• Rubrics!
• ALL organized FOR YOU in a neat package. Simply Teach Away by using our lesson plans, CCSS and our lovely Table of Contents!
Characterization Master Course Freebie -
Characterization, Writing, and of course Critical Thinking, - A wonderful Freebie that works hard. A small taste of our much more extensive resource.
This freebie begins with an icebreaker - "The Characterization Run Around Activity" - How much do students already know about Characterization? Let them answer in this "Bingo-style" game on their own, and then, with help from their friends. KEY included.
Also completely free - Character Expansion Task Cards. All you need to do it cut them out. Laminate for extra durability. USE IDEAS are included.
Please enjoy this freebie.
It is just a small taste of our successful, effective, and much larger, COMPLETE Character writing unit,
Characterization Master Course bundle and Analytical Essay! Grades 9-12.
This is a Complete Unit that not only gets students excited about improving their writing through the scaffolding approach, but also comes complete with the nonfiction closure activity - writing an essay, analyzing the effectiveness of characterization in Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour."
Please Consider taking a look at this product or our other fine writing products! :
Characterization Master Course bundle and Analytical Essay! Grades 9-12.
Analytical Essay Writing: Characterization Gr. 8-12 (Kate Chopin).
The Writer’s Workshop for High School an 8-Day, common Core Unit.
Writing, Editing and Workshop Bundle for Grades 8-12.
Thank you so much for all of the good work YOU do everyday as a teacher. WE wouldn't be here without you. Gina, PerfettoWritingRoom