Pieces for Publication: Second Draft (or new first drafts)

Based on feedback from today, post a second draft of your piece. If you haven't yet done a first draft, please put it here as well.

Our Home Town

Put your draft here. Write 300 to 500 words (maximum). Remember to show the special and different things about the place. Use your imagination and the senses as much as you can!

First Drafts: Pieces for Publication

Based on our discussions today, write a first draft of an article to be published eventually at The Pearson Buzz. Post your article here. Article word count should be no more than 500 words in multiple paragraphs. 

Remember that an online article needs a strong opening. You can leave your main idea to the second or third paragraph (called the "nut graf"). Concentrate on attractive prose to draw the reader in!

Phrasal Verbs: Writing a Dialogue

Using four or five different phrasal verbs, write a dialogue between two people. Make it sound as natural as you can. Use the BBC sample given in class as a model. 

Pitch Your Ideas!

Take a look at our online newspaper, The Pearson Buzz, and read some of the stories in the various "Features" categories (see the left side navigation). After you do, come back here and "pitch" (suggest) a story idea that might interest our student readers. State which category would work or suggest a new one if you wish.

BTW, I checked our most recent articles stats and found readers from Vancouver, New Westminster and Coquitlam. We also have regular readers from Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), West Hollywood, Phnom Phen (Cambodia) and Torino (Italy) among many other cities.

Let's make this year's edition the best ever!

Online Notebook: Random Image or Word

This week, go to a favourite magazine (or check one at the supermarket cashier or friend's house) and open it at a random page. The first word or image you notice will form the original idea for your piece. Write no more than 200 words in multiple paragraphs.

Using Paired Idioms

Create a short piece of writing where you use two to three idiom pairs. Try to make their use as natural as possible. Often, such pairs are used during conversation (dialogue) for example. 

The Quietest Thing: Online Notebook for February 5 to 12

What is the quietest thing you heard this week? Note what created the sound, use metaphor or simile if you can. Do not write from memory; instead, use a direct observation of something you notice during the week before next week's class.

Shh!