Portfolio: Problems and Solutions

I will be happy to answer any question or explain anything you need explained. Ask away!

The Woman in the House on the Left

The woman in the house to the left is standing out in her yard. She never just stands there. She’s always on the go. Her husband comes out. They talk. They hug. She cries. He comforts.—from “Write Any Genre” Web site.

Word list for today’s writing:

NOUNS: brush, roses, blender, bandanna, ring, kiss

VERBS: scurry, snag, whirl, nest, paint, argue

The Man Across the Street (Prompt)

The man across the street is trimming branches off a tree with a chain saw. He stops suddenly and tries to see into the window of the house.

Begin the story with this setting/idea. It is not necessary to put the words in the piece if you don't wish to do so.

Use these verbs: crouch, squash, scratch, stab, stroke, caress

Use these nouns: shirt, laptop, lady, stranger, bikini, garden

Edits on Pieces from May 13 Class

A Rant or a Rave About Sports!

Write either a rant (an angry, upset and frustrated piece) or a rave (a glowing, happy, wonderful piece) about sports. Be sure to narrow your topic to something specific; for example, Roberto Luongo's bad goaltending in the sixth game of the playoff against the Chicago Blackhawks . . .

Rants and Raves from WE Newspaper in Vancouver

I'm Watching a Flagger

Post your "flagger" pieces here. If you missed class, instructions below:

Starting writing with “I’m watching a flagger (someone who controls traffic with a handheld sign) . . . As you write make sure to use all the following verbs. Use the verbs in the same order as given below.

curse, tangle, flick, sweat, kneel, buzz, flip, grasp

EDITS from Kay, Esther and Somayeh's favourite tree pieces

On Language: Vocabulary Size

What do you think of Ammon Shea's ideas about vocabulary? Do you agree?

A Favourite Tree

"Think of a favorite tree, living or gone. Begin writing with a close description of the tree, even if you have to make up the details. Let something happen around the tree." (like a mini story)

See the previous classes' tree stories here.

See the edits from April 29 here.

A Catch-All Post

Put any writing for any prompt you've missed (or would like to do again) here. Here's today's edit from the class.

Field Work: Parenting Styles

If you are uncertain about parenting styles, take the time to observe children and parents together. Take a newspaper or magazine to a local park or playground and discreetly observe and listen. Go to a café afterwords and make notes on your observations.

Consider the article on parenting styles discussed in class today. For next week, write a parenting styles article based on your own experiences. You might make it a fiction if that feels more comfortable to you, but base it on what you have observed.

What's the Recipe?: Writing About Food

Time to share something yummy. What is one of your favourite (simple) recipes? Try to use "the guide" from today's class if you can.

Field Work: A New Place

Go somewhere you’re curious about, but have never visited. It doesn’t need to be far away and could include a store you’ve never gone into, for example. Write down your impressions. Was it worth the visit? Write it as a rant or a rave.

Travel Writing (How To Write the Perfect Travel Article)

Read Martin Li's article. Think about a favourite place and post an anecdote (mini story). Brad will join in from London, Brussels or Amsterdam. Be sure to critique Brad's writing in class.

Field Work: Take Off Your Shoes and Socks

Take off your shoes and socks, close your eyes, feel the floor/ground with your whole foot. Let yourself remember a time when you were barefoot and begin writing with one small image. Write whatever comes.

Small Window Piece by Elaine

Here's a link to latest revision:

Looking Through a Small Window: The Things We Lost

Field Work: Closed Eyes in Your Kitchen

Go to your kitchen. Close your eyes for a few minutes. Note smells and sounds. Now, open your eyes and note colours, textures, light, what is on the walls (and etc.).

Write something that begins with "It was there . . ." and use your notes as a guide.

Edits of Amrita and Esther's Window Pieces

Edit of Kay's Window Piece

Edit of Lola's Culture Piece

Partial Edit of Elaine's Window Stories (the first story only)

The Pearson Buzz: Revisions and Edits and More

If you've edited/revised a piece, put it here for us to see. I'll also show you my edits and suggestions here in a Word file by next week. Remember that we don't have a class on March 25. Next class is April 1st!

Note that new pieces are welcome here, too.

The Pearson Buzz: First Draft of an Article

Time to write something you would like to see published. Put your first draft here before we meet again on Thursday, March 18.

Edits of "I'm Watching an Insect" exercise.

Edits of "Random Magazine Write" exercise.

Field Work: Looking Out a Small Window

Look out a small window. Notice everything you can see. Find something that draws your eye but takes up no more than 1/20th of the view. Begin with that something and write. Try to write a longer piece than you usually do.

I'm Watching an Insect . . .

Start with "I'm watching an insect . . .

Use all (or some) of the verbs from the list in your piece.

gurgle, murmur, hum, stall, kiss, curse, scale, leap, tangle, fondle, flick, fry, kneel, nest, thread, buzz, flip, grasp

Edited Writing (Olympics) in Word Format

Field Work: Magazine Random Write

Open a magazine at a random page. Choose the first word or graphic you see. Begin to write from this point. Concentrate on using a good variety of solid nouns and verbs. Avoid adjectives and unneeded adverbs if you can!