Writing Workshop Session 1 (Research-Based Information Writing)

Becoming Engaged with a Topic

Connection:

    Informational writing is writing to teach

This next month or so you will be power-learning like a journalist...get the meaning of the topic quickly enough to teach others about it...you will be researching kids who are making a difference in the world, who are what people call 'teen activist.'  

With your writing ability some of you may become activist yourselves writing books, presentations, or websites to teach others, to reach others.  

*Did you know in one minutes 571 websites are created.  

Today you will learn that when you study a topic as a writer, you learn with pen/pencil in hand, not only taking in information, but also putting out responses to the information.  

It's like breathing... in and out...

study and write

Teaching:

It helps to think about what you already know about a topic when starting an inquiry.  

You may not realize this but you do know something about teen activism, because you know this activist.  

This is NOT an article that says 'Teen activism is this and that.' BUT in the real world when you go to learn about a topic, you CAN'T always find a published summary of the whole topic.

Instead, you end up being like an archeologist, piecing together pieces of an ancient civilization.  

So start with this photo-and make notes about what you think activism is on a page in your writer's notebook titled 'Teen Activism.'

You have 5 minutes to write fast and furiously.
Time: http://www.timer-tab.com/

Discuss for a moment some ideas.

Let's keep researching by watching a video... pens in hand 

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani education activist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3vK5qVNOWw


Share Malala- Notes (pg6) and writing off notes
Active Engagement:

Think about your note taking, a friends note-taking, my note-taking and see if you can come up with some tips for note-taking.  Discuss with a partner and give feedback.

          Power -Learning & Note-Taking

                   *Make anchor chart

• Write fast!
• Record important facts (exact names, places, numbers).
• Capture quotes and, if possible, the context in which they were said.
• Note what is SAID and what you SEE.
• Record your ideas as well as information.

Link:

Let's try again, and this time use everything you just learned to do some power-learning.  

Alex Lin, lobbyist for e-waste legislation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Weqt0N0vxH4

You have a few more minutes to jot down the rest of your notes.  

Swap information with your partner. 
Turn & Share

For the next few days you will continue soaking up as much information as you can about teen activists and teen activism.  

We have some texts-articles, interviews, video clips, newscasts, and more. There is more to read than you can possibly tackle.  You will have to learn about this quickly (a day or two) thinking as you learn, What is it I want to teach others about this topic? What do others need to know the most?

Share:(page 11)

A 2nd video of Malala, take notes, turn and talk and then discuss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjGL6YY6oMs

Homework:

Starter Packet -you will need to study teen activist, you need to read at least three (3) sources and take notes in your writers notebook.