Writing with Mrs. Murphy

Monday, May 14, 2012

You're Hired!

Happy Monday!

You have been hired by the Walt Disney World Co. to create a new attraction at EPCOT. Write a detailed description of your new attraction. How will it fit in to the theme of Epcot? What will it look it?

Happy inventing!
Mrs. Murphy

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Happy Tuesday, 6A!

I hope you are having a great week!!

Below is your journal prompt.

If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?

Happy Writing!
Mrs. Murphy

Monday, April 30, 2012

Journal Prompt - April 30

Happy Monday!

Below is your journal prompt for this morning!

List the 10 best compliments that you have ever received. Which one meant the most to you? Why? Which one meant the least? Why?

Wishing you a wonderful Monday!
God bless,
Mrs. Murphy

Friday, April 27, 2012

April 27, 2012 - Math Morning Work

Happy Friday!

Complete the following problems:

556.3 + 26.63 =
500.32 - 23.85 =
326.83 x 1.2 =
63 / (divided by) 2.5 =

Good luck!
Mrs. Murphy

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Journal Prompt - Feb. 23, 2012

Create your own superhero and describe him/her/or it!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Journal Prompt - 2/8

Good morning 6A and 6B!

Happy Wednesday! Below is your journal prompt for this morning.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

God bless,
Mrs. Murphy

Tell me why your favorite Super Bowl team won or should have won.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Movie Choice for CSW

Happy Wednesday 6A & 6B!!

We need your help!! The Lego on-site "field trip" for Friday has been postponed. We don't want your CSW to end on a sour note, so we are going to have an afternoon at the moives...6th Grade Style!!

To the left is a poll with movie choices for Friday. Please review the list and choose two that you would like to watch with your classmates on Friday. I am sure there are more movies you would like to see on the list, but bare with us and choose from the movies listed.

Now to make this more fun, you will be allowed to bring in pillows and blankets on Friday. We will move the desks and you all will get to spread out and enjoy the movies with some special movie treats!!

The poll is only available this afternoon. So VOTE NOW!!!

God bless!
Mrs. Murphy

Traits of Writing

Ideas (Central Message)
Finding a Topic
Focusing the Topic
Developing the Topic
Using Details

Organization (Internal Structure)
Creating the lead
Using sequence words and transition words
Structuring the Body
Ending With a Sense of Resolution

Voice (Tone of the piece)
Establishing a Tone
Conveying the Purpose
Creating a Connection to the Audience
Taking Risks to Create Voice

Word Choice (Vocabulary)
Applying Strong Verbs
Selecting Striking Words and Phrases
Using Specific and Accurate Words
Choosing Words That Deepen Meaning

Sentence Fluency (How words and sentences flow)
Crafting Well-Built Sentences
Varying Sentence Types
Capturing Smooth and Rhythmic Flow
Breaking the "Rules" to Create Fluency

Conventions (Mechanical Correctness)
Checking Spelling
Punctuating Effectively and Paragraphing Accurately
Capitalizing Correctly
Applying Grammar and Usage

Presentation (Physical Appearance)
Applying Handwriting Skills
Using Word Processing Effectively
Making Good Use of White Space
Refining Text Features

Journal Writing

Journal Writing is a daily required assignment. You will be given a new prompt each day to write a thoughtful response to. Your response should consist of three to four paragraphs and should be written in proper format. You will be given approximately ten minutes to complete the writing assignment. Seven students will be pulled to share their responses each day.

If you should finish writing before time is called you may:
* Complete a Power Typing Excercise (link to the left)
* Read from our current literature story.
* Work in your handwriting book.

The items above should be accessed in that order.

Happy Journaling!

Modes of Writing

The Modes of Writing help the writer establish and maintain a purpose for writing. The modes are:

Narrative: to tell a story

Expository: to inform or explain

Persuasive: to construct an argument

During the early part of writing, writers focus on which mode they are going to use. The writer will decide if they are going to tell a story (Narrative), explain something (Expository), or try to convince the reader of something (Persuasive). As the writing process continues, the writer may find that they must blend modes in order to make the strongest impression on their audience.