Creative Writing Brainstorming Tips & Tricks, Pre-Write, and Rough Draft

The format of this lesson will be to introduce ourselves and share one interesting fact as a get to know you activity. Then I will briefly go over the objectives of the lesson and the class expectations. I will explain the process students will need to follow to complete the brainstorming activities. Then, I will assign the students a brainstorming strategy to complete within a given time frame: 30 seconds - 1 min. After each strategy we will briefly discuss ideas and lists compiled. This format will be followed for each strategy introduced and completed. To conclude this lesson, we will discuss any other ideas students may have to create brainstorming lists. Usually students have wonderful suggestions and I like to provide an opportunity for them to share. I will ask them for feedback and reflection on the lesson. Finally, I will explain what session 2 will include and be like. 

In the first session students will learn strategies to help them brainstorm ideas for creative writing pieces. They will learn how to incorporate their own individual interests into the story. For example, one strategy is to write down your favorite color and create a list of everything you can think of in 30 seconds that is that color- blue: the sky, blueberries, blue bird, water, etc. Students will now have a list of words/phrases that correlate to their favorite color that they can incorporate into their story. Another strategy is to create a "word storm". In this case students will be asked to write down one word and then branch off from that word anything that comes to mind that may be connected to that word. For example, circus would be the main word and the following are possible additional words; clowns, elephants, lions, cotton candy, rides. With these types of strategies students will compile a list of brainstorming ideas that will provide them with plenty of options to create a story with. The goal is to have a list of possible settings, characters, and descriptive adjectives to provide students with a story structure. 

In session two I will model how to complete the graphic organizer & the character development oultine with the class. Then, students will take the ideas they generated in the brainstorming session and begin to pre-write their stories using the provided graphic organizers. The graphic organizer will include the following elements; setting, characters, problem, solution, plot, and events. This will be an independent activity and I will be monitoring and scaffolding as needed. Students can collaborate with me or each other for suggestions and feedback. To wrap up the session, I will review the writing outline organizer & homework expectations with students and provide time for any questions. 

In session three, students will be asked to share their rough drafts from the homework assignment with peers. As a group, or in smaller breakout sessions, we will share feedback, guidance,  and revision suggestions. To close, students will be encouraged to take their rough drafts and revise their piece into a final draft. Students will be welcomed to send me a copy of their final draft for individual review & feedback.