What Does Great Writing Look Like? How to Take Your Writing from Good to Great!

      Everyone wants to be great; none of us aspire to be "average." When it comes to writing, students know they want their writing to get attention, be entertaining, get some laughs-but they often don't know how to take their writing from GOOD (meets expectations) to GREAT (above expectations). There is that special "something" that sets great writing apart.

      Students in my language arts classes came up with a fantastic list when posed with this question: What is the difference between GOOD writing and GREAT writing? How can you take your writing from good to great? The best thing about this list is that it is student-generated. These are their words, not mine- and not the words from some dusty textbook. I think they did a phenomenal job at capturing what it is that great writers do. And yes, I gave them all "A's" for this project.

What does GREAT WRITING LOOK LIKE?

How do you take your writing from GOOD to GREAT?

Written by Ms. Anne Blackburn’s  7^th grade language arts classes

Great writing…

•          Is an ATTITUDE!
•          Is a CHOICE
•          Goes above the mediocre; it is not content with being just “average.”
•          Is individualistic, expressive, and imaginative
•          Uses synonyms to avoid repetition
•          Is entertaining and FUN to read
•          Sets a mood
•          Contains sensory detail (sound, taste, touch, smell, feel)
•          Is organized (depending on the purpose, will be organized appropriately)
•          Goes ABOVE and BEYOND the expectations.
•          Has a catchy title that makes the reader want to read it!
•          Uses great imagery; it creates word pictures in your mind.
•          Uses literary techniques like metaphor, simile, personification, onomatopoeia
•          Contains sentence fluency (various lengths, types, and openings to the sentences)
•          Makes the writer’s voice clear.
•          Has strong word choice (replace boring words with more dramatic ones)
•          Contains a great hook that gets the reader’s attention
•          Presentation looks neat and attractive
•          Contains imagination and creativity
•          Has been edited for conventions
•          Means MORE EFFORT.
•          Has a strong ending. It doesn’t just “stop.”
•          Stays on topic.
•          Is WORTH IT.

Great writers…

•           Take the time to go over their writing many times before they’re done. They revise and    edit.
•          Understand their audience.
•          Know WHY they are writing
•          Move their audience.
•          Take their time
•          Know who they are writing for. (Ms. Blackburn's edit: for whom they are writing)
•          Go above the expectations. Good writers MEET expectations.
•          Are proud of their writing. They look at it and feel good about the finished product.
•          Are MOTIVATED.
•          Make what they write THEIR OWN.
•          Let the ideas flow!
•          Express themselves. They CARE.
•          Practice!
•          Can take criticism because they want to make their writing better.
•          Have GREAT IDEAS.
•          Work at becoming better; they want to improve.
•          Don’t hold back! They get into it!
•          Know and understand that great writing is WORTH IT.

56 Reasons to Exercise Today

As a middle school teacher, I'm committed to creating an environment for my students that is warm and friendly, but most importantly, encouraging and motivating. I want them to leave my room energized to not just embrace learning, but to feel good about themselves. If you know a teenager, you can relate. So when it came time for me to begin my own diet and exercise regimen, aka my 2012 New Year's resolution, I became a student of my own philosophies. Teacher, teach thyself.

I have set my goals and committed them to writing. I plastered them in places around my house. I set up an action plan for following through. Okay, great. But the missing piece was what we educators call the "daily objective," the "teaching target," or "learning goal." It is the why. Why do I want you to learn this? What will it do for you in the grand scheme of your life? What is the take-away from this lesson? I needed to establish the "why" for myself. I knew that in a few weeks or months, I might face discouragement or lack of motivation, and I would need reminders. I needed to surround myself with that same positive, encouraging environment that I give my students.

So here it is, my list of 56 Reasons to Exercise Today, originally titled, "40 Reasons to Get off My Butt and Exercise." I have since expanded my list, thanks in part to contributions from some Facebook friends (you know who you are, thank you!) The health-related reasons are drawn from actual articles I've read about the benefits of exercise, including but not limited to the Mayo Clinic's "Seven Benefits of Regular Exercise Activity." http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676     Any one of those health-related reasons on here can be researched if you want further or more specific data.

I have posted this list on the wall by my bed as well as on my front door; these are the places in which I feel the most tempted to slack off and put off. I scan the list until one or more of these reasons resonates with me that day and I make that trek to the gym or the pavement. Add to them any of your own personal reasons. We all have them. May these give you the kick in the butt, the target objective, the Why, to accomplish your own fitness goals.

56 Reasons to Exercise Today

Anne Thingelstad Blackburn, copyright 2012

1.       Because I am writing the next chapter of my life.
2.       Because I don’t want to avoid-or hide-in photographs anymore.
3.       Because the pain of regret is worse than the pain of discipline.
4.       Because I want to take long hikes and not get winded.
5.       Because I don’t want a giant butt like Aunt ________ .
6.       Because I like the way it makes me feel afterwards.
7.       Because when I accomplish this goal, it will increase my confidence for other challenges in my life.
8.       Because once I do start, I’m always glad I did.  
9.       Because I want there to be plenty of space in my airline seat.
10.   Because I never want to undo the top button ever again.
11.   Because of pretty lingerie.  
12.   Because the joy of health is much greater than the joy of laziness.
13.   Because it increases my energy level.  
14.   Because I like turning a few heads.
15.   Because summer is coming.
16.   Because it improved mental focus.
17.   Because muscles are sexy.
18.   Because it improves symptoms of depression.
19.   Because on a rack somewhere in a boutique is a LBD waiting for me.
20.   Because I want my curves back.
21.   Because baggy clothes are an excuse.
22.   Because it increases metabolism and helps me burn calories faster.
23.   Because it makes me look younger.
24.   Because I want to live longer.
25.   Because of that moment in the dressing room when I realize I needed a bigger size.
26.   Because next week there might be a party or an all-you-can-eat special.
27.   Because it increases neuron activity and may actually make me smarter.
28.   Because knee and foot pain is for old people.
29.   Because it improves posture.
30.   Because it increases my self esteem.
31.   Because I can keep up with my kids.
32.   Because it improves my sleep.
33.   Because of all the clothes in the closet that will fit again.
34.   Because water sports require wet suits.
35.   Because it increases my ability to handle stress.
36.   Because there are medical issues in my family I’d rather not have, thank you.  
37.   Because right now my thighs say to each other, “excuse me, pardon me.”
38.   Because I like me. I choose health!
39.   Because it increases bone density, and when I’m older, I’ll appreciate that.
40.   Because I think I finally figured out what Victoria’s secret really is.
41.   Because today is the first day of the rest of my life.
42.   Because if I don’t, I may not get up and do it ever again.
43.   Because it reduces the risk of heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes.
44.   Because I want to go forwards, not backwards.
45.   Because I might actually want to buy a thong someday.
46.   Because I made a decision to improve my health, and I want to stick with my resolution.
47.   Because the dog needs it, too.
48.   Because the secret to getting ahead is getting started (Mark Twain)
49.   Because research has proved it will improve my sex life.
50.   Because somewhere there is a beach I’d like to visit.
51.   Because I’d like to remove “muffin top” from my vocabulary.
52.   Because it’s a great way to meet new people.
53.   Because it will boost my immune system.
54.   Because my health is important to my future grandchildren. I want to know them.
55.   Because I’m done spiraling up and down in my health and fitness.
56.   Because I can’t think of an acceptable reason not to. 


copyright 2012, Anne Thingelstad Blackburn, Write the Next Chapter
www.writethenextchapter.blogspot.com

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Bashing Paradigms of New Year's Resolutions

For years I would get a pit in my stomach during the last week of December. One look at the empty Christmas tree is all it would take for me to feel that familiar societal pressure: set New Year’s resolutions. I disguised my hatred in a variety of ways, usually with comedy, but the truth is I hated them because I failed at them. And failing at something as sacred as a resolution reeked of personal failure. Avoidance seemed the best solution. How could I fail at something I didn’t attempt? 

Connotatively, the word resolution brings to mind legal jargon, laws set in stone. Personal growth is never concrete or predictable, and it certainly can’t be quantified. As with many of life’s principles, I learned this lesson best when I had to teach it. Once again, the teacher became the learner; once again, in parenting my own children and teaching teenagers, I myself got schooled. The first lesson was in deconstructing the sanctity of the resolution. I had to bust open my paradigms. 

Step One: Bash those paradigms.

1. New Year's resolutions are not sacred. I don’t even use that world anymore. Let’s call them goals. 

2. They can be set at any time, not just in January; however, there is something refreshing about a new year, new start. If you are not able to make yours until February or March- fine. Don’t beat yourself up about it; in fact, stop beating yourself up-period. If you don’t have any goals, ask yourself what your dreams-or wishes are-and start there. Benjamin Franklin said, “Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes.”  

3. Have some. At the risk of sounding cliché, you honestly can’t go anywhere if you don’t have a destination. The key to overcoming that feeling of failure is to gain confidence. Once you attain a goal-no matter how small-you will find new courage to try it again. Remember, even a baby step in the right direction is still a step in the right direction. Start small. “The man without a goal is like a ship without a rudder.” Thomas Carlyle.

Inspiration strikes at odd moments. Over Chinese food one day, my daughter and I were reading the placemats, describing our birth year “animal” and what it said about us. It was then that I came up with the idea of having a personal “theme” for my year, something from which I could hang my overall growth as a human. I have crafted a personal mission statement, but a yearly theme had a malleability to it that was much more attractive than a mission statement that stood for my entire reason to exist. From that point on, after personal reflection and prayer, I have declared each year its own theme and attached a Bible verse or inspirational quote along with it. There was the “Year of the New Song” (the year following my divorce); “Year of Renewal” (the year I became an empty nester); and 2012 looks to be the “Year of Discovery” as my life is venturing into new waters. 

Step Two: Pick a personal theme.

1. What is truly on your heart, tickling your spirit? What do you desire for yourself as you go forward this year? Are you facing big challenges? Maybe 2012 is “Year of Faith,” or “Year of the Silver Lining.” Have you come out of hardship and grief? Then maybe your 2012 is “Year of the New Song,” the time when the melodies return and a new song is put into your heart. Whatever you pick, phrase it in the positive. 

2. Find a Psalm, Proverb, or inspirational quote to attach to your theme. There are hundreds of quote sites on the internet. Narrow your search by typing in something like, “proverb, beauty” or “health, quote.” 

Step Three: The nuts and bolts.

Next I break my goals down into four arenas:  physical, spiritual, social, and intellectual. Regardless of your faith-based system, there is enough convincing scientific data that proves that the mind, body, and spirit are connected. To ignore one of them is to deny a part of you. 

1. Try to follow the SMART acronym (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive). I also limit myself to three or four in each area, something else I’ve learned by trial and error. When I set too many, I’m setting myself up to fail. Start small and set yourself up to succeed. There’s something in the specificity of a goal that helps you reach it. Yogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might wind up someplace else.” Saying that I want to read more does nothing for me, but saying “I will read ten books by November” gives my brain the exact data and deadline it needs to help me achieve. 

2. More quotes. Find a quote to fit with each of your four categories. 

Physical:   I always include a health component to my goals. How many days a week will I exercise? For how long? Do I want to reduce my caffeine, sugar, or carbohydrate intake? I include my physical environment here. Which closets will get cleaned; will I put that new garden in this year?

Social: The older I get, the more I appreciate my friends and see the need to be intentional in nurturing relationships. It sure doesn’t happen accidentally. How many encouraging notes a week will I write? How many events will I host?  Which relationships will I focus on this year? Where do I want to travel this year? Will I join a book or poetry group?

Intellectual: Professional development gets included here, as well as books I want to read, courses I want to take, new skills I want to learn. Lillian Smith said, “When you stop learning, stop listening, stop looking and asking questions, then it is time to die.” May I never stop being a learner! Travel could also go in this category-put it where it feels right to you. Even if you can’t travel very far, go someplace new. Maybe that’s just to a new restaurant; it doesn’t matter. 

Spiritual:. Get your spirit healthy and the rest will follow. What will I do to nurture my own soul? Bible reading? Counseling? Take a course on grief loss? Meditate? Whatever it is, it must be daily. As I feed my body good food every day, my spirit deserves no less. 

Step Four: Put it all together.  

1. Now that you’ve got all this in writing, type it up in an attractive, readable font and format. Print out multiple copies and tape them up in the various rooms and areas of your life. I put one on my bedroom mirror, by my desk at school (it’s great for my students to see that their teacher practices what she preaches), my car console, day planner, and refrigerator. I also laminate a few of them in smaller font into a bookmark. 

2. Read them frequently. There is power in coming face to face with goals you’ve set to writing. Zig Ziglar said, “A goal properly set is halfway reached.” I’m no brain researcher, but as a lifelong student of the language as well as a writer and teacher, I can testify to the power of the written word. Put it in writing and put it in front of you, and watch how your brain helps to make it so. 

“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” Thomas Jefferson.

It’s taken a couple decades, but I have made friends with the notion of setting resolutions.  I refused to do anything because of peer-or societal- pressure, but that was never the problem in the first place. It was all in my attitude and approach. Somehow I had to turn that pit in my stomach back into my control instead of letting it control me. Perhaps that was the goal all along.