User's Manual

264
NEO
User Manual
W RITE ON ! LESSONS FOR NEO
Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements
. . . . .
1 Writing
Skills
(Continued)
Sentence
Combining
with
American
Classics
Students read passages from several American writers of
the mid-nineteenth century to focus on the passages’
sentence styles. Students try their hand at a number of
different interactions with the text—from rewriting and
combining underlying skinny sentences to imitating the
author’s style—all the while practicing the art of
sentence construction. Learning to write a variety of
sentence types is what sentence combining is all about,
and writing with a word processor (such as a NEO) is a
natural fit with this editing approach to learning. Word
processing features allow students to manipulate
sentences freely and to see all the changes they make as
they make them.
2 The
Process of
Writing
Character
Sketch II
Activities in Character Sketch II give students practice in
six strategies used in writing to develop a character:
description, setting, dialogue, interaction, action, and
narrative. Files are arranged to give students practice in
recognizing and imitating techniques in the order shown
above. One or more techniques for study and imitation
can appear in any one lesson. Students are encouraged
to use a variety of techniques in their own writing. All
files can be used by students working individually, in
pairs, or in cooperative groups.
Character
Sketch III
What is basic to writing a character sketch? Students are
shown through modeling what these basic elements are,
and how to bring them together to reveal a character of
their own making, using appropriate evidence and
specific language.
Finding a
Writing Style
Varying sentence structure, use of vivid and appropriate
language, maintaining and varying tone, using
metaphor, the effect of point of view, and intended
audience are topics addressed. Passages from many
classics are used and become models of writing styles:
The Pit and the Pendulum, The Metamorphosis, The
Devil and Daniel Webster, Crime and Punishment, The
Red Badge of Courage, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,
The Wind in the Willows, Once There Was a War, and
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
3 Lifelong
Skills
Answering
Essay
Questions
Directive words used in essay questions (such as explain,
compare, discuss, justify, contrast, and evaluate) are
defined. Answers are modeled and, using cooperative
learning strategies, responses are evaluated by the
students. These activities are good preparation for the
type of writing required for college entrance exams.
3_High School (Continued)