Writing Workshop Review

Unit 1 Essay:
All You Need to Know...

By Katelyn Murk

Let's Talk About the Elephant in the Room

Why can writing feel scary?

• Writing is putting YOUR thoughts and

• observations on paper.

• This can feel scary.

• You might feel judged!

• It might not be "good enough"!

• Start with your resources. Use the organizers, sentence starters, and other tools I give you.

• Just put something on the page!

• Make a goal. I will set a timer for 10 minutes of writing, and I will give myself a break afterward.

• You can always go back and revise your writing!

How can I get over my writer's block?

• No one's writing is perfect, nor do I expect or want it to be!!!

• Do not put this pressure on yourself.

"Perfect" isn't Possible

Stop Aiming for Perfection

What is this essay even about?

Essay Prompt

• The prompt of an essay is the question you are answering. You will use outside sources and your own thoughts to provide an answer throughout your essay.

• The prompt of this essay = How can culture be resilient through storytelling?

Word Cloud

In your own words, what does culture represent?

Word Cloud

What is another word that can describe someone being resilient?

Breaking Down the Prompt: How can culture be resilient through storytelling?

How do I answer this prompt?

• You will choose a myth to read and research.

• After reading the myth and learning about the myth's culture, you will answer the prompt using resources from our lessons.

Step #1: Pick and Read Your Myth

• Pick a myth to read from the following Padlet.

• If you use a myth from this padlet, 2 sources will already be provided for you!!!

• This information can be found in lesson 1.2.2.

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Open Ended

Share the title of the myth you chose and the culture that is represented in your myth.

Example: I chose the myth of Narcissus from Greek culture.

Step #2: Find and Review Sources for Your Myth

What are the sources I need for my myth?

• You will need to use 3 sources for this assignment.

• One of your sources can by the written myth from the padlet.

• One of your sources can be the video example from the padlet.

• This leaves one source for you to find on your own. This source should give you information about the culture of your myth.

What if I chose a Myth That is Not on the Padlet?

• If you chose a myth that is not from the Padlet, you will need to find the 3 sources on your own.

• If you need help with this, please let me know.

• If you are getting stuck, it is always okay to change your topic.

• Use the research organizer from lesson 1.2.3 to gather information about your myth.

• This counts as an assignment grade and needed to be submitted to lesson 1.2.6.

• Include the title of your myth on your organizer.

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​Step #3: Research Organizer

• Review through your 3 sources.

• Record the URL for each source on the organizer.

• Write down details you learn in the organizer.

• Keep in mind you are looking for examples of cultural values and examples of cultural resilience.

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​Research Organizer: Finding Sources

Wait... What do you mean by Cultural Values?

​Examples of Cultural Values

• Cultural Values = positive characteristics that a group of people find to be important

• Your myth will NOT directly state these values. You will need to determine what they are as you read.

• Look for a lesson that the myth conveys.

• In "Icarus and Daedalus," Icarus does not listen to his father. He flies too closely to the sun. Because he disobeys his father, he ends up drowning.

• The lesson of this myth shows that this culture values obedience and humility.

Example from "Icarus and Daedalus"

How can I determine a cultural value?

• Start with your thesis statement.

• Use the sentence starter provided for you: Through the myth of (title of your myth), cultural values of ____ and ____ demonstrate how storytelling strengthens cultural resilience.

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​Research Organizer: Thesis Statement

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What are the cultural values of your myth?

• Reason: List your first cultural value.

• Evidence: What do you learn about this value from your myth? Use one of your sources.

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​Research Organizer:
Body - Paragraph 2

• Reason: List your second cultural value.

• Evidence: What do you learn about this value from your myth? Use a different source for this.

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​Research Organizer:
Body - Paragraph 3

• Reason: How do your values show that the culture of your myth is resilient?

• Evidence: How does your source show you this? Use your final source for this.

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Research Organizer:
Body - Paragraph 4

Impact Statement: End with a sentence that leaves a lasting impression about what you learned about your myth.

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​Research Organizer:
Conclusion - Paragraph 5

• Review the example about the myth of Narcissus.

• You CANNOT use this example or myth for your essay.

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Example

Draw

1. Underline the 2 cultural values in the thesis statement in RED.

2. Circle examples of evidence that support the thesis statement in GREEN.

Open Ended

What are appropriate ways to use AI for a school assignment?

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME

• Do NOT ask AI to complete your organizer for you. This is considered to be plagiarism and cheating.

  
  
  

• AI is not inherently BAD. However, people do not always use it appropriately.

• Here are some ways that you can use AI in the writing process:

  • AI can help you find sources.

  • AI can provide a summary of your myth.

  • AI can help you edit your essay. Grammarly is a good source for this.

How can I appropriately use AI for a writing assignment?

Poll

After this lesson, select the option that matches how you feel about this essay writing process.

• I feel confident and ready to move on to the next step.

• I understand what I need to do, but I think I might need to make some changes to my organizer.

• I am still working on completing my organizer.

• I am totally lost and need to book a meeting with my teacher!