This Lesson's Title:

Make 'em Laugh or Cry or...

writing a mood-inducing paragraph for the reader

This lesson was created by Northern Nevada teacher Melonie Reichman.

The ideal "mentor text" that can be used when teaching this on-line lesson is the chapter book Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. Before writing, students should listen to and discuss the writing style of this book's author, especially from chapter 19 of the book.

Click here to view this book at Amazon.com.

If you are a Washoe County teacher, click here to search for this book at the county library.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

After sharing chapter 19 of Where The Red Fern Grows as an example of emotion-evoking writing, the students will write their own detailed and emotional paragraphs.  Students can draw from background knowledge of a real situation as they prepare to write, or they can make up a completely new one.  The goal is to have the students write a paragraph that will make the reader “feel” what is happening to a character.  Teachers: click here to read the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait in this writing assignment is word choice; the writers are encouraged to use challenging vocabulary (nouns, adjectives, and verbs) throughout their paragraphs or scenes that relates to the mood.  The support trait in this assignment is voice; the challenge to evoke emotion in this paragraph will go along well with the word choice to make a powerful impact on the reader.