Teaching Writing with the Writers' Workshop Model

"I came to believe that in a world overrun with noise and news and facts and information and websites and channels, the way to penetrate the din, to reach people and stir people and unite people, is by telling stories. And my mission became clear: to use those stories to celebrate life. I've long carried around a quote from William Faulkner in my wallet, from a speech he gave after winning the Nobel Prize. He said the writer's duty, his privilege, is "to help man endure by lifting his heart." In my own small way, for the last 30 years, that's what I've tried to do for Inquirer readers. I believe stories work on so many levels. They can change the lives of the people they are about, give those lives meaning, dignity, and validation, even bring new opportunities. I have seen this happen time and again."

t's a tricks-of-the-trade tell-all that will appeal to both aspiring writers and anyone who loves a great story.

Even if your subject is a serious one, the subtle use of humor can both ease tension and provide a respite from difficult moments. As Eric Idle once wisely said, "Levity is the opposite of gravity." So how can you use humor to write better? Read on to find out.

prompt generator: Scroll down to select a random combination of setting, character, and conflictAutomatic

"A Story of Over 50,000 Words\nWithout Using the Letter "E""

"In the text-areas below the paragraphs, rewrite the paragraph, repairing the fragments as you go along. "

"There are many strategies for improving the clarity of your sentences and your papers."

"At the end of this unit you will be able to:\n\n * define connotation and denotation\n * read sentence and determine if the wording is connotative or denotative"

The dialectical journal is a type of double-entry note-taking which students use while reading literature. In the two columns students write notes that dialogue with one another, thereby developing critical reading and reflective questioning.

Example of a dialectical journal

Maybe a good example to show students how the challenge of editing is not something you conquer but a life long pursuit.