Pager Year One

ho says writing can't be fun — and challenging — at the same time? The first two units stretch not only young writers' communication skills, but also their imaginations. Using features like movie-making techniques, interviewing skills, and newswriting, we build a foundation that both equips and motivates. Kids will enjoy themselves so much, they'll hardly realize how much they're learning!

We'll emphasize skills that take writers far beyond just writing fun stories (though we'll do plenty of that!). Foundational lessons in letter-writing, research skills, and note-taking will also help open doors to a lifetime of learning and application in other areas in life.

In Units three and four, your student will explore the how-to's of solid storytelling, they will discover how to build good plots and characters, as well as end a story with punch. We'll explore how we can polish our writing, avoiding common stylistic pitfalls. It's all about becoming a better self-editor.

We'll also give budding writers opportunities to explore special interests — with lessons on writing humor, mysteries, fantasies, and biographies. Even persuasive writing, journals, and writing for the Web.

Your child will get a very real taste of what it's like to be a Christian communicator — and storyteller.

UNIT ONE

1. Me? A Writer? Looking at the fun of writing, and why it’s important to know how to put our thoughts into words. As Christians, we have a story to tell. So what kind of stories do you want to write?

2. Getting Started Want to save yourself a lot of writing headaches? Take time up front to make sure you’re ready. Writing starts way before you start tapping keys or putting a pencil to paper. You’ll learn the habits of good writers, including how to set up your writing place. (44 words)

3. Riting 2day We’ll sort out the differences between e-mail and standard writing, fiction and nonfiction, poetry and prose, journalism, chat … and how it all fits together. Whatever style you write, never forget your reader. (33 words)

4. What’s a Paragraph? And how do you write a good one? Sure, this is basic. That’s why it’s lesson 4. We’ll start with narrative and descriptive paragraphs … and show you how to write each creatively. (34 words)

5. Picture This, part 1 Discover how to use movie-making techniques to write good descriptions of objects, pets, seasons, foods … the list goes on. When you learn these techniques, words can be even more powerful than movies. (33 words)

6. Picture This, part 2 Describe your best friend. Now you’re writing about someone who’s important! You’ll learn how to use the four levels of details that make a person come alive on paper. (29 words)

7. And Then and Then … Can you explain how to do something? (Or write a story that makes sense from beginning to end?) It’s all about sequence and learning the right steps, in the right order. (31 words)

8. Just the Facts, Ma’am We’re going to write about something we saw, tell how it happened, and then add how we felt about it. To paint the big picture, we need to know three basic things: the setting, the stage, and the struggle. (39 words)

9. Words on Deadline You’ll learn to write like a news reporter — and recognize the ingredients of upside-down pizza. Using the key points of newspaper style can also help you in all your other writing. (31 words

10. Research Around Town Finding ideas for articles and stories is easy once you start asking the right questions. You’ll learn how to dig up little-known facts in the place you live, then write them down for future use. (35 words)

UNIT TWO

11. Ready, set … Before you plan a trip, you need to decide where you’re going. Here’s how to make sense of outlining techniques and other tools for getting your ideas on paper — and how to make a story map that really works.

12. First Drafting What can you do to make sure your first draft is the best? Here are rules for staying fresh, not getting bogged down, and keeping your creative spark alive. (Does your English teacher know this?) (35 words)

13. Putting it all Together It’s time for juggling tennis balls. You’ve learned a dozen different ways to write like a pro. Now let’s put all those techniques together to write some short, realistic stories. (30 words)

14. Planting Time What to do when you don’t know what to write. God has put seeds in our lives — seeds that can grow to become great stories. Here’s how story seeds work, and how to cultivate a great crop. (37 words)

15. Dear Sir or Madam With a letter, you can take your time and say what you really mean. Maybe you’ve already written a few friendly letters. But what about when you need to write a letter to a business, or a newspaper editor, or a mayor? Here’s how to do it right. (48 words)

16. Rhymin’ Simon Poetry communicates more intensely than most kinds of writing. Here’s how to fill it with description and emotion. In this lesson we’re getting to the core of poetry, from the inside-out. (31 words)

17. Writing @ School Learn to develop personal note-taking skills and habits, and how to make effective use of those notes to write well, get better grades, and learn and remember more. Plus how to avoid the trap of plagiarism. (36 words)

18. You Can Say That Again Discover the secrets of one of the writer’s most important tools. You’ll learn how to write realistic, punchy dialogue, and use it effectively in your stories, plays, and even nonfiction stuff like reports. (33 words)

19. ‘What If’ and ‘History’ Build a time machine — stories that transport readers to the past. We’ll examine the two main flavors of historical fiction, how to recognize them, and how to combine research and imagination to write them. (34 words)

20. Who’s on First? Whether first-person or third-person, point of view is the invisible flavor of every story you’ve ever read. We’ll examine the different viewpoints you can use — and the advantages and challenges of writing your story that way. (36 words)

UNIT THREE

21. Meet My Imaginary Friend, part 1 Plot is important. But before you decide what’s going to happen, it makes sense to know who you’re writing about. You’ll discover the importance of creating a cast of real characters who will live in your story.

22. Meet My Imaginary Friend, part 2 How to use an author’s character checklist to create a richer, 3-D character. You’ll find practical ways you can build a better hero — and even a better villain. And also ways to weave those details naturally into your story. (39 words)

23. Plots Aren’t Just in Cemeteries, part 1 The four essential parts of every good plot, why they’re so important, and how you can strengthen your stories by making sure they pass the HSGA test. Also, ideas for when you get stuck. (34 words)

24. Plots Aren’t Just in Cemeteries, part 2 This is where the plot thickens — and how you can build a better one. You’ll learn expert tips on constructing strong plots, examine six classic ones, then practice your own plotting skills. (32 words)

25. Jesus the Storyteller Learn a few storytelling techniques from the Master Storyteller, and see how you can tell stories like He did. Once you hook your readers with a story, you can bury a key truth just under the surface. (37 words)

26. Play it Again, Sam, part 1 Your writing won’t be perfect the first time. So sharpen your pencil and take a hard look at what your story is really about. What would you change? How can you jazz it up? Three-fourths of writing is actually re-writing and fixing. (42 words)

27. Play it Again, Sam, part 2 We’ve practiced ways to fix things that were broken in our writing. Now discover how you can use five secrets of the best editors — and take your writing from so-so to super. (32 words)

28. Play it Again, Sam, part 3 The more you know about editing, the better a writer you’ll become. Guaranteed. So hang on as we go through the last five editing secrets of the best editors. Build this into your own writing and win! (37 words)

29. Wrap This Puppy Up Endings are tricky, but are they ever important. Without a good ending, the rest of our work is wasted. We’ll warn you about five really bad endings to avoid … and give you ten sure-fire ones you can experiment with. (40 words)

30. Did You Hear the One About … ? Can you learn to write humor, even if you think you aren’t humorous? It’s worth a try. People will remember your stories better if they’re a little funny. You’ll get tips on what funny is — and what it isn’t. (39 words)

UNIT FOUR

31. Biography How to tell the story of someone else’s life — and make it interesting at the same time. You can write terrific true stories about a person’s life if you ask the right questions and know how to write in a way that grabs people.

32. Book Reviews No, this isn’t the dreaded Book Report. A real book review gives you a lot more to chew on. Starting with how you read the book, you’ll learn ways to help you think deeply about what you’ve read, then tell others about it. (43 words)

33. It’s a Mystery There’s more to a mystery than deciding if the crime happened in the kitchen or the library with a candlestick or a rope. You’ll learn ten ingredients to look for in a real mystery, and how to write your own. (40 words)

34.Once Upon a Time, in a Far-away Galaxy … What makes a good fantasy or sci-fi story? And how can you write one? You already know the basics. The biggest tasks (and the most fun) are making up the weird and wonderful characters — and designing the world they’ll live in. (41 words)

35. I Say, Essay The five-paragraph essay is here to stay, so you’d best learn how to write one. Starting with a strong intro, you’ll learn the five points of writing a good factual essay, plus tips to make sure you’ve done it right. (40 words)

36. You Oughta Persuasion is a skill based on listening and compassion. You’ll learn to ask what is your audience really looking for? And how you can present your message — without compromise—to help meet heartfelt needs. (34 words)

37. By Me If you like to write, you might someday like others to read your work. We’ll examine what it takes to get your stories and other stuff onto an editor’s desk and into print. What to expect, what not to, and how to improve your chances. (45 words)

38. Christians as Writers Why it’s so important for Christians to write, and how to be a part of sharing the word in writing. As you examine the Three E’s of Christian writing, you’ll find there are more opportunities than you ever expected. (40 words)

39. Webwriting What’s different about writing for the Web? Just about everything. In this lesson you’ll learn how to adapt your writing style and also how to use your outlining skills to put together your own Web site. (36 words)

40. Dear Diary What’s a good way to strengthen your writing and collect material that can help you — whatever you want to write? Keep a journal. There are more than a dozen kinds, and you’ll find practical advice on how to get started, what to write, and how you can use it. (49 words)