Taylor Swift famously described categorizing her songs as having “fountain pen,” “quill pen,” or “glitter gel pen” lyrics, referring to how the songs have been written and the sentiments they have been meant to evoke. Based on Taylor, fountain pen songs are trendy, emotional, and deeply private. Quill pen songs are old-fashioned-sounding, historic, and finely detailed. Glitter gel pen songs are upbeat, mild, and youthful. Her songs are all the time written and carried out in her distinctive voice, however the tone, construction, and creative strategy are totally different. It makes for an fascinating writing problem, but additionally creates a way of selection and enjoyable from tune to tune.
Let’s take that idea and apply it to writing a scene for efficiency. On this train, college students will give you a premise that includes one or two characters, to be the premise of a brief scene or monologue. The scene or monologue will likely be between half a web page to at least one web page in size. College students will write the scene three alternative ways, utilizing Taylor’s three tune classes as the premise for tone, model, and phrase selection.
Begin by developing with a premise for the scene. Some concepts could be:
Somebody getting ready a favorite meal
Somebody cleansing their room and discovering a long-lost merchandise
A dad or mum and baby going looking for a selected merchandise
A baseball participant about to go as much as bat
Somebody sharing a secret with a good friend
Create a quick define for the scene, resolve on the title(s) of the character(s), and word any pertinent character traits or vital particulars. The define may be so simple as “Susan (dad or mum) and Demi (baby, age 13) must get a brand new pair of pants for Demi.”
Then, college students will write the scene three alternative ways: fountain pen model, quill pen model, and glitter gel pen model. As a reminder: fountain pen songs are trendy, emotional, and private; quill pen songs are quaint, historic, and detailed; and glitter gel pen songs are upbeat, mild, and youthful. So for instance, within the scene in regards to the clothes retailer, in a fountain pen scene, Susan and Demi may disagree about what pants to get, and Demi has a monologue about how their dad or mum doesn’t perceive how the pants they need to put on symbolize their character and the way they’re seen on this planet. Within the quill pen scene, Susan and Demi may need to buy the supplies and notions and stitch the pants themselves, and have deep conversations whereas they work collectively to make the pants for Demi. Within the glitter gel pen scene, Demi may break into tune about all of the totally different pants and the way shocked they’re to find that they’re really having enjoyable with Susan, attempting on the pants. In all three scenes, Demi is getting a pair of pants, however every scene is completely totally different in tone and construction.
Now you’ll have college students saying, “Three alternative ways? I can barely write a scene a method!” To not fear, we now have numerous methods to assist college students determine tips on how to strategy the totally different types of writing. Have college students contemplate the next once they’re planning their writing:
Perspective: Consider writing from the attitude of an grownup, an aged individual, or a toddler.
Time interval: Write from the time of the current, the previous, or the longer term.
Slang phrases or phrases: How would phrases like rizz, groovy, superior, balderdash, or forsooth have an effect on the scene?
Cultural references: Do the characters talk utilizing telephones, letters, or social media? Are they followers of lute music, The Who, or robo-trance music of the 12 months 2347?
Quantity of phrases used: “Why sure, in fact mom” has a a lot totally different tone than “Yeah ma,” as does “Alas, I want to possess that merchandise” versus “I need that.”
Contractions: “Don’t” versus “do not” sounds very totally different.
Kinds of phrases used: Take into consideration easy phrases and phrasing versus advanced language, and who’s utilizing the phrases. For instance, a 5 12 months outdated would not doubtless use the phrase “conversely” once they’re speaking.
Quantity of particulars you embrace, and which particulars.
Fashion of scene: dramatic, comedic, historic, musical…
As soon as college students have accomplished their writing, have them learn their scenes aloud to a associate or small group (or produce other group members learn the scenes aloud to them). Hear for issues like constant particulars, tone variations, anachronisms, and whether or not or not the scenes circulate effectively. If any edits or revisions are wanted, college students ought to make these adjustments, then submit their three scenes to the trainer.
Alternate Train: If college students are overwhelmed by the considered writing one story three alternative ways, have them work in teams of three. The teams will give you one scene premise, and every pupil within the group will write the scene in one of many three types (fountain pen, quill pen, or glitter gel pen model). Teams should be certain that the small print of all of the scenes are constant between group members; solely the model of writing will change. Teams will submit all three scenes collectively as a bundle.
