creative writing prompts . com ideas for writers Digital University Common Core Spring Training Standards-Aligned Writing Assignments Use the Turnitin library of essay "prompts," which are aligned to Common Core and state standards, to better support writing instruction in the classroom. Your feedback on their effectiveness among students will help get these writing assignments “in shape” and become more useful tools in the classroom. Benefits Early access to 60 Common Core-aligned prompts to help students prepare now The opportunity to inform and guide Turnitin product direction Sponsorship of a DonorsChoose.org project of your choice for up to $2000! Bring Your Own Content Practice Common Core and standards-aligned writing skills with writing assignments that are flexible enough to fit the content that best suits your students, your school, and your teaching style. Browse the Prompt Library Choose a prompt below to view the full prompt and standards alignments, and to sign up to use it in your classes. Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Ninth and Tenth Grade Eleventh and Twelfth Grade
5 Building Blocks of Your Characters Personality by Mark Nichol Now that you’ve decided what your character’s motivation is, it’s time to actually construct the vessel in which this purpose will reside. Just how do you build a person? By creating a life where none existed. 1. How was the character’s early life? Is domestic trauma in the character’s past? 2. Is the character a loner, or a social butterfly? 3. What does the character do for a living? Do they like their job? 4. What does your character do after work, on weekends? 5. Is the sun always shining, or does a perpetual rain cloud perch just over the character’s shoulder? What are your character’s political views and social opinions? So many questions!
Course Catalog EasyBib: Free Bibliography Generator - MLA, APA, Chicago citation styles 7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them) by Mark Nichol The sentence construction “(noun) (verb phrase) by (noun)” is known as passive voice or passive construction, because the true subject is relegated to the end of the sentence and is thus acted on, rather than acting, which often weakens the statement. The solution is simple: Give the focal point of the sentence its due — “(noun) (verb) (noun),” and demote the false subject to the back of the line. Note that not every passive construction is evil — sometimes what seems to be the false subject is worthy of prominence — but a preponderance of passive constructions leads to a wearying read. 1. The actors in this little drama are the spam spenders — or, to be more active, the spam senders are the actors in this little drama. 2. Again, the subject is weak and indeterminate. 3. We is stronger than it as a sentence opener, but “our neighbors” is stronger still: “Our neighbors invited us to attend their party.” 4. 5. 6. 7.
Khan Academy Margaret Moore - Narrative Tension This column is based on questions Margaret gets asked by those who also want to write romance novels. The answers are based on her personal experience. Every author must and should find their own way along this path; however, sometimes it helps to know how it was for an author who's reached the goal of publication. This column's question: Narrative Tension: What is it and how do I get it? Margaret answers: To put it in its most simple terms, narrative tension is what keeps the reader reading, because they're wondering what's going to happen next. The best way to do that, in a romance or any other work of fiction, is to create characters that the readers care about, that they feel emotionally invested in. But there's more to it than that. In a romance, the reader knows the eventual outcome (a lasting, loving relationship between the hero and heroine), so the narrative tension comes from the various conflicts. HOWEVER,unrelieved tension is not good, either. Index of Aspiring Author Columns
Self-Education Quotes Over the coming months, this blog will give suggestions for how to become a “self-made scholar,” – a person who takes control of his or her own learning. Schools can give you a lot of opportunities, but relying on schools to give you an education is ridiculous. I have a graduate degree, and I’ve learned more from library books and websites than I’ve ever learned in class. But, don’t take my word for it. Check out these self-education quotes from some very perceptive thinkers: “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school,” - Albert Einstein “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education “Real education must ultimately be limited to men who insist on knowing–the rest is mere sheep-herding.” - Ezra Loomis Pound “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune “I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think “The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Waterfalls Mingo Falls is located just outside the park on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Photo by Robert Crootof. Every year over 200,000 visitors hike well-worn trails to view Grotto, Laurel, Abrams, Rainbow, and other popular waterfalls in the park. Large waterfalls attract the crowds, but smaller cascades and falls can be found on nearly every river and stream in the park. The Great Smoky Mountains abound with the two ingredients essential for waterfalls-ample rainfall and an elevation gradient. The following are brief descriptions of the Smokies most popular waterfalls.
How To Inspire Yourself To Write At Least 750 Words Per Day 750 words was originally designed to help writer creativity, by encouraging writers to write 750 words on any topic first thing in the morning. The theory is that once you start writing and getting the ideas on paper you have both begun your writing and have formed more coherent thought processes about what you will write. Why Write 750 Words? Writing without a plan is an ideal method to overcome writer’s block, since you relieve the pressure of writing formally, yet encourage the flow of ideas. By teaming this concept with a beautiful, distraction-free interface for writing, 750 words is a great way for writers to begin their morning. Writing is deliberately kept private – there is no way to make this writing public using the 750 words site. How To Begin With 750 Words Sign up is simple using Facebook, Google, Yahoo or OpenID for access. If you wish, 750 words will email you a daily reminder to write 750 words. To use, simply write. The page is clean and simple. Badges For Motivation
Avoid Burnout as an Online Writer - Choose Jobs Wisely | Free Writing Center Along with the plethora of new opportunities that are available throughout the Online Content industry, there is the issue of too much work and not enough time. If you’re anything like me and you hate passing up good income-generating opportunities, it can be hard to say no. The Schedule of an Online Writer Making an income from writing is unfortunately still scorned upon by older, traditional folks who believe that a job should be something that you “drive into” by 8am and then “drive home from” by 5pm, along with the rest of the rush hour crowd. Well, let me tell you something about the right thing…when you are capable of generating a high volume of quality writing, and you can get paid for that writing, you best believe that the income you can earn from your skills will be just as good as any 9-to-5 job that you’ll find with any corporation. The issue is the stereotype of the Internet. Too Many Opportunities 4 Signs of a Good Online Writing Opportunity from your own site.