Focus of Lesson: Writers use concrete verbs and realistic dialogue to make stories come alive for readers. Materials Needed: Pen or pencil, blank paper, dictionary, the exercises below and a Discovery Journal.  A Discovery Journal is a place for students to keep written responses for the lessons in this unit. Time Needed: 45 - 60 [...]

Focus of Lesson: Through concrete details and action verbs, characters can communicate without words. Materials Needed: Pen or pencil, blank paper, dictionary, the exercises below and a Discovery Journal. (See Lesson One in this series for an explanation.) Time Needed: 45 - 60 minutes

Focus of Lesson: Students will be able to identify a balance of concrete detail and abstract language through examining subtext and concrete details. Materials Needed: Pen or pencil, blank paper, dictionary, the exercises below and a Discovery Journal. A Discovery Journal is a place for students to keep responses for the lessons in this unit. [...]

Focus of Lesson: Using elements of science fiction: technology, time travel, outer space, or scientific principles to create another world. Materials Needed: Pen or pencil, blank paper, dictionary, the exercises below and a Discovery Journal. (See Lesson One in this series for an explanation.) Time Needed: 45 - 60 minutes

Focus of Lesson: Using concrete details, abstract language, and strong action verbs to create characters. Materials Needed: Pen or pencil, blank paper, dictionary, the exercises below and a Discovery Journal. A Discovery Journal is a place for students to write responses to the questions in this unit. Time Needed: 45 - 60 minutes

Focus of Lesson: Students will analyze how actions and details contribute to the overall mood of a text. Materials Needed: Pen or pencil, blank paper, dictionary, the exercises below and a Discovery Journal. A Discovery Journal is a place for students to keep responses for the questions and strategies in this unit. Time Needed: 45 [...]

Focus of Lesson: Establishing point of view using pronouns and possessive adjectives. Materials Needed: Pen or pencil, blank paper, dictionary, the exercises below and a Discovery Journal. (See Lesson One in this series for an explanation.) Time Needed: 45 - 60 minutes

Focus of Lesson: Creating a vivid setting/location Materials Needed: Pen or pencil, blank paper, dictionary, the exercises below and a Discovery Journal. A Discovery Journal is a place for students to keep written responses to the questions in this unit. Time Needed: 45 - 60 minutes