"The Gift of the Magi" Writing Prompts

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Read Across America Chatboard

"The Gift of the Magi" Writing Prompts

by Jen

Dec 3, 2005

/blockquote>

I teach 7th Grade Reading and am planning to read "The
Gift of the Magi" with my kids this week. I want to tie in
a writing assignment. I searched the web for writing
prompts, but the only thing I have found so far is "What
do you think is the theme of this story? List 4 examples
from the text to support you idea."

Does anyone have any ideas?

Comment

(5)

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Desi /blockquote>

I taught creative writing and read this with my seventh
graders too. One prompt I used was explain the literary
term "irony" and explain how irony is shown in this story.
Another was, tell about what the coming year may have been
like for della and her husband. ( economically, the gifts
and how they aff...See More

Dec 3, 2005

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Jamie /blockquote>

I teach 7th and 8th grade learning support. Here are three
of several writing prompts that I have used:

1. What is one of the greatest gifts that you have ever been
given? What made it so special?

2. What is the greatest gift that you have ever received?
Why was it great?

3. What are t...See More

Dec 14, 2006

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Jeff /blockquote>

On 12/03/05, Jen wrote:
> I teach 7th Grade Reading and am planning to read "The
> Gift of the Magi" with my kids this week. I want to tie in
> a writing assignment. I searched the web for writing
> prompts, but the only thing I have found so far is "What
> do you think is the theme of thi...See More

Jan 4, 2007

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molly /blockquote>

On 1/04/07, Jeff wrote:
> On 12/03/05, Jen wrote:
>> I teach 7th Grade Reading and am planning to read "The
>> Gift of the Magi" with my kids this week. I want to tie in
>> a writing assignment. I searched the web for writing
>> prompts, but the only thing I have found so far i...See More

Dec 18, 2007

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Linda The story is fertile ground for teaching students about irony. After explaining the concept and sharing examples, I ask them to write about what aspects of the story are ironic.

On 12/18/07, molly wrote: > On 1/04/07, Jeff wrote: >> On 12/03/05, Jen wrote: >>> I teach 7th Grade Reading and am planning to read "The >>...See MoreThe story is fertile ground for teaching students about irony. After explaining the concept and sharing examples, I ask them to write about what aspects of the story are ironic.

On 12/18/07, molly wrote: > On 1/04/07, Jeff wrote: >> On 12/03/05, Jen wrote: >>> I teach 7th Grade Reading and am planning to read "The >>> Gift of the Magi" with my kids this week. I want to tie in >>> a writing assignment. I searched the web for writing >>> prompts, but the only thing I have found so far is "What >>> do you think is the theme of this story? List 4 examples >>> from the text to support you idea." >>> >>> Does anyone have any ideas? >> Sorry I saw your posting so late, almost two years. Hope >> you still check for responses. If not, hope others can use >> what I offer. >> >> I taught 8th grade language arts, with a strong emphasis on >> creative writing and public speaking, for five years. I am >> no longer teaching, but I recall fondly my students' >> response to my approach. While I always included the >> classic elements of English teaching, parts of speech, >> elements of stories, vocab., spelling, etc., I usually >> directed the focus of my lessons to real life, or practical >> applications. I am a strong proponent of Transactional >> Theory in literature. When I created a writing prompt, I >> usually sought the emotional or cognitive responses of my >> students. The key to writing creatively, after all, is to >> get your students to put words on paper. The easiest way to >> accomplish this is to put writers in touch with what they >> think and feel. >> >> For "The Gift of the Magi" I asked students to respond to >> concepts like self-sacrifice and unselfishness, two concepts >> that can often be alien for middle school aged young >> people. I always had several of them share what they wrote >> in class and used their writings to stear classroom >> discussion. I would probably also ask the class to define >> wisdom. >> >> Writing prompts are a special tool. Teachers should abandon >> the popular concepts of what makes a good writing prompt. I >> did it with the first prompt I gave my students on the first >> day: >> >> "Read the following sentence, and for one minute think about >> how you would answer it. You will have five minutes to >> answer the question. The class must remain totally silent. >> You may not speak. I will answer no questions. There is no >> right or wrong answer to your response. Just write about >> the question. The question is: 'How would you answer this >> question?'" >> >> Responses varied from a blank page to a full page of total >> confusion. For the first prompt, I gave credit if a student >> simply put their name at the top of the page. I understood >> how much shock the assignment inflicted on them. I >> purposefully shocked my students with this assignment to get >> them used to the idea of just putting words on paper, and we >> discussed this frequently from that point on. This >> inevitably lead to their words becoming the free flow of >> their thoughts and feels I was after. There should be no >> right or wrong answer to a writing prompt. Incidentally, I >> gave my students a five minute writing prompt at the >> beginning of every Monday class. The last prompt I gave >> them at the end of the year was the same as the first. I >> asked the unaswerable question again. I was always >> encouraged and felt a strong sense pride when nearly one >> hundred percent of my students begged me to extend the five >> minute time limit so they could finish getting their >> thoughts down. I received, on average two to three page >> responses to the final response. > > Why do you you ask them about their most prized possession and > would they give it up for someone they loved. >> >> Hope this helps someone. Keep the fire alive.

Nov 20, 2009

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