The Three-Paragraph Essay

Here is a written work by one of my students in the creative writing class I do this summer. We're on the topic of essay writing and I usually begin with the basic structure of writing one. Using the model approach to writing, Dalzel, was able to whip up an essay for her portfolio.

About Me
By Dalzel Erap

I am a student of Grace Christian College (GCC). As a student, I have curricular and extra-curricular activities. I spend most of my time in the library. I also study and do my assignments there. But sometimes I go there just to read History and Science books. I love doing my Library Research Report (LRR) because I love going to the library and doing research. I am a member of the Elementary Chorale. During Saturdays, I attend the MTAP math program and NAT review.

Aside from being a student, I am also a typical girl. When it’s summer or weekends, I always watch television. I love surfing the web and chatting online. I love reading books. In fact, everytime I go to the mall, I always look for a bookstore. I practice drawing anime and other characters. I even create my own character or give a ‘make-over’ storybook/movie characters. I also hang out with friends in Tri Noma, sometimes. During weekends, I visit my cousins. While on Christmas vacation, I visit my grandparents. I usually teach my younger brother and sister about the world and how it came to be.

As person, I have many roles in my life. I am a student, a friend, a sister, a cousin, a granddaughter and a regular person. I find it hard to describe myself further, so I’ll leave the rest to you.

Three Haiku

Haiku
by Douya


You give hope to me
You relieve me from darkness
Beautiful sunshine




You to me stand out
Like a flower on lilies
You are plain gorgeous



Three lighted candles
Two are red one is yellow
All give light at night

It's Summer Again!

Ola, amigo! Mi amiga!

I'm back to doing writing workshops for kids this summer. To start of, I have a couple haiku to post in this blog by a new student. So, if you're patient enough to check him out and his writing, his poetry will be posted tomorrow.

It's good to be back doing something I really love.

Other Ways to Publishing

One way to drive the importance of publishing as the last stage of the writing process among my students, is for them to experience it first hand. They, however, did not go through the painstaking task of putting out a literary portfolio but published their poetry on mugs, shirts and picture frames. By so doing, other skills like, kinesthetic, spatial and visual skillscome into play.

Jazzed Up Tales

Zarahrella
by Purple Dreamer

Do you know what season is it? Prom season! Its one week before the big night and poor Zarahrella still don’t have a date. Its 7:30 am and let’s see what Zarahrella is up to. “Hey guys what’s up?” Zarahrella greeted her friends while putting some books in her locker. “What’s up? We should ask you what’s up.” Hannah answered. “What are saying?” Zarahrella asked confused. “Come on Zarah, you know what I mean why don’t you still have a date to the prom?” Hannah said looking at her with one eyebrow up. “Well the thing is…” the bell interrupted Zarah and they all went to their classrooms. “Talk to you guys later!” Zarah said rushing to her classroom. “Watch your step loser!” pushing Zarah away from the door. “Denise! You are such a ugh!” Zarah screamed.

At lunch time Anna, Hannah, Ileana and Zarah sat together. “Zarah did you find a date to the prom yet?” Ileana asked. “Well I really wasn’t planning on going.” Zarah answered. “Are you sure? It won’t be fun without you.” Anna asked hoping she can change her mind. “Yeah I’m sure.” Zarah answered smiling. Suddenly Denise came over to their table and said “None of you losers have any chance of winning the place of prom queen.” “Just leave us alone Denise!” Zarah shouted defending her friends.” “Okay whatever.” Denise said walking away. The bell rang and they all went to their classrooms.


Dismissal is one minute away and everybody wants to go home but Zarah on the other hand is just daydreaming about her imaginary cute date to the prom. She was having a good time when the bell rang. She walked home practically daydreaming while her friends were chatting. When they reach Zarah’s house Hannah broke Zarah’s daydream when she asked her if she was okay. Zarah just nodded her head and went in her house. Deep inside Zarah wanted to go to the prom it was her dream but she doesn’t have a date.

Zarah woke up on the wrong side of the bed and missed the bus. She was walking towards the school she heard the bell rang. She hurried to her locker and bumped into someone. That someone saw her phone fell and picked it up but when he turned around to return it Zarah was gone. He checked whose phone it was and went to class. Zarah remembered she forgot to put her phone on vibrate. She looked for her phone in her bag but she couldn’t find it. She was panicking and sweating the whole class.

When lunch came Zarah was looking for her phone everywhere. She was running around school and asking random people if they saw her phone. While running, she again bu,ped into someone. The person she bumped to apologized and recognized her face. “You’re Zarahrella right?” “Yeah I am.” Zarah answered. “You dropped your phone a while ago.” He said giving her phone back. “Thank you so much!” Zarah thanked him and hugged him tight.” “I’m Justin by the way.” Justin said shaking Zarah’s hand. Zarah was about to leave when Justin said “I know this is kind of last minute but would you be my date for the prom tomorrow?” Justin asked. Zarah’s heart was beating fast and she felt butterflies in her tummy and answered “I would love to.”

Today’s the big day and Zarah didn’t tell her friends that she was coming. She looked wonderful in a lime green dress with her hair curled up. Justin was always staring at her and she did the same thing. It was now 11 pm and time to announce the prom queen and king. Everyone was quiet and wishing they would win until they heard the announcer say “And the winners are Justin and Zarahrella!” “What!? Zarahrella!? That loser won?” Denise screamed loud enough everyone heard it. Denise ran away crying with a dramatic exit. Justin and Zarah went up on stage and everyone was cheering their names. After the prom, Justin and Zarah were still onstage and were the only ones left. “Zarah, this night is so amazing no words can describe it.” Justin said holding zarah’s hands. “I had a wonderful time Justin and without you my dream wouldn’t have came true. Thank you.” Zarah said moving closer to Justin. They both kissed and finally went home.

What If Stories

This week, my students explored "what if stories". Here are some of their stories. Enjoy reading them as I did.

My Life As A Cell Phone
by Purple Dreamer

While I was walking along a sidewalk one day, there was a sudden bolt of lightning. In an instant, I became the latest kind of cell phone. I still had the ability to think. A few minutes have passed, I was still lying on the ground when a kid came near me.

He looked very kind and sweet. He was wearing a school uniform and had a backpack on. His age was about twelve years old. From what I can see he looked like the kind of kid who wouldn’t get things that isn’t his. I was startled when he picked me up and placed me in his pocket.

About 15 minutes later he took me out his pocket and kept me inside a drawer. The next day he took me and shoved me inside his bag. I was waiting for hours and hours until a bell rang and I heard children yelling.

“Joe! Joe! Come here!” I realized Joe was the name of the kid who took me.

Joe took me out of his bag and showed me to his friends. He was like showing me off until the bell rang.

Joe bragged about me to his friends for one week. One day Joe talked to himself.

“Why do I have this feeling? I feel bad for bragging about the phone I found that it isn't mine. What should I do?”.

The next day Joe brought me to the same sidewalk where he found me. He put me on the ground and walked away. Suddenly, there was a bolt of lightning similar to the one before. I was back being myself again. I became human again and I walked to my house. I was so shocked and couldn’t believe it. I just tried to forget everything that happened.

Stop and Stare
by Cockroach Kid

As I was entering the mall, a thick black smoke blocked my sight. What I heard next were speeding cars. When I got my sight back, I thought that I was flying but then I knew that a person was carrying me. It was the time I knew that I was a stop sign. That moment, I wished to be human again.


I learned, however, to spend my life helping officers control traffic. I became a good partner to my owner Juan. I also gained a friend, Stoplight. During work, I had tons of problems that made me wish I were back to normal. Juan keeps on reminding me though, that at least I help lots of people.

One day, I heard the same speeding cars and the same smoke appeared to me. I knew that if I close my eyes, I would be back to my human form again. I heard Juan trying to stop the cars and saw that a car crashed at a stoplight. I kept myself awake to help Juan and even if I stay as a stop sign, I can still help many people. It turned out that the car that crashed was filled with robbers. We finally caught the robbers. Juan called the police and I witnessed it all. It had been a very tiring day so we had a good rest.

When I woke up, I saw the ceiling of my house and knew that it was all just a dream.

What Does A Check Cost?
by Oreo


One day when I was walking, a strong wind passed and suddenly, I became a $90000 check. Then when the wind blew me all the way to the other side of the sidewalk, a guy picked me up. He was a robber. I was crumpled and folded while the robber was running.

After an hour, the cops ran behind him and put handcuffs at the robber’s wrists. When the robber suddenly threw me and left me, he suddenly stepped on me. Ouch. It hurt. Then the cops got me. When the robber was caught, he was put in jail for a year


A year passed by, and the robber was out of jail. He had to confess. So he told the whole story to his family. When the same cops went to him, he said sorry. He told the cops that he won’t do it again.

So as a check, I was so sad because many people passed me by. They touched me with dirty hands. They even clipped and crumpled me. Imagine what it would feel like living the life of a check. It is not that easy.


Photos from http://www.fotosearch.com/clip-art/

Of Dragons, Imps and Wizards

My writing students have begun story writing this week. I asked them write a simple stroryline from an illustration of a wizard, an imp and a dragon.

The Story of Jack the Wizard
by Purple Dreamer

A long time ago, there was this wizard named jack. He was resting in his castle when a dragon went in his window. The dragon was with an imp. The dragon attacked jack. He ran across the room and grabbed his wand. He tried to make a spell but the dragon kept blowing fire at him which caused his spell to create spiders. The imp was keeping an eye on the wizard and made sure that all of his spell would not work.


He distracted the dragon and the imp by ordering the spiders to tickle them. While the spiders tickled the dragon and the imp he started to cast a spell. At last he casted the spell on the imp. The imp fell down the window and died. Jack casted a spell on the dragon the dragon got struck by the lightning. Jack lifted the dragon out to the window with his wand. The dragon dell down and died.

Jack cleaned up the place. He thanked the spiders and took them out of the room. After he was done cleaning, he went to his bathroom and treated his wounds. He changed in his pajamas and went to his bed. As he was about to sleep he sighed and thought to himsel, " I can’t believe I killed an imp and a dragon all by myself". After that day the news was heard everywhere. He was now famous and well known as Jack the wizard.

Jack, Jill and Elmer
by Oreo

Once there was a wizard named Elmer. He was so creepy. He lived with a dragon and an imp. Their names were Jack and Jill. They lived in a creepy cave where there were insects. But the wizard hated the insects so he used his wand to rid of them. It didn’t work. So, he got mad and the dragon suddenly burned it. That’s the only wand Elmer ever had. He cried and was sad all day long.

When it was lunchtime, Jack and Jill didn’t even cook yet because they were comforting Elmer. Jack used its fire to light the logs so they can cook. They didn’t know that there were spiders around the cooking pot. When they were eating Elmer kept on crying while the two of them were planning to give him a new wand. They thought that they must earn money. When Elmer sipped the soup, he realized that there were spiders in it. He cried even more. Jack and Jill still comforted him.

After lunch, Elmer decided to stay in a quiet room while Jack and Jill planned the whole thing. After all, Elmer’s birthday is the day after tomorrow. They planned to give it as a gift. So to earn money, they sold their stuff. When they earned thousands already, they bought the nicest wand and it was wrapped in the cutest box they’ve ever seen.

When the special day came they waited for Elmer to wake up. Then they gave the gift as a surprise. Elmer used it and it worked! They lived happily ever after.

Harry, the Wizard
by Cockroach Kid

After many years of showing off his wizardry, Harry decided to retire from his job to rest. One night, he had a vision of an imp telling him to defeat the mighty dragon or else the land of Enchanted Kingdom will be destroyed.


The next day, he took a flight to China in order to defeat the dragon. He spent weeks of showing his wizardry to the Chinese and made himself worthy of fighting the mighty dragon. While heading towards the top of the Great Wall of China, he encountered the imp from the vision. He asked where the dragon is and it replied that he must go to the other side of the mountain. When he turned back, the imp disappeared.

While Harry was walking with in the walls, the imp warned the dragon that there was a crazy wizard trying to destroy China. The imp told the dragon that the wizard is coming so the dragon practiced breathing fire on targets.

The battle has started. Harry, who is very determined to save Enchanted Kingdom, tried all he could with his wand but he ended up making a mess. He started to cry and the dragon had mercy on him. They both knew that they were not trying to destroy anything. They looked at the imp and started to use their magic on it. the imp finally admitted that they were just tricked and so they burned the imp until it turned to ashes.

From that time, they have stopped the war and vowed to help each other when in danger. They all lived happily ever after.

Photos and images courtesy of bluebison.net and www.draconika.com