tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post4079396693901860929..comments2024-03-22T01:00:38.320-04:00Comments on I.N.K.: Embracing--and Seeking--StructureLinda Salzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217322360480267856noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-40964210544914357142013-01-30T15:29:56.545-05:002013-01-30T15:29:56.545-05:00Melissa, I was thinking of your posts about format...Melissa, I was thinking of your posts about format/structure as I read this.<br /><br />Marfe,<br />Thank for your kind words. I agree that a more formatted style still allows room for creativity- particularly in the areas of word choice and sentence structure.Michelle Cusolitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02637858838936799501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-3728558345674295692013-01-30T14:12:44.844-05:002013-01-30T14:12:44.844-05:00Michelle, this sounds like an amazing project. I l...Michelle, this sounds like an amazing project. I love how the students in different grades worked together to create the field guide. Talk about teamwork! And this is a great example of how a format--a template, if you will--can help students become comfortable with factual writing. Congratulations to you and your lucky students.<br /><br />In answer to your question, yes, my creative juices definitely flowed more freely without having to adjust to an imposed structure. There's more of my heart and soul in Master George than my other books, for good or bad. But I think there's still plenty of room for creativity in a more formatted style. <br /><br />Marfe Ferguson Delanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07586102699193346265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-2083966478275151452013-01-30T10:55:49.439-05:002013-01-30T10:55:49.439-05:00Thank you for this post. I, too, often struggle wi...Thank you for this post. I, too, often struggle with the format, but through trial and error and floundering two or three times, I finally see the connecting path through the material, and only then do all the pieces fit. Peggy Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17783764591208338610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-33546431394159905592013-01-30T10:28:24.437-05:002013-01-30T10:28:24.437-05:00For me, structure is the toghest part of writing a...For me, structure is the toghest part of writing a book. I wish there was a way to get it right the first time, but it seems liek I always have to wallow in the content until I'm up to my eyeballs. Then finally, finally, the "right" structure emerges. It has taken me a long time to learn to be patient with that paert of the process.Melissa Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04322048827106827307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-68259817396490483302013-01-30T09:50:42.097-05:002013-01-30T09:50:42.097-05:00I can see how an imposed structure would be comfor...I can see how an imposed structure would be comforting. Do you feel you were able to be more creative without it?<br /><br />An aside to your aside: I did such a project with students in New Bedford, MA. 4th graders worked with 6th graders and 12th graders to write A FIELD GUIDE TO FORT TABOR PARK. It started with field research- the 4th graders and 6th graders visited the park and saw the flora and fauna in the field. More investigations and research happened back in the classrooms. Then the 4th and 6th graders wrote the descriptions and created the line drawings of the specimens. Finally, the 12th graders served as "editors" who helped the younger students strengthen their work. <br /><br />The whole project culminated with a "meet the authors" event which was attended my school officials, families, and the press. The young authors autographed copies. It was pretty awesome, I have to say!Michelle Cusolitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02637858838936799501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-13730995623680811722013-01-30T09:26:25.602-05:002013-01-30T09:26:25.602-05:00Wouldn't it be great if you could actually do ...Wouldn't it be great if you could actually do this?! Please keep us posted! Deborah Heiligmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02894150394598699172noreply@blogger.com