This first lesson of the module we defined what exactly Travel Writing was, through general discussion and looking at an extract from Bill Bryson's 'Notes from a Small Island' (funny, accessible stuff if you haven't tried it). This is what we came up with:
Travel Writing = Non-fiction about places where the author has travelled to.
We also fantasised about places we'd like to visit, which led us on to have a first go at travel writing of our own: postcards. It is best to start with the classics. Anyway, after going through a model postcard on the board, everyone drafted their own - making sure to be aware of the audience for this text... their parents. After this first draft, pupils swapped their work with the person next to them to check over for mistakes. When it was swapped back, each pupil was given a proper postcard of their own, which they filled in from their draft - in silence, under timed conditions!
If parents are reading this, you'll be able to judge for yourself how their handwriting stood up to the pressure - as we will be sending the postcards home. Also, see if they have convinced you that they were reallyin China, Las Vegas or Cuba, rather than a rainy Eckington...
http://www.pittan.co.uk
2007-02-23 @ 13:30