Student Instructions |
Name __________________________________ |
adding some order
Aunt Fritzi is trying to tell you how to make potato soup. However, Aunt Fritzi tends to be a bit scatterbrained and doesn’t exactly give straightforward directions. She also doesn’t use many
transition words.
Below are Aunt Fritzi’s directions for making potato soup. Rearrange her words and rewrite as necessary so that you have clear, organized instructions. Feel free to cut anything that is unnecessary. Add transition words to make the directions clearer.
I’m so glad you want to know how to make my potato soup! Before I forget, remember not to cook it too long. Don’t simmer it for more than 10 minutes after you add the milk, or the potatoes will get too soft. Start with a medium onion. Chop it up really, really fine. Your Uncle Harvey loves onions, so sometimes I put more in. You could, too. It’s up to you. If you don’t have about four cups of milk, be sure to run to the store before you get to the part where you add potatoes. I’ve done that—chopped up the onions and potatoes and then found out I didn’t have enough milk. Be sure you have some. Anyway, after you chop up the onions, peel about four potatoes. If you don’t mind potato soup with peelings in it, leave them on. It’s easier that way. I like potato peelings. So does your Uncle Harvey. I usually leave them on. When company comes, I usually peel them. Some people just can’t stand potato peelings. I don’t understand it, but there you are. If you don’t peel them, wash them really well. Whether you peel them or not, cut them into real small pieces. Put the potatoes in a pan and just barely cover them with water. Cook them until they just start to get soft—about 15 minutes, usually. Drain them really well. You know what’s really great with potato soup? Homemade corn bread! Some people like to add a little sour cream and some bacon bits to each bowl of soup when it’s served. It tastes great, but it is so fattening. Drain the potatoes. Go back to the onions. Melt a little butter in a big pan. Add the onions. Cook them until they are soft. Add the drained potatoes. Add
cups. Maybe five. Heat the milk and potatoes gently until If you like your soup to be thick, put a couple of tableStir in about half a cup of cold water and mix until soup. It will thicken it up. Oh yes, add salt and pepper to
add the milk. Choose red potatoes for this soup. They best. Don’t use sweet potatoes. They wouldn’t work at all.
fast meal.
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Student Instructions |
Name __________________________________ |
Audience, Audience, Audience
One of the most important things to remember when you are writing is this:
Who is your audience?
It is important to put yourself in the reader’s shoes and try to use language, terms, and an attitude that your audience will understand.
For example, if you are writing an e-mail to a close friend, it’s fine to use a very casual approach with slang and maybe even abbreviations common in text messaging. If you are writing an essay for a college application, though, you will want to use a different approach, at least if you want to be taken seriously.
Write one short paragraph about an imaginary (or real!) visit to a restaurant and something strange or interesting that happened there—but write it three different ways, according to your
audience. Make each description appropriate for the intended audience.
1.Your audience is a good friend of yours, and you are writing an e-mail.
2.Your audience is the manager of the restaurant, and you are writing a letter.
4. Your audience is your great-grandmother, and you are putting a note in a greeting card.
“Life expectancy would grow by
leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.”
—Doug Larson
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Student Instructions |
Name __________________________________ |
Alphabetically speaking
Write a story exactly 26 sentences long. The subject of the story can be anything related to food. Here’s the hard part: The first sentence must begin with “a,” the second with “b,” the third with “c,” and so on through the alphabet. (For x you may cheat and use a word beginning with the pre-
fix ex.)
Here’s an example of how a story might start:
A customer walked into Joe Schmoe’s Dinner Delight at 11:00 p.m. Because he was closing up, Joe didn’t want to serve the customer. “Crispy fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, and cherry pie,” said the customer.
“Don’t you see the CLOSED sign I’m putting in the window?”
“Eating is what I want to do, and I’m going to do it now,” said the man, plopping on a stool at the counter.
“Frustrated, Joe stood in the front of the customer and spoke slowly. “Go away!” he said.
Teacher: Give me a sentence that starts with the letter “I.”
Jane: I is ...
Teacher: No, you don’t say, “I is.”
You say, “I am.”
Jane: Okay, I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.
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Student Instructions |
Name __________________________________ |
verbing
People like to know what is happening. That’s why verbs are so important. They are the action. They have power. Take a look at how a simple verb can completely change the meaning of a sentence:
Little Anthony adored clowns.
Little Anthony despised clowns.
Little Anthony tripped clowns.
Little Anthony worshipped clowns.
Little Anthony collected clowns.
See how many ways you can change the sentences below by simply replacing the verb in each. Use at least five different verb replacements for each sentence:
1.Fluffikins drank the milk.
2.Ashley drove the ice cream truck.
3.Elwood invited his personal chef.
4.Grandmother cooked the meat loaf.
5.Someone stole the turkey.
Why did the tomato blush?
It was embarrassed to see the salad dressing.
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