Suggestions for improving style II: writing and summarizing in a precise, clear and exciting manner

1. Exact descriptions: Variants

Each student brings a store receipt (Aldi, Costco, Walmart, Publix, etc.) to class and pastes it in the middle of an A3 size paper. Around the receipt, students write as accurately as possible what …

2. Telling stories in a clear and interesting way: Variants:

The instructor provides the students with the following “recipe” for writing in a clear and interesting manner: “put yourselves into the shoes of the main character(s) in the story. Close your eyes and think …

3. Exact re-telling and summarizing; Variants

Re-telling stories occur regularly both in school and life in general. This can be seen in many different forms, from reports about a television show or a dream, to the summary of a phone message, …

4. Interesting story telling; Variants:

Oral preparation: discussing the terms “interesting” and “boring”. What do these categories actually mean; what is the implication for our own writing? Consolidation activity: the teacher reads (or gives in writing) to the class …

Experimenting with formal styles and text types

Exact descriptions: Variants

Goal: Students should also have the opportunity to develop a broad stylistic repertoire in their first language. This includes partial or sub-skills , such as “ability to describe exactly”, “ability to tell clearly, ability to tell in an exciting way” etc. However, without appropriate clarification and practice, the terms “exactly, clearly, in an interesting manner” etc. remain abstract concepts and words that are of no help to the students. The aim of the following suggestions is to render these terms real and usable, and to provide appropriate exercises and writing opportunities for practicing them.

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Explanations, abbreviations
First language	Also mother tongue or family language: the first language a child has learned and speaks at home. Some children have two first languages.
School language	The language that is spoken in the schools of the host country. In addition, the local dialect may count as an environment language.
Abbreviations	S: Student T: Teacher (instructor)

Legend for indications referencing organizational form, class, time requirements concerning teaching proposals:
	IW = Individual Work
	WP = Working with a partner
	SG = Small Groups
	WC = Whole Class
2nd – 4th grade	Suitable for... to... (e.g. 2nd – 4th grade). Keeping in mind that this designation may vary according to the requirements of the individual students.
20 minutes	Approximate time requirement, e.g. 20 minutes. (Estimated time varies, must be determined by the instructor according to the level and the requirements of the class).

18. Suggestions for improving style II: writing and summarizing in a precise, clear and exciting manner

1. Exact descriptions: Variants

2. Telling stories in a clear and interesting way: Variants:

3. Exact re-telling and summarizing; Variants

4. Interesting story telling; Variants:

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