First Essay Prewriting

Isabela Burns

1.       “When she opened the front door, the whole street looked like a river, and water poured in. She described it as “rushing like the Colorado River”. Page 129 paragraph 3.

2.       “What do you want me to do?” I say. “You’ve got to come to me. I can’t come to you. Who knows what mental state you’re in?” The skunk looks at me. Page 157 paragraph 3.

3.       Soaking- Page 129 paragraph 2

Bulky- Page 129 paragraph 4

Heavy- Page 129 paragraph 4

Rocking- Page 130 paragraph 1

Heat- Page 130 paragraph 3

Essence- Page 131 Paragraph 3

Cramped- Page 130 paragraph 4

Swollen- Page 130 paragraph 4

4.       When I wrote a story about my first time I lost a tooth, and the teacher “published” my book, and shared it with the class.

Learning to make a web page.

When I finally read “David Goes to School” aloud all by myself.

5.       I want to share this story because it shows how I have progressed since this event, and how this event impacted me and my writing today.

6.       I can assume the readers will have similar past experiences that they can relate to while reading this story.

7.       I want to project an accomplished, and slightly humorous attitude. I want the readers to understand my experience and see how it helped me with my writing later in life.

8.       My narrative will be typed on the computer and turned in both digitally, and printed as well.

9.       I see my pink walls in my princess themed bedroom, and the castle mural my mom had painted on the far wall.  I see my mom beside me, and the book “David Goes to School” on my lap.

10.   I can hear our fire place crackling downstairs, and the screams of my delighted little brother playing with my dad in the other room. I hear my dog chewing on a toy, and the fan of my fish tank in my room gently blowing out air.

11.   I smell the smoke and fire from downstairs and the pot roast in the crock pot, that will be served for dinner that night.

12.   I feel a little irritated with my mom, who continues to prompt me to read this book, when I know that I cannot. Still at the same time I feel cozy in my bed and excited for dinner. Also very eager for my mom to finally tell me something along the lines of “We can try some more tomorrow, you can be done for tonight.”

13.   I taste the stale gumballs from our gumball machine, that I still continue to eat when my mom isn’t looking, even though she says they’re too old to be eaten, and that they are just for decoration now.

14.   Mom- She is persistent, always trying to get me to read this book. Though she is still tender and caring. She offers me treats, and tells me if I finish the book I could read to my baby brother, which he would enjoy. She is in a plain tee shirt and cozy pajama pants, as well as thick wool socks, because our hard wood floors are cold in the winter. She smells like seasonings, and various ingredients from making dinner, which is now stewing in the crock pot downstairs. She is tired from today’s work, but still has the energy to try and help me with my homework, and to help me learn to read. She is eager for me to learn how to read. She says reading is like a “movie in your head”. She has slightly darker circles under her eyes, and yawns often, even though it is only 5:00 in the afternoon.

15.   “Mom. I can’t read that book, it is for big kids.”

“You can do it, come on try the first page. You got all the way to the third page last night, I know you can at least read the first page.”

“Mom, I don’t want to.”

“Bela, don’t you want to learn to read? You can read to your brother and he will love it!”

“Mom, I never ever want to learn to read. I will never read my whole life.”

“You have to learn how to read someday. Reading is like a movie in your head. And you can take it anywhere, in the car, to school, to the treehouse.”

“I would rather watch a movie.”

16.   My mom is attempting to teach me to read. I had picked out a book, which at first, I was overjoyed to learn how to read. I had loved when my mom would read me that book before bed, and it always made me giggle. She had told me I could read it myself, and I could even read it to my brother. It sounded like a good idea at the time, considering I had not done much school work involving reading and writing. As I began, I realized it wasn’t as easy as my mom made it look. I told her I would prefer her to read it to me instead. She would tell me that I would have to learn to read someday. She explained how nice it would be to go into first grade the next year and already know how to read. All week, she had brought me the book and asked me to read her a few pages. At first I would always refuse, after learning how hard it was to read. I would tell her I didn’t understand why I had to read it to her, considering she already knew how to read. Night after night of refusing to read, I finally gave in. I sat with her in my bed, as we sounded out the words together. Eventually, I had the whole story memorized. I could tell you the story without even opening the book. I was so proud of myself, reading the story to my family, teachers, even my stuffed animals.

17.    

This event is significant to me and my writing now. It has given me the confidence in myself to work hard to accomplish my goals, knowing that I can do whatever I set my mind to. This experience has also encouraged me to try to learn new things, and to keep an open mind while doing so.  If this event had never happened, I might not have the skills and confidence in my writing that I do today. After reading that first book, I was encouraged to begin reading new books.  After, I began reading longer, more complicated books. I enjoyed reading, and it helped me as well. I feel that all the reading I did when I was younger has really helped me excel in school throughout my life. If I had not read that first book, I wouldn’t have had the confidence and enthusiasm to continue reading.  This narrative is also significant because it helps me share a vivid memory that I have of my early childhood. Throughout my life I have enjoyed reading and it has given me something to do to pass time. It has also helped me by improving vocabulary. I feel that beginning reading at such an early age has helped me. When assigned to read for class work or other assignments, I have been able to do so with ease, and occasionally even enjoyed it.