Telegrams
I've chosen a very simple exercise which applies to any
age group. It works well, too, in post-writing
situations, where the notion of drafting and editing can
sometimes rear its prickly head. Writing workshops are
sometimes weak in this respect, perhaps because we don't
want to appear 'negative'. Having said this, the idea
works as a generative exercise in its own right. It's
fun, and builds skills of judgement, negotiation and
close reading.
- Get
them to start a descriptive piece on something
they've recently experienced, or that they know
about. OBJECTS, ANIMALS or PEOPLE are best.
Suggest a few examples to make them laugh, and
for them to get the idea: 'My grand-dad.' 'My pet
piranha, Denture.' 'Going on Holiday.' etc.
Reassure them about 'form': i.e. they don't have
to worry about it - they just write as it comes,
sentences or whatever. Stick to the SENSES
- Set
a tight time limit. About 2 - 5 minutes,
depending on ability. If anyone gets stuck, they
can just make a list of facts or characteristics:
'Denture is silvery. He is a vegetarian.' 'We
went to Nicaragua on holiday. I don't even know
where that is.'
- Stop
them. There are now two variants to the exercise,
depending on their sociability. Variant 'b' is
definitely only for groups who work generously
together, and when you have got to know the class
quite well so you're sure they're up to it!
a)
They are going to 'send' their writing to the class as a
telegram. You might have to explain what this is! They
each have £1 to spend, and each word costs 10p. Give
them a few minutes to decide which words and phrases are
the most revealing, the most essential. They then list
these and read their telegrams to the class. They don't
have to spend the whole pound! This is a good way, too,
of turning their writing into a riddle.
b)
Put them in groups of 'x'. Each group has 'x' pounds to
spend, but it's still 10p a word - so they have to
negotiate how much each 'poem' gets! This tends to be
less heated if they swap writing within the group, but
arguing a case is sometimes part of the benefit!
Discussion points:
- How
did the telegram process feel? Was it difficult?
- What
issues did it raise in terms of syntax, grammar,
form, etc? (Find simpler words:
eg 'Did the telegram force you to arrange the
words in a certain way on the page?')
- Was
the telegram 'better' than the original? Was any
'obscurity' interesting?
- Homework
or follow-up: do the exercise again, or with
different amounts of cash.
Would you do it differently?
© Mario
Petrucci, 2000.
I'm happy
- and grateful - for colleagues and teachers to use this
exercise, or vary it, or reproduce the sheet for class
use, provided the original source is acknowledged. The
favour will be returned!
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