Writers in the Schools (WITS)
Rosa Ramos’s Sixth and Eighth Grade Classes
La Academia Dolores Huerta
WITS MA Graduate Student:
Santiago Lopez
Task: Use first line from fiction to write a story. The following first line comes from Peter Benchley’s Jaws.
The Great Fish
Sophia Kiernan
6th Grade
The great fish moved silently through the night water, propelled by short sweeps of its crescent tail. It splashed and squealed with its tail. A flash went by its eyes. Suddenly the great fish smelled human flesh. He followed the scent of food. He found a boat with a human in it. The human saw the shark and threw a pound of raw meat in the water and took off. The shark scarfed down the meat and was delighted with his snack. “Now to seek shelter,” said the human. He found a safe place and went fishing. He cast his line in the water. He hooked the great fish but tried to throw it back to sea. The shark tugged and pulled the human into the water. The human drowned and the shark was thrilled.
Task: Use first line from fiction to write a story. The following first line comes from Peter Benchley’s Jaws.
Jaws
James Puentes
6th Grade
The great fish moved silently through the night water, propelled by short sweeps of its crescent tail. He wanted to find food like turtles and fish, but he did not find any because he saw a fishing boat. Then they tried to catch him but he attacked the boat and the passengers got hurt. Then the passenger swam to safety and the shark went hunting for more food. The passengers notified the police and they started to search for him, but the shark couldn’t be found because he was at the bottom of the ocean eating delicious, poor baby sea turtles. In the morning, I went sea diving and I saw the shark. I talked to him and we became friends. He said that I was his only friend. I notified the police that the shark only wanted friends, that he was a nice shark. I took him to my house and he stayed in my pool. He was happy.
Task: Use first line from fiction to write a story. The following first line is from Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.
The Greatest Man that Ever Lived
Buddy Gallegos
6th Grade
He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days without taking a fish. Then he got mad and yelled at the top of his lungs and turned so red he was hurled around the beautiful huge world. Then he caught a big blue, purple, and green fish. He got three world records: Number one for catching the biggest fish ever – 150 feet long, 1o feet wide; second, the most beautiful fish because of its colors; and third, longest time without getting a fish – 84 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds. He was also famous around the world. About a week later he broke another record for the loudest yell. He lived until the age of 250 years old before he died, but right now he’s 34 years old. He was born on February 5, 1981 but I went ahead and told you when he died. He was also known for playing video games, dancing, weaving, sports, and smartness. Is that cool or what??? I think it is!!!
Task: Use a first line from fiction to write a story. The following partial first line comes from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
The Lonely Worm
Jordan Martinez
6th Grade
In a hole in the ground there lived a little worm named Lali. She was very lonely. She had no friends. Everyday she would go outside to the little stream and filled up a little cup she made from a leaf and a small stick. Then she would go get a little pile of dirt and grass. And then she would go back home and eat.
One morning, on her way to the stream, Lali saw a little pink thing sticking out of the ground. She heard someone say, “Help me! Help me!” The little worm went up to the little pink thing and pulled the pink thing out of the ground. Then the little pink thing turned around and said, “Thank you. My name is Alina. What’s your name?” The little worm said, “I’m Lali. How did you get stuck in there?” Alina said, “I was leaf flying when I fell off and landed on the ground face down.” “Leaf flying. What is that?” said Lali. Alina, with a grin on her face, said, “You don’t what leaf flying is? Well, come on. I’ll show you.”
They went up a humungous tree. Alina said, “All you gotta do is pull out a leaf and jump with the leaf on your feet.” Lali said, “I’m scared.” Alina said, “Come on, I’ll go with you!” “Okay.” Alina got a leaf and jumped off the tree with Lali.
Lai was so happy. It was the greatest day of her life. Once they landed safely on the ground, Lali wanted to go again but Alina said, “Wait. Let’s go leaf sliding before it gets dark.” “Okay,” Lali said.
Alina led Lai to a little bush. “Do you know how to leaf slide, Lali?” asked Alina. “No,” replied Lali. Alina explained, “The first thing you do is get a leaf. Then you slide on it through the mud.”
Lali picked a leaf and started sliding. She was having so much fun. When it got dark, Lali said she had to go home. Then she asked Alina, “Where do you live?” Alina said, “I don’t have a home. Yesterday’s wind blew it away.” Lali said, “You can live at my house. I have an extra room.” “Really?” asked Alina. “Sure friend,” said Lali. Ever since that day Lali and Alina have been best friends.
Task: Incorporate words chosen by each student from the class in a short story. Words appear in italics.
A Funny Day
Victoria Atwell
8th Grade
Hi. My name is Pink. I live in a small place called Amsterdam. My favorite animal is a monkey. I love fuchsia so much it’s the color I painted my house. I was playing outside one day when I saw a panda. The crazy part of this is that he had a flamethrower. I just ignored him and his weapon and kept playing. I got bored eventually and walked to Plazo’s house and we drank some milk. Then I got hungry and ate some food out of the refrigerator. Plazo got mad and set my cat on fire. Good thing it started raining and my cat got soaked instead of burned, but I got struck by lightning. I couldn’t touch anything because my hands hurt so much, which is why I went to the hospital where I had problems breathing and turned blue. The nurse came in my room and saw me and called for help. I was still hungry so I told the nurse, “Uh, I’m hungry. Can I have some curly fries?” She said, “Sure. Seasoned or salted?” I asked for seasoned and I also said, “Please.”
This project is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowmentfor the Arts.