The Art of Writing



Task 1: Choosing a Topic
Think about some of your favorite stories.  Do you ever wonder what inspired the authors to write them?  Read the following excerpt from The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco.  As you read, think about what might have inspired her to write this story.
 'The only things she had left of backhome Russia were her dress and the babushka she liked to throw up into the air when she was dancing.  And her dress was getting too small.  After her mother had sewn her a new one, she took her old dress and babushka.  Then from a basket of old clothes she took Uncle Vladimir's shirt, Aunt Havalah's night dress, and an apron of Aunt Natasha's.
      "We will make a quilt to help us remember home," Anna's mother said. 
"It will be like having the family in backhome Russia dance around us at night."'
Use the following resources to learn about Patricia Polacco.  Find out what inspires her stories and how she gets her ideas.
Resources
Patricia Polacco's Biography and Interview
Patricia Polacco's Home Page
  Record information on the graphic organizer
"Story Ideas" about what inspires her stories.  Consider the hints Ms. Polacco gave in her interviews and biographies as you make a list of your own story ideas. 

Introduction Task 1 Task 2
Task 3 Evaluation Conclusion