Choose an object. It can be anything you want; a doll, a car, a house. Anything you find that is interesting will work. Mr. Gnagey chooses objects from our museum which we call artifacts. Artifacts are objects that have historical significance. Artifacts show how people lived, thought, and related to life during the time the object was made.

Research Once you choose an object it is helpful to do a little research to learn more about the object. Research is looking up and finding information about a certain subject or object. When Mr. Gnagey researches objects he looks for information about when the object was made, how the object was made, and the materials used to make it. He also tries to find out the importance of the object in everyday life and how it was used.

You can find the answers to your research questions by talking to family members, going to the library, or using the encyclopedia. History books, newspapers and magazines are good sources of information as well as your local museum. Also, like right now, you can search the Internet for answers

Plan After Mr. Gnagey finishes his research he looks at his notes and thinks about how he can make the object the focus of his story. This is a very important part of writing. You need to choose a setting which is where the story takes place. The time period the story takes place in, sometimes modern day or in the past. Also, you need to choose your characters and give them names. You have to think about what each person's role in the story is. Examples could be storekeeper, mother, farmer, or brother.

Write Once you have an idea about the object you want to write about and the characters in your story you are ready to start writing.

 

Click here for some good advice for writers.

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