Directions to the Student

Read the poem "Haunted House" to yourself while I read it aloud to you. Afterwards, you will do a writing task. The poem may give you ideas for your writing.

Haunted House

By Valerie Worth

Its echoes,

Its aching stairs,

Its doors gone stiff

At the hinges,

Remind us of its

Owners, who

Grew old, who

Died, but

Who are still

Here: leaning

In the closet like

That curtain rod,

Sleeping on the cellar

Shelf like this

Empty

Jelly jar.


Writing Task 4-3

In “Haunted House,” the poet Valerie Worth writes about the people who used to live in an old, abandoned house. These people are remembered and missed. Most of us have people or places that were once part of our lives and we miss a great deal. Write a composition about a person or place you miss.

In your composition, be sure to

·  describe the person or place you miss and tell how you became

separated from him, her, or it.

·  explain why this person or place was important to you.

·  discuss the feelings you have when you think about and

remember this person or place.

You may take notes, create a web, or do other prewriting work in the space provided on the following blank pages. Then write your composition on the lines provided.

Here is a checklist for you to follow to help you do your best writing.

Writer’s Checklist
Remember to
  Keep the central idea or topic in mind.
  Keep your audience in mind.
  Support your ideas with details, explanations, and examples.
  State your ideas in a clear sequence.
  Include an opening and a closing.
  Use a variety of words and vary your sentence structure.
  State your opinions or conclusions clearly.
  Capitalize, spell, and use punctuation correctly.
  Write neatly.

After you write your composition, read what you have written. Use the checklist to make certain that your writing is the best it can be.