LESSON 2.3
Create the What Statement
Grades 1 - 6
Having a simple plan before you start saves you time and helps you get it right the first time.
Task 2.3.1 – Individual
We will pretend that “didinium” won the subject selection process in the previous chapter. Your What Statement looks like this:
|
LH |
VP |
RH |
|
Narrator |
Verb Phrase |
Nonfiction Idea |
Place the word I in the LH slot of the What Statement. Place your chosen idea in the RH slot.
LH | VP | RH |
Narrator | Verb Phrase | Nonfiction Idea |
I | would be | didinium |
The What Statement and Communication Barbell are the same thing:
The Word Favorite
If you see the word favorite in a prompt, then use like or a similar word. For example: what is your favorite pet?
|
LH |
VP |
RH |
|
Narrator |
Verb Phrase |
Nonfiction Idea |
|
I |
like |
? |
|
LH |
VP |
RH |
|
Narrator |
Verb Phrase |
Nonfiction Idea |
|
My favorite ? |
is |
a(n) |
Creating the What Statement the second way means having the same variable twice in the statement.
“My favorite pet” and “a didinium” are the same thing.
| LH | VP | RH |
|---|---|---|
| My favorite pet | is | a didinium |
Corrected:
| LH | VP | RH |
|---|---|---|
| I | like | my didinium |
Tie Line
If the prompt has extra language, such as a statement beginning with if, then make sure you tie the What Statement to the prompt. For example:
Prompt: If you could be any wild animal, what would you be?
If I could be any wild animal, I would be a didinium
Task 2.3.2 – Individual
Create a What Statement for your idea.
Assessing What Statements
To see if a What Statement is worth discussing, answer these questions:
- Is the What Statement a sentence?
- Are there two variables?
- Is one variable New? (Use the Old/New formula to determine this.)
Sentence
A sentence is something you can say and it sounds okay. If it sounds strange, then it is usually a fragment.
Variables
A variable is a central idea expressed in the What Statement. They are the ends of the Barbell of Communication. Some variables are hidden. We will cover those later.
Old Variable
Old Variables are ones the intended audience likely knows about or does not care about.
New Variable
New Variables are ones the intended audience does not know much about and are likely to interest the intended audience.
Expressed as a flowchart:
Is the What Statement a sentence? | Rewrite. |
Are there two variables? | Re-determine the variables. |
Is at least one variable (or their relationship) New information? | Funnel one or both variables or their relationship, or start over |
The Formula
You can express the effectiveness of a What Statement with this formula:
O + O = poor subject
O + N = good subject
N + O = good subject
Task 2.3.3 – Small Group
Determine if the following What Statements are worth discussing.
- I like ski-joring
- I like collecting stamps
- I like collecting stamps from Pitcairn Island
- I like collecting stamps from Pitcairn Island, home of the Bounty mutineers
- I like basketball
- I like sleeping
- I like making Athabascan slippers
- I like shooting around
- I like shooting free throws
- I like playing HORSE in basketball
- I like sleeping at the sleep disorders center
- I like sleeping beneath the stars.
Task 2.3.4 – Small Group
- Write your winning idea from Lesson 4.2 as a What Statement:
If I could be any wild animal, _________________________________________
2. Is the What Statement (the underlined part) a sentence? How do you know?
3. Are there two variables? What are they?
4. Is at least one variable a New idea?
