LESSON 7.1
Old vs. New Ideas

Grades 1-3

Audience

Write for adults you don’t know. Talk to people you know, like your family. 

Adults are busy. We want a story they enjoy so we don’t waste their time.

Old Ideas

Ideas are “Old” if—

  • Adults probably know a lot about them OR
  • Adults probably are not interested in them.

New Ideas

Ideas are “New” if—

  • The audience probably does not know much about them

AND

  • The audience probably is interested in them.

Task 7.1.1 – Individual or Small Group

Are the following Old or New?

  1. a pool table
  2. a pool table in which you must shoot through water and fish
  3. a bed
  4. a bed in which you sleep upside down on the ceiling
  5. a donut that keeps growing
  6. a bald-headed man
  7. a pet snake
  8. a rabbit whose ears are microphones
  9. a walking chair
  10. an airplane
  11. a giraffe
  12. gum that makes you chew it
  13. a parrot
  14. eyebrows that move around your face
  15. a cat on a roof

I Is Always Old

The word “I” is Old information, because the reader doesn’t know you and doesn’t care much about what you do.

For example, if I say, “I took the garbage out last night,” is that Old or New?

It’s Old. You didn’t know I did that, but you don’t care.

Descriptive Words Do Not Make an Old New

Adding descriptive words doesn’t usually make an Old idea New.

  • A dragon → Old
  • A fire-breathing dragon → Old
  • A purple, fire-breathing dragon → Old

You might say, “I’ve never heard of a purple, fire-breathing dragon.” But it’s still just a dragon.

On the other hand:
A dragon trying to give its treasure away → New

The Old/New Formula

Here’s a simple formula to help you:

  • Old + Old = A poor idea
  • Old + New = A good idea   

For example:

WHAT STATEMENT
LH VP RH
I had a problem with a dog
OLD OLD

OLD + OLD = POOR SUBJECT

WHAT STATEMENT
LH VP RH
I had a problem with a talking dog
OLD NEW

OLD + NEW = GOOD SUBJECT

Task 7.1.2 – Individual or Small Group

Determine the formula for the following:

  1. I had a problem with a mosquito the size of a house.

2. I had a problem with Godzilla.

3. I had a problem with an alien.

4. I had a problem with a mean old man.

5. I had a problem with a mummy from Egypt.

6. I had a problem with a flying pyramid.

7. I had a problem with a poison apple.

8. I had a problem with a pirate ship.

9. I had a problem with a window in my neighbor’s house.

10. I had a problem with an invisible fork.

11. I had a problem with a girl who could walk up buildings.

12. I had a problem with my teacher.

13. I had a problem with an overweight bulldog.

14. I had a problem with a bull fly that could keyboard.

15. I had a problem with a straw that sucked up time.