LESSON 3.2
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 3.2.1 – Individual or Small Group
Are the following Old or New?
- a pool table
- a pool table in which you must shoot through water and fish
- a bed
- a bed in which you sleep upside down on the ceiling
- a donut that keeps growing
- a bald-headed man
- a pet snake
- a rabbit whose ears are microphones
- a walking chair
- an airplane
- a giraffe
- gum that makes you chew it
- a parrot
- eyebrows that move around your face
- 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 = poor idea
- Old + New = good idea
- New+ Old = 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
| WHAT STATEMENT | ||
|---|---|---|
| LH | VP | RH |
| A talking dog | was a huge problem for | me. |
| NEW | NEW | |
NEW + OLD = GOOD SUBJECT
Task 3.2.2 – Individual or Small Group
Determine the formula for the following (O + O, O + N, or N+O):
- 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. Physics class turned out to be a huge problem for me.
6. I had a problem with a mummy from Egypt.
7. I had a problem with a flying pyramid.
8. I had a problem with a poison apple.
9. I had a problem with a pirate ship.
10. I had a problem with a window in my neighbor’s house.
11. I had a problem with an invisible fork.
12. I had a problem with a girl who could walk up buildings.
13. I had a problem with my teacher.
14. Mr. Burgess’s telescopic eye was an enormous problem for me.
15. I had a problem with an overweight bulldog.
16. I had a problem with a bull fly that could keyboard.
17. I had a problem with a straw that sucked up time.
18. My singing tennis shoes were a problem for me.
