Reflection- K.Sullivan

I still think it is really interesting that we both chose to make our monsters friendly in the story, as well as similar looking, with long fur and big smiles. Knowing that someone else was going to have to draw my monster, I tried to make it as detailed as possible. When I began drawing my own monster, I realized I left out a few simple details, like what the feet look like, how many fingers it had, etc. I decided not to add these small details because I was very specific on a lot of other, more important details about the monster. But I think Brandy did a good job drawing my friendly monster.
It was such a different experience reading her story and drawing. I read through the story and then thought I would be ready to start drawing. However this was not the case. There were so many important traits about the monster that I had to read it again so I could add details in the right order. I couldn't just color in the monster pink, because then you wouldn't be able to see the yellow spots. I liked comparing what I drew to what Brandy's monster actually looked like.
Overall, I really liked this assignment. I think doing something like this really forces a write to pay special attention to descriptive detail. Most students don't realize that GOOD writing makes the reader actually see what the author is describing. I also really like the editing techniques that I used in this assignment. It really helps students step back and take a look at what they are writing, and how to make it better and more substantial. Another technique that I learned in a writing class at Lesley, is to put a circle or rectangle around the first word in each sentence. It helps a lot of students realize that they need to vary their word choice, especially when they begin sentences.

Katie's Monster Through Brandy's Eyes

This was after many attempts. The scanner made it way too light and then camera didn't make it bright enough.

Pink Monster drawing- by Katie Sullivan

This is what I drew after reading Brandy's story/description

Monster Blog---Brandy Incorvia (Nelson)

“Mommy is that you?” Olivia said as she hears the noise coming from her closet. She took a deep breath and decided to see what was in her closet.

SQEEEEECH……the door creaked as she opened it. Slowly the door opened, but her eyes were still closed shut. She repeated to herself, "There is no such thing as monsters, there is no such thing as monsters," and then looked straight ahead. Then her eyes traveled to toward the ceiling seeing nothing but pink, long fur from the floor to the ceiling.

SLAM went the door as she ran away. “Mommie, Mommie, Mommie. WAKE UP, there is a eight armed, gigantic monster in my closet.”

“No dear. There is no such thing as monsters, so there can’t be a monster in your closet. Now go back to bed.” her mother mumbled sleepily.

“Yes Mommie there is.” she protested shaking her mother. “I saw it. He has one eye in the middle of his apple shaped head. I think his eye was as big as my beach ball, Mommie. Mommie!”

“Olivia, calm down.” her mother said as she tried to go back to sleep.

“I saw him. He has long nails that curl at the end. His arms have bright yellow spots all over them. He was making a weird whistling sound………I don’t want to go back in there.”

Her mother decided that if anyone was going to get any sleep she needed to go show Olivia that there was no monster in her closet. She dragged herself out the bed. Down the hall she and Olivia went.

As she was opening the closet door, her mother explained “See Olivia there isn’t anything in MMMMMMMMONSTER!” SLAM.

“Oh P-Pie, I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have doubt you. There is a humongous, furry beast in your closet grinning ear from ear, or was it ears from ears?” Her mother thought for a second. “And was that a cloud swimsuit he was wearing? Weren’t those goggles and a snorkel hanging from one of his hands.”

Olivia shrugged her shoulders and thought for a second, “Mommie, you think he just wants to go swimming in our pool?”

Olivia’s mom pondered that thought and then decided that they should open the door. They were hoping to ask him a question or two, but all that was left was a few strands of pink fur and a snorkel.

Monster Blog- Katie Sullivan

Something in the Closet


Matty tiptoed towards his closet door. He could not believe what he was about to do, but he needed to find out if there was something in there. Finally, the closet was right in front of Matty. He decided that it would be better to open the door really fast, like pulling off a band-aid. When he grabbed the cool metal doorknob and flung the door open, he gasped at what was standing before his eyes. Within the dark closet stood a startling, gigantic monster.


Although he gasped in surprise, Matty was just not afraid of this ridiculously fuzzy purple monster. It was covered from head to toe in a long, static-like purple fur. Its huge body sat upon two wide and short legs.The monster took up most of the space inside the closet! It had green stripes in the shape of an egg covering most of its chubby belly. The thick, horizontal stripes were alternating green and lime green. The monster's big, round head had two small, dark purple pointy ears poking out through the fuzzy fur. The monster was looking down at Matty with its two large, oval shaped, blue eyes. It also had an enormous mouth, and was actually sporting a huge grin. Matty thought its big, white, toothy smile seemed friendly, and he became more relaxed. That is when Matty noticed that the monster was holding something in its left paw. Hanging by the monsters side, it held a cute and small brown teddy bear by the hand. This is when Matty said, "Hello".