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Last week I had the pleasure of sitting through a workshop with Gretchen Bernabei, an English teacher in San Antonio, Texas and author of The Good Writer's Guide.

While her entire workshop was full of interesting writing strategies, one of the most creative that stuck with me was her "Ba-Da-Bing" strategy. The purpose of this strategy is to help students supplement their skimpy writing, especially when they feel like they "can't write anymore."

Here's how it works:

When you know you need to write more, think BA and add where you were, think DA and tell what you saw, think BING and write what you thought about it all.

Try beefing up this sentence with some Ba-Da-Bing!

My mom and I saw some students.

BA (Where you were): Mom and I were just stepping out of our car and into the school parking lot.

DA (What you saw): The students were walking around in identical white shirts and the same khaki pants.

BING (What you thought): I thought, "Oh, great. Uniforms are the last thing I want to wear."

Students can use this Ba-Da-Bing strategy to give their writing more depth. It will help the reader see through the writer's eyes so that the experience comes alive.

For more information about Gretchen Bernabei and other great writing strategies, visit her website at: www.trailofbreadcrumbs.net