Step Up To Writing Student Version: Basic, Practical and Helpful Instruction About Writing.

Step Up To Step Up To WritingWriting

Step Up To Step Up To WritingWriting

Student Version:Student Version:

Basic, Practical and Basic, Practical and Helpful Instruction About Helpful Instruction About

WritingWriting

Step Up To Writing is About

•Showing you the process•Helping you through the process

•Letting you work through the process on your own

Step Up To Writing is About Tools:

•Colors•Word Lists•Informal Outlines

•Examples•small steps

Step Up To Writing is About The Writing Process:

Prewriting and PlanningPrewriting and Planning

Drafting, Revising, and EditingDrafting, Revising, and Editing

Creating a Final Copy, Creating a Final Copy, Proofreading, and SharingProofreading, and Sharing

Step Up To Writing is About Promoting the

Traits of Good Writing:

•Content•Organization

•Style

•Vocabulary•Sentence Structure

•Conventions

GGolf is a great sport to play. It’s fun to olf is a great sport to play. It’s fun to

pound a golf ball around for nine to eighteen pound a golf ball around for nine to eighteen

holes. However, to become good you need holes. However, to become good you need

lots of practice and mental toughness. lots of practice and mental toughness.

Practice is easy to come by, but we need Practice is easy to come by, but we need

toughness too. Personally, I need a lot of toughness too. Personally, I need a lot of

mental toughness. Golf can be really fun if mental toughness. Golf can be really fun if

you are playing well, but if you are playing you are playing well, but if you are playing

badly, it can cause frustration.badly, it can cause frustration.

Does this seem like a well thought out, organized paragraph?

That is

called a

brain dump!

What happened?•This student took all the information he/she knew about golf and just regurgitated it onto paper!

The keys to an effective paragraph:The keys to an effective paragraph:

• A titleA title

• A topic sentenceA topic sentence

• TransitionsTransitions

• Good explanations and examplesGood explanations and examples

• A conclusionA conclusion

Expository paragraphs need:Expository paragraphs need:

Smoking’s Health Toll and Price TagSmoking’s Health Toll and Price Tag

Although smoking may seem cool, it is very unhealthy and

expensive. Many people die from smoking related problems such as

cancer, heart disease etc. every year. According to World Book

Encyclopedia during the mid-1980s smoking contributed to 30 percent

of all deaths from cancer and heart disease in the United States of

America. Furthermore, cigarette smoking was associated with 85

percent of all cases of lung cancer. Secondly, smoking is very

expensive. If someone smoked one pack of cigarettes every day that

cost $3.00 for 50 years it would cost them $54,750.00 which is enough

money to buy an expensive and luxurious car. On the contrary, if

someone put $3.00 a day into a bank or investment institution they

would be making hundreds of dollars in only a few years just because

of the interest they are collecting. Clearly smoking is very unhealthy

and expensive too, so don’t start smoking until you have considered all

of the negative effects!

Fifth GradeFifth Grade

That was better!

•Why?•Organization!•I will show you the process that 5th grade student used to get that level of organization.

The Five Elements of The Five Elements of Expository WritingExpository Writing

Organization is the key.Organization is the key.

Transitions are the Transitions are the glue.glue.

Conclusions tie it all Conclusions tie it all together.together.

Topic sentences and Topic sentences and thesis statements are thesis statements are the heart.the heart.

Examples, evidence, and Examples, evidence, and explanations are the explanations are the meat.meat.

Learn Step One

Informal Outlines:Using a piece of paper let’s work on an informal outline of a paragraph.•Fold paper over to the red

margin line. •Unfold.•Fold about 5 lines from the top.•Fold about 5 lines from the bottom.•Now draw lines on all the folds as shown.•It should look like an “I”

Just

One or

Two words

Remember this is all about colors

so…

•Get out your three colors (red, green, yellow) of crayons and make sure you color in the dots by the correct box.

Topic

Conclusion

Reason/fact/detail

Reason/fact/detail

explain

explain

explain

explain

Use your crayons to place your circles and titles in the correct areas. See teacher’s example

Topic:

Conclusion:

Reason/fact/detail:

Reason/fact/detail: explain:

explain:

explain:

explain:

They can get away from enemies

Good fighters

run fast

climb trees

sharp claws

sharp teeth

cats take care, protect Just

One or

Two words

Cats can protect themselves

Informal Outlines also need transition words:

Topic:

Conclusion:

Reason/fact/detail:


explain:

explain:

explain:

They can get away from enemies

Good fighters

run fast

climb trees

sharp claws

sharp teeth

cats take care, protect

Cats can protect themselves

First

Next

Learn Step Two

Let’s build sentences.• Everyone should have a new paper and the same three crayons (yellowyellow, green, red)

• It is time to fold this paper hamburger style once, and then twice. Open back up.

• Draw lines on front and back where the folds are.

Topic

Reason/fact/detail

Explain

Explain

Front of PageUse

crayon to make dot on

the left

side of the

page.

Then write

the words

next to the

dotsSee teacher’s example

Reason/fact/detail

Explain

Explain

Conclusion

Back of PageUse


the left

side of the

page.

Then write

the words

next to the

dots

TopicCats protect themselves in two ways

Reason/fact/detail

Explain

Explain

First, they are able to get away quickly from their enemies.

Front of Page

Cats are fast runners.

They can climb trees, too.

Reason/fact/detail

Explain

Explain

Conclusion

Back of Page

Next, cats are good fighters.

Cat’s sharp claws can inflict pain and discourage attackers.

They can also use their pointed incisors to bite their enemies when necessary.

Felines can take care of themselves.

What is the deal

Go!

SlowDown

Stop

Go Back

Write a topic sentence.

Give a reason, detail or fact.

Use a transition word or phrase.

Explain. Gave an example.

Remind the reader of your topic.

with the colors!

Using ColorsUsing Colorsfor Organizationfor Organization

Topic Sentence:•Green means “go.”

•Green asks the writer to decide —“What am I going to prove?”“What am I going to explain?”“What information will I share?”

Topic Sentence:•Green means “go.”

•Green asks the writer to decide —“What am I going to prove?”“What am I going to explain?”“What information will I share?”

Reasons/Details/Facts:•Yellow means “slow down.”

•Introduce key concepts to support the topic sentence.

Reasons/Details/Facts:•Yellow means “slow down.”

•Introduce key concepts to support the topic sentence.


Explain:

•Red means “stop and explain.”

•Present evidence.

•Provide explanation and examples.

Explain:

•Red means “stop and explain.”

•Present evidence.

•Provide explanation and examples.



Conclusion:• Green means “go back to your topic.”

• Restate the topic and the position.

• Do not introduce new information.

• Use synonyms and leave your reader with something to remember.

Conclusion:• Green means “go back to your topic.”

• Restate the topic and the position.

• Do not introduce new information.

• Use synonyms and leave your reader with something to remember.

So now you see…How to put together a well organized paragraph. But…

Don’t get stuck!

• Many students will ask “How many sentences do I have to write?”

• This is the ZME (zone of minimal effort) talking.

•With this process you can expand and shrink your paragraphs with ease. •The rule is: you should use as many sentences as is needed to explain what you have to say.

Accordion Accordion ParagraphsParagraphsEight Sentence Eight Sentence Paragraph:Paragraph:Topic SentenceTopic Sentence

Reason/Detail/FactReason/Detail/Fact

ExplainExplain


ExplainExplain


ExplainExplain

ConclusionConclusion

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

An Option:

More Accordion More Accordion ParagraphsParagraphsEleven Sentence Eleven Sentence Paragraph:Paragraph:Topic SentenceTopic Sentence


Reason/Detail/FactReason/Detail/FactExplainExplainExplainExplain

ConclusionConclusion

ExplainExplain

ExplainExplain



ExplainExplain

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Another Option:

Practice Step One

Topic

Conclusion

Reason/fact/detail

Reason/fact/detail

explain

explain

2 fun ways to spend a million dollars

This time let’s just make it a six sentence paragraph

Topic:

Conclusion:

Reason/fact/detail:


explain:

Shopping

Traveling

New car, Odyssey touring

cruise, Alaska

fun, happy, richJust

One or

Two words

2 fun ways to spend a million dollars

Practice Step Two

Topic

Reason/fact/detail

Explain

Front of PageUse


the left

side of the

page.

Then write

the words

next to the

dotsSee teacher’s example

Reason/fact/detail

Explain

Conclusion

Back of PageUse


the left

side of the

page.

Then write

the words

next to the

dots

TopicIf I had a million dollars, I would have a grand time depleting it.

Reason/fact/detail

Explain

First, I would go out and buy the Honda Odyssey Touring Edition.

Front of Page

This model has the six-DVD player, voice controlled navigation and enough seats for all my friends to come hang out with me.

Reason/fact/detail

Explain

Conclusion

Back of Page

Next, I would book a cruise to Alaska.

I would make sure it was the longest cruise available and I would take all my friends with me.

Rolling in money would clearly be a boon for not only myself, but my closet friends.

If I had a million dollars, I would have a grand time depleting it. First, I would go out and buy the Honda Odyssey Touring Edition. This model has the six-DVD player, voice controlled navigation and enough seats for all my friends to come hang out with me. Next, I would book a cruise to Alaska. I would make sure it was the longest cruise available and I would take all my friends with me. Rolling in money would clearly be a boon for not only myself, but my closet friends.

If I was Rolling in the Dough!

How About More Than One Paragraph

You can just add more “explain” pieces and make the “reason/detail/fact” sentence become the topic.

Topic = Topic = Plymouth ColonyPlymouth Colony

R/D/FR/D/F Difficult trip across Difficult trip across AtlanticAtlanticee Dangerous watersDangerous waters

ee One ship turned One ship turned backbackee Poor living Poor living conditionsconditionsR/D/FR/D/F Difficult winterDifficult winteree Arrived in wrong Arrived in wrong locationlocationee Arrived too late to plant Arrived too late to plant gardengardenee Arrived too late to build Arrived too late to build homeshomesR/D/FR/D/F Befriended by Befriended by

IndiansIndiansee Invited to first Invited to first ThanksgivingThanksgiving

For example:

Paragraph

Paragraph

Paragraph

Paragraph for the conclusion

Paragraph

Persuasive Essay Format

R/D/F Outlines: Reasons OutlineR/D/F Outlines: Reasons OutlineTopic = Topic = Reasons Reasons for Learning to for Learning to SwimSwim

R Safety R Safety reasonsreasons

e Help yourselfe Help yourself e Save others e Save others

R Social R Social reasonsreasons

e Partiese Parties e Vacations e Vacations e Summertime e SummertimeOf course, you will NOT limit yourself to only two reasons or three examples.

Independent Practice

You try…• Get a paper ready like in step one but with 3 yellows (reason/detail/fact). One reason must be the opposing viewpoint and a rebuttals to it.

• Think about the topic you want to write your persuasive essay about.

• Fill in using your topic and at least two reds (explain) that you can think of to support each yellow.

• Remember to only JOT information.

By tomorrow•You will need to bring me the “step one” paper you have been working on for my “green light” on your topic.

•Tomorrow we will research any information you will need for the examples on your topic.

Step Up To Writing Student Version: Basic, Practical and Helpful Instruction About Writing.

Documents

Transcript of Step Up To Writing Student Version: Basic, Practical and Helpful Instruction About Writing.