Understanding The Writing Task

Grade 5Copyright © 2014 by Write Score LLC

Explicit InstructionWe are going to read The Journey: Stories of Migration and then we are going to explain how Cynthia Rylant’s choice of words develops her point of view about caribou migration.

What is point of view?

Point of view is a particular attitude or way of considering the matter.

That just means we pay really close attention while reading, stopping often to make sure we understand what is going on.

For this task we will focus only on the section about caribou migration.

How do we start?

We read the text closely.

What words in the passage appeal to the sense of hearing to help readers

understand how it sounds when the caribou travel together?

• Cynthia Rylant uses many words to describe how caribou migration sounds.

• Now, state the words that you find from the text.

What words in the passage appeal to the sense of sight to help readers

understand how it looks when the caribou travel together?• Start with a topic sentence. Try to vary it

from your last sentence about the sound words.

• Then, state the sight words Cynthia Rylant uses in another sentence or two.

What is the meaning of the word “tundra” as it is used in the text?

• The word “tundra” means…

• What is your evidence from the text?

What dangers do caribou face on their migration? Develop your

answer from the text and illustrations.

• Caribou face a few dangers…

• What is your evidence from the text/illustrations?

Explain how Cynthia Rylant’s choice of words develops her point of view about caribou migration.

Don’t forget to prove your claim by using text evidence from your planning sheet.

Culminating Writing Task