step up to writing for kids
DESCRIPTION
This is a great introduction to Step Up To Writing that I plan on using with my kids and sharing with my parents. It is from (I believe) Mountainview Middle SchoolTRANSCRIPT
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:
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
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
crayon to make dot on
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.
Using ColorsUsing Colorsfor Organizationfor Organization
Explain:
•Red means “stop and explain.”
•Present evidence.
•Provide explanation and examples.
Explain:
•Red means “stop and explain.”
•Present evidence.
•Provide explanation and examples.
Using ColorsUsing Colorsfor Organizationfor Organization
Using ColorsUsing Colorsfor Organizationfor Organization
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
Reason/Detail/FactReason/Detail/Fact
ExplainExplain
Reason/Detail/FactReason/Detail/Fact
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/Fact
Reason/Detail/FactReason/Detail/FactExplainExplainExplainExplain
ConclusionConclusion
ExplainExplain
ExplainExplain
Reason/Detail/FactReason/Detail/Fact
Reason/Detail/FactReason/Detail/Fact
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:
Reason/fact/detail: explain:
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
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
Conclusion
Back of PageUse
crayon to make dot on
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.