Seventh Grade Writing Standards

Rene MalamedTech 290/Cohort 21September 17, 2008

Standards

• 2.0 Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics) – 2.1 Write fictional or autobiographical

narratives– 2.2 Write responses to literature– 2.4 Write persuasive compositions– 2.5 Write summaries of reading materials

Four Types of Writing

• Narrative

• Persuasive

• Summary

• Response to Literature

Narrative

• A story• Beginning, middle, end• No color-coding!• First Person• Multi-paragraph

Planning a Narrative

Quick Notes• A little pig

• Escapes to city

Quick Sketch

Elements of Narratives

• Plot• Dialogue• Characters• Setting

Narrative Must-haves

• Description– Show, don’t tell!

• An interesting start– Not “once upon a

time” or “Hi, my name is…”

• Your character reaches a goal, solves a problem

Persuasive

• Multi-Paragraph Essay• Thesis states a clear position• Arguments support thesis• Counterpoints addressed

Argue One Side Only

• Choose the side you can argue the best!– Not necessarily the side

you agree with

– You want at least three arguments

Pros Cons• 1 ???• 2• 3• 4

Planning the Persuasive Essay

• Block it outBackgroundThesis/plan

Argument 1 Argument 2 Argument 3Support Support Support

Counter Arguments

Conclusion

Counter Arguments

• Strengthen your argument by addressing counter arguments– Explain why the

opposing view is wrong

– “Even though ….”

Summary

• Multi-paragraph• Introduction, body, but no formal

conclusion• Non-fiction reading

Start by Taking Two-Column Notes

*Idea 1

*Idea 2

-Support

.Example

.Example

-Support

.Example

Summary Topic Sentence

Name it Verb it Finish it

“Title” describes the main idea

illustrates

Summary 4

• Start with the summary topic sentence

• Each yellow idea and its red support are a separate body paragraph

• Wrap it up with a concluding idea, sentence

• Summarize main ideas, don’t retell the reading

Response to Literature

• Introduce (begin your thesis with the summary topic sentence :“Of Mice and Men captures the true meaning of friendship.”

• Find two to three pieces of evidence to support your thesis statement

• Turn these pieces of evidence into your plan sentence

Planning the Response

• Follow the same structure as the other expository essays-Green introduction (Thesis and plan)-Yellow and red body paragraphs (Transition topic sentences and examples, explanations, etc.-Green conclusion

Finding Evidence to Support Thesis

• Highlight quotes in the reading that support your ideas

• Use the quotes as “reds” to support your main points

• Don’t forget to explain and elaborate on the quotes to further support your point

Making Connections

• Try to find a connection between the reading and something else– Text to self– Text to text– Text to world

• You can incorporate this into your essay as evidence if it supports your thesis

References

• Images– Clipart in Microsoft Powerpoint

• Instructional strategies– Step Up To Writing