1. Writing Conventions The rules that make your students' writing perfect! Time4Writing provides these teachers materials to teachers and parents at no cost. More presentations, handouts, interactive online exercises, and video lessons are freely available at Time4Writing.com. Consider linking to these resources from your school, teacher, or homeschool educational site. The rules: These materials must maintain the visibility of the Time4Writing trademark and copyright information. They can be copied and used for educational purposes. They are not for resale. Want to give us feedback? We'd like to hear your views: info@time4writing.com Choosing the Better Senten Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

2. Before they can write effective paragraphs and essays, students need to learn the conventions that make writing work. 1. spelling 2. punctuation 3. capitalization 4. grammar Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

3. The first writing convention: Spelling correct spelling makes students' written language clear to readers -- incorrect spelling can cause confusion correct spelling shows students are careful - incorrect spelling looks sloppy Help your students see that correct spelling lends credibility to their writing. Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

4. Another writing convention: Punctuation Punctuation is needed for sentences to make sense and for the reader's experience to be more enjoyable. Note the following sentence without any punctuation at all: Let's eat Grandma This is not a clear or logical (or pleasant) sentence. Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

5. Punctuation tells readers when to start, stop, slow down, pause, and whether it's a question or statement. Let's eat, Grandma! It's a wonder what a difference a little comma can make... Try this example with your students; it should drive the point home. Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

6. A third writing convention: Capitalization Students easily learn to begin every sentence with a capital letter, as well as every person's name (first, middle, or last). Other rules help distinguish between general objects or ideas and significant or specific ones. Certain conventions, such as titles, impose yet more rules. So it is important to expose your students to all the various rules. Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

7. Other words needing capitalization: 1. proper nouns 2. names of specific places 3. titles of books, magazines, movies, and so on 4. days and months Capitalization helps us know quickly what types of nouns we're dealing with, without our having to stop and figure it out. Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

8. The final writing convention: Grammar Grammar is the structure of the language. It prescribes ways to put words together to form intelligible sentences. The rules of grammar help make the language we use understandable to everyone. Without them, communication would be confusing. That said, some of the rules themselves can be confusing to students. This is where your role is so important. With the help of printable exercises and even online games, your students can learn to master grammar. Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

9. Grammar teaches us the right order of words. Which sentence is correct? The man walked the dog. OR The dog walked the man. We know the first sentence is right, because we know grammar. Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

10. The end. More free TEACHING WRITING resources: helping students' creative writing graphic organizers critiquing & grading the writing process Eight-week WRITING courses: elementary school middle school high school Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012