Slow Way Home Unit 7: Assessment Part II

Review of Lesson I Chapters Chapters What does it mean to read as a writer, and how can doing so help your writing? What does it mean to read as a writer, and how can doing so help your writing? Reading as a writer means paying close attention to how a writer sets up sentences, paragraphs, chapters. Reading as a writer means paying close attention to how a writer sets up sentences, paragraphs, chapters. We read as writers to become better writers ourselves. We read as writers to become better writers ourselves.

Review your classroom list of Techniques of good writing

Preparation for In-class Essay Today we will spend some time preparing for a practice FCAT Writes essay. Today we will spend some time preparing for a practice FCAT Writes essay. You will write this essay in one class period, and then next week, you will grade the essay using the anchor sets that actual FCAT graders use when they grade your essays in the spring You will write this essay in one class period, and then next week, you will grade the essay using the anchor sets that actual FCAT graders use when they grade your essays in the spring

How to write a decent essay Your essay needs to have at least two paragraphs with elaborated support. Your essay needs to have at least two paragraphs with elaborated support. If you sandwich these two paragraphs of elaborated support between an introduction that clarifies your subject and a conclusion that leaves your reader with something to think about, you will have a decent essay. If you sandwich these two paragraphs of elaborated support between an introduction that clarifies your subject and a conclusion that leaves your reader with something to think about, you will have a decent essay.

How to write a decent essay 2 Five and Six FCAT essays have this in common: the writer has a sense of to whom he/she is writing, and the writer seems to enjoy writing the essay. Five and Six FCAT essays have this in common: the writer has a sense of to whom he/she is writing, and the writer seems to enjoy writing the essay.

What is elaborated support? There are four levels of support identified in FCAT essays There are four levels of support identified in FCAT essays Bare Bare Extended Extended Layered Layered Elaborated Elaborated

Essays In the 1-3 range have bare and extended support. In the 1-3 range have bare and extended support. Essays in the 4-6 range have layered and elaborated support Essays in the 4-6 range have layered and elaborated support

Bare support The writer makes a statement and gives a basic reason for it: The writer makes a statement and gives a basic reason for it: I like to sit in the swing with my father because it makes me feel peaceful. I like to sit in the swing with my father because it makes me feel peaceful.

Extended support The writer makes a statement and uses information that begins to clarify meaning: The writer makes a statement and uses information that begins to clarify meaning: I like to sit in the swing with my father because it makes me feel peaceful. My father doesn’t talk a lot. He is happy I am with him. I like to sit in the swing with my father because it makes me feel peaceful. My father doesn’t talk a lot. He is happy I am with him.

Layered Support The writer makes a statement and then uses a series of informational statements that collectively help to clarify meaning. For example The writer makes a statement and then uses a series of informational statements that collectively help to clarify meaning. For example I like to sit in the swing with my father because it makes me feel peaceful. My father doesn’t talk a lot. He is happy I am with him. We watch the sun set over the bay, and rock back and forth on the swing. The only sounds we hear are birds in the trees and the waves lapping against the shore. I like to sit in the swing with my father because it makes me feel peaceful. My father doesn’t talk a lot. He is happy I am with him. We watch the sun set over the bay, and rock back and forth on the swing. The only sounds we hear are birds in the trees and the waves lapping against the shore.

Elaborated Support: The writer makes a statement and uses additional details, anecdotes, illustrations and examples to further clarify meaning. The writer provides information that answers the question, “what do you mean?” The writer makes a statement and uses additional details, anecdotes, illustrations and examples to further clarify meaning. The writer provides information that answers the question, “what do you mean?” I like to sit in the swing with my father because it makes me feel peaceful. My father doesn’t talk a lot. He is happy I am with him. We watch the sun set over the bay, and rock back and forth on the swing. The only sounds we hear are birds in the trees and the waves lapping against the shore. I feel peaceful because I don’t feel like I have to prove myself, I don’t have to do anything I don’t have to say anything. My father is simply happy that I am there sitting with him. I like to sit in the swing with my father because it makes me feel peaceful. My father doesn’t talk a lot. He is happy I am with him. We watch the sun set over the bay, and rock back and forth on the swing. The only sounds we hear are birds in the trees and the waves lapping against the shore. I feel peaceful because I don’t feel like I have to prove myself, I don’t have to do anything I don’t have to say anything. My father is simply happy that I am there sitting with him.

Now, review the previous slides And practice writing a sentence with bare, extended, layered and elaborated support. And practice writing a sentence with bare, extended, layered and elaborated support. Use this prompt Use this prompt Why do people save things? Why do people save things?

Brainstorm An essay using the prompt, “Why People Save things” An essay using the prompt, “Why People Save things” Remember, when you are brainstorming a prompt, you want to think of real people you know who save things, and then think of anecdotes or stories you can tell about a particular person saving something and why. Remember, when you are brainstorming a prompt, you want to think of real people you know who save things, and then think of anecdotes or stories you can tell about a particular person saving something and why.

Review The brainstorming methods from earlier lessons: The brainstorming methods from earlier lessons: Listing Listing Web Web Outline Outline Venn diagram Venn diagram Or any other strategies that you know work for you. Or any other strategies that you know work for you.

Spend ten minutes Brainstorming Brainstorming

Now, Share your method with your group. Share your method with your group. Talk about the ideas you came up with Talk about the ideas you came up with

Teacher Modeling Your teacher has written a model brainstorming as well Your teacher has written a model brainstorming as well He/she will share her brainstorming with you. He/she will share her brainstorming with you.

Tomorrow You will write an essay on this topic. You will write an essay on this topic. You will have 50 minutes to write your essay. You will have 50 minutes to write your essay.