Writing a Descriptive Text

Purpose: to educate others on a specific topic Report: includes facts and details from a variety of valid resources Special Features: - Titles - Sub-titles - Illustrations - Maps - Photos

January 28 th – February 1 st (Planning) February 4 th – February 8 th (Drafting) February 11 th – February 15 th (Revising & Editing) February 18 th – February 22 nd (Publishing) February 22 th – February 28 th (Workshop)

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Choose a subject Find 3 Resources Develop Research Questions Taking Notes

1. Choose 3 potential topics based on your interests using the following website: Research each of those topics using Google and see how many valid websites you can find for each topic (official websites). 3. Choose the topic with the most potential (the one that has the most valid resources) 4. Locate your natural wonder on the map of the world

 An official website  A published text from the New Brunswick Public Library:  You should have 3 resources total (1 text, 1 website and 1 other)

 Who?  What?  When?  Where?  Why?  How?

 What is the topic?  Where is it?  How many visitors? Is it popular?  Why is it so special?  Fun Fact  What are the main ideas? (3)

 Why do they find it interesting?  How does the phenomenon occur?  How was this wonder formed?  What kinds of species live there? What vegetation lives there? Do humans live there?  Who discovered the site? When? How? (history)  What environmental problems exist?

 What are the main ideas?  Would you visit?  What can you do to help?  What is the topic ***

 Fill out a sheet for each resource you use (use a scrap piece of paper) Topic: Title: Author: Publishing Information: Facts & Details: - - -

Organize Your Ideas Writing Folder Review Write your Introduction Write your Main Ideas Write your Conclusion

1. Brainstorm a main idea for your report and write it on a yellow sticky note. 2. Identify which details in your research are part of this main idea and highlight them with the same color. 3. Repeat steps 1-2 with another main idea and a different color highlighter

 Writing Folder - The Writing Process - Text Forms - 6 Write Traits - Writing Achievement Standards - Transition Words - Parts of Speech - Useful Definitions - Crediting Sources in a Bibliography - Compare & Contrast Set a Goal for your Writing

Topic 3 Main Ideas 3-5 Details/Facts for Each Main Idea 3 Details = Minimum 4 Details = Above 5 Details = Above & Beyond

1. Write a Topic Sentence (warm up) 2. Answer your Research Questions -What is the wonder? -Where is the wonder? -Why is it so special? -Fun Fact 3. Outline your 3 Main Ideas Tip: Use transition words, thesaurus and adjectives

1. Write a topic sentence or use a transition word 2. Answer your research questions -What is the flora & fauna? -What is the history? -What is the appearance (shape & size) -What are the attractions (tourism)? -How was it formed? How does it form? -How has it changed over the years? 3. Write a closing sentence

1. Restate your topic 2. Highlight the key points 3. Ask your audience a question - Have you learned more about the topic? - Would you visit? - What can you do to help?

Revise the Write Traits

 Voice (questions for audience)  Ideas/Content (topic sentence for paragraphs)  Organization (5 paragraphs total)  Word Choice (transition words & adjectives)  Sentence Fluency (different sentence starters) *** Use a different colored highlighter for each improvement you make. You should have at least 3 improvements for each write trait***

Correct Spelling/Grammar/Punctuation TAG someone’s work

 T – Tell 1 thing you really like  A – Ask 1 question  G – Give 1 piece of advice

Check out the rubric See steps on how to publish

ExcellentGoodSatisfactoryUnsatisfactory Voice Word Choice Ideas/Content Sentence Fluency Organization Spelling/Grammar Punctuation Revising/Editing Text Features Formatting Bibliography

 Step 1: Decide whether you will publish by-hand or using your netbook Netbook Reminder... if you'd like to use your netbook, make sure you're comfortable with the following: - printing at home or at library - saving your work on a memory stick - typing on Microsoft Word - changing language settings in Microsoft Word - copying and pasting pictures & images in Microsoft Word  Step 2: Type your text or write your text on white lined paper - don't forget to indent your paragraphs Netbook reminder... font size should be around 12pts.

 Step 3: Add your text features (3 total) from the following list: - title & sub-titles - map - diagram - graph - image - quick facts Netbook reminder... make sure you copy the publishing information into your bibliography if you use images from the Internet  Step 4: Type up your bibliography (see red folder for examples)

 Step 5: Use this check-list before you hand-in your published copy - name & class - title - text features - bibliography  Due Date: Thursday February 28th