8 th Grade Language Arts

 Focusing  Pre-writing  Drafting  Revising  Editing  Publishing  Reflecting

 Ask yourself, What am I being asked to do? ◦ Use SPAT.  Situation ◦ What is happening that needs to be addressed?  Purpose ◦ How should I write? To inform, to narrate, or to persuade.  Audience ◦ Who am I writing to?  Task ◦ What will I write, an editorial, speech, letter, or article?

 Brainstorm Ideas ◦ 5 paragraph papers require 3 main points with supporting details. Do you have that much information to write about? ◦ When given 2 writing prompts, always pre-write both. Introduction: Start broad, narrow to your main idea, engage your audience. 3 Body paragraphs, with plenty of supporting details! Use transitions to move from paragraph to paragraph. Conclusion: Remind the audience of your main point, and then broaden out to make your conclusion interesting.

 Time to write: ◦ Use paragraph development! 8 Sentence paragraphs ensure you get the right amount of details! ◦ TS-Topic Sentence ◦ SD-Supporting Detail ◦ FS-Further Support ◦ SD-Supporting Detail ◦ FS-Further Support ◦ C- Conclusion

 Now we have 5 paragraphs written.  Time to improve our work! ◦ Remember the acronym ARMS  Add (More details)  Remove (Unneeded information or words)  Move (details to improve flow)  Substitute (Better words, get a thesaurus)

 We are looking for correctness in this step. ◦ Use the acronym CUPS to edit!  Capitalization (first word, proper nouns)  Usage (there, their, they’re)  Punctuation (end, commas, etc)  Spelling (dictionary)

Step 6: Publish Step 7: Reflect  Make your work available to your audience. ◦ Time to turn in your work, or send it to a publisher.  What did you learn during the writing process?  How did you improve as a writer?  What will you do differently next time?  What will you do the same next time?

 The principal of WEMS, Mrs. Dillard, has decided that she needs an article written, for the school newspaper, about school rules. Mrs. Dillard would like you to tell the incoming 7 th graders about the important rules here at WEMS, and why we follow them. Write an article explaining some important rules here at WEMS. Provide important information explaining why each rule is important to our school, and why we follow them.

 1 hour to write, 1 hour of extended time.  On your desk: Writer’s Reference Sheet, dictionary, and a thesaurus. ◦ You will be graded on correctness!  Given 2 prompts: ◦ You must Focus and pre-write both. (Draw the graphic organizer) ◦ Remember paragraph development. (8 Sentence) ◦ Use 1 st hour to focus, pre-write, and draft. ◦ Use 2 nd hour to revise, edit, and write a final draft. USE ALL OF YOUR TIME!!

 Fold your paper Hot Dog Style.  Leave a space a the bottom, label the bottom The Writing Process!  Now divide into 7 sections, and label each with a step of the Writing Process.  Inside, describe the step that is on the label.  Color and neatness count, these foldable’s will be displayed in the hall