Norms Start and end on time Cell phones to vibrate or off All voices heard and respected Take turns sharing Have fun

Step-Up to Writing Across the Content

Do Now At your table, discuss what types of writing activities you are doing with your students? Be prepared to share.

Objective Teachers will be able to identify and use Step-Up to Writing strategies that can be used in content areas. (Math – Science – Reading – Language Arts – Social Studies – Art – PE – Foreign Language – Music – Technology – Choir – Band) GLE 3.1.2 Uses an effective organizational structure, writes unified, cohesive paragraphs. (Topic sentence with logically presented details.)

Step-Up to Writing is… About promoting the goals of good writing About common language and common expectations Strategies used in all subject areas

Planning is the key to success Prewrite Draft Revise Edit Proofread Final copy Share GLE 1.1.1 Analyzes and selects effective strategies for generating ideas and planning writing. GLE 1.3.1 Revises text, including changing words, sentences, paragraphs and ideas.

Step-Up to Writing is a Unique, Multi-sensory Approach In Step-Up to Writing, students use folded paper, color, lists of words, and informal outlines. These make the process of writing easy! Folded paper Color Sequence: Green (Topic) Yellow (Reasons, Details, Facts) Red (the E’s) Green (Conclusion) Informal outlines

Folded Paper Two Column Notes

Color

Informal Outlines The Step-Up to Writing process teaches several informal outlining methods that make organization fast and efficient. In content areas, the Step-Up process helps the student organize important informational text in outline format.

In your classroom… At your table, discuss how students are organizing information you share or information they read in your class? Be prepared to share out.

What are RDF’s? Key Idea (Main Idea) Supporting sentences which include Reasons, Details, Facts

What are the E’s? Key Idea (Main Idea) Reasons, Details, Facts, plus the E’s Elaboration's Evidence Examples Events Experiences Expert Opinion Everyday life Excitement Explanations

Elaboration means... Tell the reader more, using: Specific words Extensions Layering of detail Specific strategies GLE 3.1.1 Analyzes ideas, selects a manageable topic, elaborates using specific, relevant details.

7 Elaboration Strategies Anecdotes – short narrative (story) inserted into an essay (paragraph) that develops an idea or argument Scenario – hypothetical (what if?) situation or event Examples – provides more specific information about an idea Definition – restates an unfamiliar word or phrase to tell the reader what it means Statistics/Facts – the numbers (data) and information that help to support your idea or argument Quotations – words someone has said that can help to support your idea or argument Description – creating an image (picture in their head) for the reader, showing not telling, choosing specific words to create a ‘picture’ that allows the reader to ‘see’ what you are saying.

Memorable endings… At your table, discuss how students end their writing assignments. Be prepared to share out.

In conclusion… When writing conclusions, think about the following: present the weakest argument first and save the strongest argument right before the conclusion, restate your position; remind your readers of your topic, it is the last chance to win your reader’s approval or support, use synonyms, if it fits, try using one of these words or phrases in the final sentence to start the conclusion or to be ‘buried’ inside the conclusion. in fact, clearly, definitely, to sum up, certainly, obviously, truly, surely, in conclusion, all in all

back in 15 minutes

PARAGRAPH Writing

Mastering the Paragraph Elements of Paragraph writing: Organization is the key Topic sentences and thesis statements are the heart Examples, evidence and elaborations are the meat Conclusions tie it all together

Paragraphs with a Purpose Summary Paragraphs Process Paragraphs List Paragraphs Compare and Contrast Paragraphs Persuading or convincing Paragraphs Descriptive Paragraphs Sharing information in a paragraph Cause and effect paragraphs Problem and solution Paragraphs Entertaining Paragraphs

Before you start, ask yourself these questions: What will my reader need to know? What emotions do I want my reader to feel? What do I want my reader to do?

Let’s get started… Take a few minutes to list three to five topics your students might write about in your class. Be prepared to share out.

A Method for Writing a Topic Sentence Occasion/Position Statements An occasion is the first part of the topic sentence. The occasion introduces your reason for writing. An occasion can be any event, problem, idea, solution, or circumstance that gives you a reason to write. The position states what you plan to prove or explain in your paragraph. The occasion/position statement is a complex sentence and begins with one of these words.

Start With: After Because Once Unless Although Before Since Until As If, or Even if So that When As long as Even though Though Whenever As soon as In order that While Wherever Although my family and I have taken many wonderful vacations, none was more fun and exciting than our camping trip to the Grand Canyon. Before you make the decision to light up a cigarette, consider the problems caused by smoking. Even though bike helmets are sometimes unfashionable and uncomfortable, all cyclists should wear them. If students use chemicals to do science experiments, it is important that they learn the proper way to dispose of them.

I do, We do, You do Create an occasion/position statement on one of the topics you listed earlier. (Topic Sentence) Be prepared to share out.

Informal Outline Draft an informal outline on your topic. Develop three to five key ideas, and list two to three reasons, details, or facts about each key idea. (Key Ideas, RDF’s) Be prepared to share out.

Tell me more… Select an elaboration strategy to support your reasons, details, and facts. Create elaborations that tell more about the reasons, details, and facts listed in your informal outline. (What are the E’s… elaboration) Be prepared to share out.

Plan for the end Plan with the end in mind: organize your key ideas from weakest to strongest, restate your position, choose synonyms, if it fits, try one of these: in fact, clearly, definitely, to sum up, certainly, obviously, truly, surely, in conclusion, all in all (Conclusion)

Drafting Begin drafting your opening paragraph: Begin with your topic sentence. Add three to five supporting sentences that speak directly to your key ideas. (weakest to strongest) End your paragraph with a concluding sentence.

A second paragraph Add the next paragraph: Begin with the first supporting sentence you created from your key ideas. Add three to five sentences of elaboration that support your key idea. End your paragraph with a concluding sentence.

A third paragraph Add the next paragraph: Begin with the second supporting sentence you created from your key ideas. Add three to five sentences of elaboration to support your key idea. End your paragraph with a concluding sentence.

A fourth paragraph Add the next paragraph: Begin with the third supporting sentence you created from your key ideas. Add three to five sentences of elaboration to support your key idea. End your paragraph with a concluding sentence.

A concluding paragraph Add the concluding paragraph: Restate your topic sentence from the beginning paragraph. Use synonyms if you need to. Restate your reasons, remind the reader of your position. Remember…this is your last chance to win your readers approval. If it fits, try using one of these words or phrases in the final sentence to start the conclusion or to be ‘buried’ inside the conclusion. in fact, clearly, definitely, to sum up, certainly, obviously, truly, surely, in conclusion, all in all

What have we done? Prewrite Draft Revise Edit Proof Final copy Share

Sharing what we created At your table group, share the draft you created here today. Once all at the table have had the opportunity to share, decide who would like to share their draft with the entire group. Be prepared to share out.

The last word To improve writing, it takes time and opportunity. Although we want our students to become better writers and write more often, this doesn’t necessarily mean students must write five paragraph essays every time we assign a writing activity. Response writing can provide important formative feedback about student learning and doesn’t require grading.