Amie Brasher Narrative Writing Unit READ 7140A Summer 2009

Grade level: 6 th Genre: Narrative Writing Form: Simulated Journal Content Area: social studies

Topic: Life as a Cuban citizen CUBA CUBA’S FLAG

Georgia Writing Assessment 8 th grade Performance Level Descriptors

Performance Level Descriptions: Does Not Meet the Standard Demonstrates limited focus on topic Development is minimal Ideas not grouped appropriately Shows little awareness of audience Word choice simple and repetitive Scale score

Performance Level Descriptions: Meets the Standard Generally focused on topic Clear beginning, middle, and end Supporting ideas somewhat developed Word choice generally engaging Shows awareness of audience Scale score is

Performance Level Descriptions: Exceeds the Standard Consistently focused on the topic Effective introduction, body, and conclusion Well developed plot and fully elaborate supporting ideas Word choice is varied and precise Errors are minor and frequent Scale score is

Pre-assessment Prompt Directions: Pick one topic to write a narrative story on, which should include: characters, a setting, conflict, events, solution, and conclusion. Your story should have a beginning, middle, and end. Choice #1: How did you meet your closest friend? Choice #2: Describe a place you remember going to that was really fun. Choice #3: Tell your life story from someone else’s point of view.

Writing Process, Stage 1 Prewriting

Instructional Grouping Related to Teacher’s Instructional Needs Instruction: whole group, teacher scaffolds instruction, saves time Practice: individual, allows teacher to address student’s needs Assessment: individual to complete story map, cooperative pairs to compare story map and complete checklist

Instructional Grouping Options Related To Student Needs Developmental: EBD (emotional behavioral disorder) student requires specific partner. Resource teacher monitors this group closely. Cultural: ESOL student will be partnered with a higher level student for assistance.

Genre/Mode of Writing Genre: narrative writing -fiction or nonfiction stories written to entertain or inform readers Mode: simulated journal -writing a story from another person’s viewpoint

Prewriting Getting ready to write 70% of time spent on this stage Things to consider: Topic: Cuban citizenship Purpose: to inform Form: simulated journal Audience: peers/teacher Story map: organize ideas

Story Map Title: What is it like to be a citizen of Cuba? Characters Main Character’s Name: _____________________________ Description of main character: 2 nd Character’s Name: _______________________________ Description of 2 nd character: 3 rd Character’s Name: _______________________________ Description of 3 rd character: Problem: What is the main character trying to do? (Conflict or Problem) Setting Place: Where does the story take place? Time: When does the story happen?

Story Map Weather: What is the weather like when the story happens? Season: What season is it when the story happens? Time period: What is the length of the story? (days, weeks) Events: Each event needs a main idea and 3 supporting details. Event #1: Event #2: Event #3: Event #4: Conclusion or Ending

Modifications/Accommodations for students with differing developmental needs I have two students with written expression, which is a disability where a student cannot communicate through writing. They have difficulty writing long sentences or phrases. I will put the story map on the computer for these students and let them type their responses on the computer.

Modifications/Accommodations for students from differing cultural or linguistic backgrounds Cultural: Students speaking a different language may be paired with a higher level student for assistance. Students may also be provided with a dictionary converting words from their language into English. Linguistic: I will provide a rubric and a checklist for everyone before beginning the writing process, including the linguistically challenged children.

Writing Process, Stage 2 Drafting

Drafting Use graphic organizer - form your ideas into sentences and paragraphs Use the checklist to make sure you have all necessary elements included Do not worry about mechanics right now! We will correct those errors during our next stages.

Writing Process, Stage 3 Revising

Revising Clarify and refine ideas Things to consider - add, delete, rearrange ideas Reread your writing Share revisions with a partner

Writing Process, Stage 4 Editing

Editing Put text into final form Things to consider: - proofread (proofreaders’ marks) Correct mechanical errors - capitalization - punctuation (ending punctuation and commas in a series) - subject/verb agreement - spelling goof12.ppt goof12.ppt

Practice Activity Directions: Find the mistakes in the following passages. Use the proofreaders’ marks to correct the mistakes. Geography cuba is the largest island in the caribbean sea Cuba and its neighbors form the Greater Antilles, a chain of islands created milions of years’ ago when two of the Earth’s tecctonic plates collided

Geography Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean sea. Cuba and its neighbors form the Greater Antilles, a chain of islands created millions of years ago when two of the Earth’s tectonic plates collided. Practice Activity

People and Culture The mixture of native, African, and European influenceses in cuba give this island a livly culture that is known around the world? The introduction of communism to the country in 1959, has had a big impact on the people, both positive and negaive. Practice Activity

People and Culture The mixture of Native, African, and European influences in Cuba give this island a lively culture that is known around the world. The introduction of communism to the country in 1959 has had a big impact on the people, both positive and negative.

Practice Activity Sports Unlike most countries in latin America, Cubas favorite sport is not soccer. Its baseball! Basball came to cuba from the United states in the 1860s Many internatioal basball stars have come from cuba, and the Cuban national team is one of the best in the world.

Practice Activity Sports Unlike most countries in Latin America, Cuba’s favorite sport is not soccer. It’s baseball! Baseball came to Cuba from the United States in the 1860s. Many international baseball stars have come from Cuba, and the Cuban national team is one of the best in the world.

Writing Process, Stage 5 Publishing

Publishing Final copy All corrections have been made Things to consider: - type all words correctly - use the correct format - use spell/grammar check on the computer