Powerwriting A system that assigns a numerical value to words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs

Powerwriting helps us: organize thoughts support main ideas construct strong paragraphs improve writing style

Main ideas, topic sentences, and topic paragraphs Major details that explain main ideas Minor details that clarify major details 1st Power 2nd Power 3rd Power

Stage 1: Word Power 1 st power or “umbrella” word - Most general word 2 nd power -Words that explain 1 st power

1 2 2 sports football basketball Example: 2baseball

Another Example: foods 2

And Another Example: rap 2

Last Example:

Stage 2: Phrase Power 1 st power - Phrase that is most general 2 nd power - Phrases that explain 1 st power Difference from Stage 1 - Phrasegraph where phrases are used instead of single words

1 2 2 Sports I watch Example: Steelers football College basketball 2 High school baseball

Another Example: books I’ve read 2

And Another Example: Olive Garden 2 2

Last Example:

1 st power - Stage 3: Sentence Power Sentence that is most general 1 st power sentence must contain the word three 2 nd power -Sentences that explain 1 st power

Difference from Stage 2 - Sentences are used instead of phrases and powergraph isn’t used In Stage 3, you leave the powergraph format behind and put sentences into a paragraph

Example: There are three sports I like to watch. I enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I like to watch college basketball. I spend time watching high school baseball. Notice indentation The word three Complete sentences following

Another Example: Let’s write a paragraph about three teachers at AJHS

Last Example: You pick a topic for our last paragraph

Stage 4: Powergraphs In Stage 4 we begin to use transition words Transitions are like road signs They help us give order and direction Use them to introduce 2 nd power sentences

Second Power Transition Words 1.one 2.another 3.also 4.first 5.second 6.besides 7.finally 8.third 9.last 10.above all 11.in addition to 12.to begin with

When you use the following transitions at the beginning of a sentence, follow them with a comma: also first second finally last third above all to begin with

Example: There are three sports I like to watch. First, I enjoy watching the Steelers play football. Also, I like to watch college basketball. Last, I spend time watching high school baseball.

Another Example: Let’s add transitions to the paragraph we already wrote about three teachers at AJHS

Last Example: Let’s add transitions to the paragraph we already wrote about the topic of your choice

Stage 5: Powergraphs rd power - Sentences that add detail to 2 nd powers

Use 3 rd power sentences to answer questions like: Who? What? Where? Why? When? 3 rd power sentences give more

There are three sports I like to watch. First, I enjoy watching the Steelers play football. Also, I like to watch college basketball. Last, I spend time watching high school baseball. Example: Add 3 rd power sentences to our example

Another Example: Write a paragraph about three types of dogs

Also in Stage 5, the wordis to be eliminated at the beginning of sentences there Stage 5: Powergraphs

Example: There are three sports I like to watch. Rewrite the first sentence of our example to eliminate there

More Examples: Rewrite the following sentences to eliminate there from the beginnings 1.There are three shows I watch every week. 2.There is a tree outside my house. 3.There are no more strawberries. 4.There are twelve months in a year. 5.There is my friend Amanda.

Eliminate any form of theverb from the writing Stage 6: Powergraphs BE

1.am 2.is 3.are 4.was 5.were 6.be 7.being 8.been Be Verbs

You cannot write verb phrases that include a be verb: Has been nice Am talking Was listening Is watching

You also cannot use contractions that contain be verbs Isn’t = is not She’s = she is We’re = we are

The best way to eliminate be verbs is to think of an action verb. She is annoying. Ask yourself “What is she doing?” She annoys me.

Example: I like to watch three sports. First, I enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I like to watch college basketball. The Pitt Panthers are going to win the championship. Last, I spend time watching high school baseball. I cheer most for the Altoona Mt. Lions. Find and eliminate any be verbs in our paragraph

More Examples: Rewrite the following sentences to eliminate be verbs 1.My dog is furry. 2.My mom has been cooking all day. 3.My 3 rd grade teacher was my favorite. 4.Were you at Galactic Ice last night? 5.Pink is my favorite color.

Stage 7: Powergraph With Sentence Patterning There are six different patterns that we can use to add style to our writing

Pattern 1 Use a strong active verb Example: Fire belched from the dragon’s mouth.

Add Pattern 1 to our example I like to watch three sports. First, I enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I like to watch college basketball. The Pitt Panthers are going to win the championship. Last, I spend time watching high school baseball. I cheer most for the Altoona Mt. Lions.

Pattern 2 Ask a question Example: What foods do I like best? **Do not use “you” in a question

Add Pattern 2 to our example I like to watch three sports. First, I enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I like to watch college basketball. The Pitt Panthers are going to win the championship. Last, I spend time watching high school baseball. I cheer most for the Altoona Mt. Lions.

Pattern 3 Use an exclamatory sentence Example: I can’t believe I jumped!

Add Pattern 3 to our example I like to watch three sports. First, I enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I like to watch college basketball. The Pitt Panthers are going to win the championship. Last, I spend time watching high school baseball. I cheer most for the Altoona Mt. Lions.

Pattern 4 Open with an adverb Example: Wisely, Helen made her choice.

Add Pattern 4 to our example I like to watch three sports. First, I enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I like to watch college basketball. The Pitt Panthers are going to win the championship. Last, I spend time watching high school baseball. I cheer most for the Altoona Mt. Lions.

Pattern 5 Open with a prepositional phrase Example: After a moment, I started running again

List of prepositions (anywhere a cat can go) Direction: along, down, from, into, through, to, toward, up Position: above, across, against, among, around, at, before, behind, beneath, beside, between, by, in, off, on, under, upon, within

Prepositions continued Time: after, at, before, by, during, in, until, within Means: by, with, without Abstract: against, except, for, of

Add Pattern 5 to our example I like to watch three sports. First, I enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I like to watch college basketball. The Pitt Panthers are going to win the championship. Last, I spend time watching high school baseball. I cheer most for the Altoona Mt. Lions.

Pattern 6 Use a compound sentence Example: I baked a cake, and she made cookies.

Compound Sentences Two sentences put together with a comma and a conjunction Conjunctions you can use are: and or but

Join the two sentences together to make one compound sentence 1.The dog is white. The cat is black. 2.My mom is a doctor. My dad is a lawyer. 3.I want to go to the movies. I do not have a ride there. 4.My brother likes movies. I bought him a new DVD.

Add Pattern 6 to our example I like to watch three sports. First, I enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I like to watch college basketball. The Pitt Panthers are going to win the championship. Last, I spend time watching high school baseball. I cheer most for the Altoona Mt. Lions.