1. Think Before You Write

2. Settling for “Sort of” Writing
Content “personal or academic”
Good writers..
Make connections among ideas
Sort and elaborate thoughts
Create meaning out of their ideas and experiences

3. Ensuring Content Knowledge
Identify big idea
This is what you want your students to know and understand by the end of the unit
Articulate an essential focusing question
Allows students to think about the big idea in a specific/manageable way
Give students support
This is essential and allows students to peer edit

4. Building Working Knowledge
This stage helps students to gain a solid understanding of the content.
Develop vocabulary
Students will be able to express their ideas with a solid understanding of the content
Comprehending text
Appropriate materials
Need opportunities to read, discuss, reread, and analyze the text
Refining understanding through discussion
Guided oral instruction allows student to construct real understandings
This planning is intentional and directed toward creating the final piece of writing

5. Processing and Capturing Knowledge
Note taking
At the beginning the teacher needs to explicitly direct the note taking
Through taking notes the students need to have opportunities to capture their understanding in their own words.