1. Planning and organizing your text based writing
Information received from Core Connections training February 9, 2015
Prepared by Jane Besuden

2. Hierarchy of writing Conventions Elaboration Organization Evidence
Focus

3. What do I do first? Read the task Understand what the task is asking
Stay focused on the question at hand

4. How should I budget my time?
Understand your task
Read the article(s)
Gather evidence
Organize
Plan
Brain Break
Write essay
Revise/Edit
45 minutes [plus 15 minutes]
35 minutes [plus 10 minutes]
10 minutes [plus 5 minutes]

5. Importance of a plan
Most people who plan what they are going to write, do a better job writing
Spend time organizing your information into main ideas
Main Idea=Topic + Point
who or what the article is about + examples or details that support the point
Examples:
Because of Winn Dixie is a story about how a dog changes a town.
Miss Franny is embarrassed because she mistakes Winn Dixie for a bear.
Animals should not be kept in zoos.

6. How do I organize my plan?
Overarching Main Idea (what ALL of the articles are about)-Introduction
Supporting Main Idea
Details to support Main Idea #1
Details to support Main Idea #2
Details to support Main Idea #3
Conclusion
*like an outline

7. Write
Must have introduction and conclusion (separate from main ideas/thoughts)
Must compare at least 2 different sources, but draw conclusions from multiple sources to support analysis, reflection, and research
Must be organized in a clear, cohesive structure

8. What is my task

11. Think What is my task? What do I need to do?
How do both of these articles relate to my task?
How can I organize this information?

12. What is my overarching main idea?
Main Idea = Topic + Point
Animals should/should not be kept in zoos.
Who or what + what about them
What can support my idea of keeping or not keeping them in zoos?

13. Pros and Cons Keeping in Zoos Not keeping them in zoos
Zoos are great place to learn about animals
Cared for: fed, have vets
Up close and personal
Safe from predators
Breed so they don’t go extinct
Not natural
Don’t have space needed
Forced to entertain
They’re not happy
Don’t really teach us anything because they are not in their natural habitat

14. Pick your opinion
Whether you agree with it or not, pick what has the most support that you can use in your writing

15. Pick your main ideas/points
Let’s go with not keeping animals in zoos.
Main Idea #1
Animals should not be kept in zoos because it is not natural to them.
They cannot run free
They are not happy in their cages
Orcas in captivity have to circle their tank 1900 times to swim as much as they would in the wild
Can’t run, climb, fly, hunt, or have families (babies are taken and sold/killed)
Main Idea #2
Animals should not be used for entertainment.
Sea World and other marine parks use Orcas and other sea life for shows
Circuses cage all kinds of animals-many people don’t know what goes on behind the scenes

16. Example
Intro:
Imagine yourself driving down I4 in your car at rush hour. Think about how frustrated you feel not being able to move around because you are stuck in a metal cage. That is what captured animals feel like when they are put in zoos. They are confined and not able to move freely. You don’t like it. They don’t like it. So, in my opinion, animals should not be kept in zoos.
MI #1:
When a dog or cat chases a squirrel, you think to yourself they are doing what comes natural to them. They are out and about in nature following their instincts. Animals in zoos don’t have that opportunity. They aren’t free to roam around, climb trees, run for miles, or chase prey. They are just stuck in their cages. Orcas in Sea World have to swim around their pools 1900 times per day just to complete a journey they would do in the open ocean. That is why animals should not be kept in zoos because it is not natural to them.

17. Questions