1. District Portfolio Writing
Grade 8 Report Writing

2. Two pieces of writing need to go in your District Writing Portfolio this year:
A Descriptive Report
An Explanatory Report
Report topics are usually scientific, technical, or historical in nature. Your reports will marked using the Write Traits Rubric.

3. Descriptive vs. Explanatory
Purpose:
to present factual information about something.
Think “Describe.”
Purpose:
to describe how or why something happens, is done or works.
Involves steps and/or stages.
Think “Explain.”

4. Activity: Grilled Cheese
We will be writing 2 good paragraphs of at least 5 sentences each together as a class.
Descriptive
Describe a grilled cheese sandwich.
Explanation
Explain how to make a grilled cheese sandwich.

5. Your Turn: Descriptive vs. Explanatory
Writing Activity:
Choose one of your belongings and describe it in detail in a descriptive paragraph, 5 sentences long.
Then in an explanatory paragraph (5 sentences long), explain how this item is used.
Value = 20 marks
Due tomorrow!

6. Your Turn: Descriptive vs. Explanatory
Possible Topics:
Pencil
iPod
Paintball gun
Flat iron
Dirt bike
Xbox
Sneakers
Hair clip
Dictionary
Watch

7. Descriptive Report
Descriptive reports describe people, places or things with factual information.
Common varieties of descriptive writing include:
Reports
Comparisons
Magazine articles
Fact books
Poems
Question and answer

8. Language of Descriptive Report
Define
Clarify
Compare
Contrast
Factual
Precise
Details
Classify
Research
Category
Summarize
Linking verbs
Specific
Descriptive language
Interpret
Usually present tense

9. Language of Explanation Text
Reason
Support
Evidence
Illustration
Caption
Label
Diagram
Experiment
Investigate
Research
Scientific
Explanation
Fact
Subject specific terms
Phenomena
Observations

10. Student Models http://thewritesource.com/studentmodels/#ws_2000

11. Writing Your Descriptive Report
Choose your topic, keeping in mind that your report should be approximately 5 paragraphs long.
Brainstorm and outline your report
Research if required (Note: use of research will require a bibliography)
Draft
Revise and Edit
Type or write neatly your good copy in blue or black ink.
Hand-in with your name on it.

12. Plagarism
See Handout and Answer the following questions on loose-leaf.
What is plagiarism?
What can you do to avoid plagiarism?
Why is plagiarism wrong?
What are some possible consequences of plagiarism?
Works Cited Activity

13. Guided Reading: Explanatory Report

14. Independent Reading Activity
Consider what topic you may like to research for one or both of your reports.
Find and article that relates to your topic, either in a book or online.
Bring the book or a copy of the article to class.
Read and answer the following questions (quietly and individually)
What did you learn that was new information for you?
Do you need to read further to learn more about this topic?
Can you recommend this book to
others?