1. Awesome Research Project http://www.readwritethink.org/class room-resources/lesson- plans/scaffolding-methods-research- paper-1155.html?tab=3#tabshttp://www.readwritethink.org/class room-resources/lesson- plans/scaffolding-methods-research- paper-1155.html?tab=3#tabs

2. This Week’s Agenda Notes M- Bring in an informational text. T-Write an informative paragraph (assigned topic, 7 sentences, topic sentence, supporting details, appropriate support, fact, etc.) W-Revise informative paragraph. Th- Revise informative paragraph. F- Read an informative text. Give 3 reasons explaining why it is informative, and what you now know more about after reading it.

3. Drop Everything and Write: The first quarter has ended. Reflect on how you think you’ve done during your first quarter of 8 th grade. What are some things you believe went well? What do you need to improve on? Tell some goals that you’d like to set for yourself, and explain how you plan to accomplish them. Be specific.

4. Informative Text & Writing What is it? Copy Unit Goal: I will be able to write an informative text to examine a topic and convey relevant ideas by using facts, details, examples, and quotes as support. My writing will include transitions, varied sentence structures, and a formal style.

5. Anticipation Activity How much do we need information? Rank the following 1-5 according to how often you do the mentioned activity. 1= not at all 3=sometimes 5= very often 1.Watch the news ____ 2.Use an encyclopedia for information ____ 3.Use google, bing, or any other search engine ____ 4.Look up the definition of a word in a dictionary ____ 5.Listen to the radio ____ 6.Read the newpaper ____ 7.Read a fashion, sports, or entertainment magazine ____ 8.Research other people’s activity on the facebook, instagram, kik, or any other social media site____ 9.Read someone’s biography or autobiography____ 10.Witness parents’ or family members’ use of GPS for directions ____

6. 3-Corners When I read the line, stand in the appropriate corner. Talk with your group members about how important or not important the informational source is.

7. Not that much! Couldn’t live without it!

8. Taking Cornell Notes Open up to a clean sheet of paper. Copy and label the T-Chart in your notebooks. Copy the questions in the appropriate areas.

9. Informative Text & Writing What is it? Copy Unit 2 Goal: I will be able to write an informative text to examine a topic and convey relevant ideas by using facts, details, examples, and quotes as support. My writing will include transitions, varied sentence structures, and a formal style.

10. Warm Up Warm Up Write the following questions 1.What type of source is the informational text? 2.Is the information presented true? 3.Who is the author? 4.Would you consider the author reliable? 5.What kind of information will readers gather from the source? 6.Why is the information important to real life?

11. Think Pair Share Think Pair Share Switch informational texts with the person sitting beside you. Explain the type of information that readers can gather from the source.

12. What do you already know about nonfiction and informational texts?

13. Warm Prewrite about the following topic. Writing Situation You have just been nominated to become a helper in your neighborhood. Decide on something that needs immediate attention in your neighborhood, and inform your neighbors of the concern. Determine why the concern is a major problem. Give as much information about the problem as possible.

14. Prewrite about the following topic. Writing Situation You have just been nominated to become a helper in your neighborhood. Decide on something that needs immediate attention in your neighborhood, and inform your neighbors of the concern. Determine why the concern is a major problem. Give as much information about the problem as possible.

15. Informative Texts & Writing Vocabulary Informational Text, Informative Writing, Supporting Details, Nonfiction Text, Accuracy, Focus, Footnote, Endnote, Clarity, Textual Evidence, Audience, Tone, Voice, Bibliography, Autobiography, Biography, Newspapers, Magazines, and Almanacs, Definitions, Quotations, Examples, Illustrations

16. Informational Texts Informational Text- type of nonfiction where the author’s purpose is to inform, explain, and describe factual information. Did you know? Explanatory and Expository writings are also used to explain and inform.

17. Definition: Nonfiction Text = Real, not just “realistic” Factual Used to inform or explain something to the reading audience Many different types…

18. Examples of Informational Sources How-To-Do Books (Cookbooks) Instructional Manuals/Guides Reference Books (Encyclopedia, Thesaurus, Dictionary, Atlas) Articles ( Newspapers, Magazines, Educational Journals) Media (Internet, News) Interviews Textbooks Maps

19. Examples of Informative Texts: Newspapers - A daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements.

20. Examples of Informative Texts: Biographies – Accounts of the series of events of a person’s life. Autobiographies – Biographies of yourself (Author).

21. Examples of Informative Texts: Almanacs - Annual publications of weather forecasts and other information arranged according to the calendar of a given year.

22. Examples of Informative Texts: NO! …at least not all sections. QUESTION: Are ALL Magazines informational? Magazines - Periodic publications containing pictures, stories, and articles of interest to those who purchase or subscribe to it.

23. What will you see in an informational text?

24. Informational Texts Characteristics of Informational Texts: Facts & Statistics Definitions Technical/Formal Language Text Features (graphs, diagrams, headings, more)

25. Text Features Text features help readers break down, understand, and locate information in an informational texts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbuJA3bYkcY&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_ mode=1

26. What are text features?  headings  subheadings  boldfaced words  diagrams  illustrations  graphs, tables, and charts  bulleted lists  captions

27. Warm 1. What is the primary purpose of informational text? A.To entertain B.To inform C.To give instructions D.To argue a point 2. Which type of informational text reports on local current events? A.Instructional manuals B.Graphic aids C.Textbooks D.News articles 3. Which of the following best describes why an author would include maps, illustrations, and/or graphs with informational text? A.to fill space and make the article appear longer B.to show clearly and in a visual way what is stated in the text C.to show the author’s mastery of graphic design D.to move the reader through difficult technical concepts

28. How HOT is your writing?

29. HW Review Take out the informative paragraph that you did for homework. Exchange papers with the person sitting beside you. Conduct a brief peer edit of your partner’s paragraph. Write editing marks on your partner’s work. Give constructive feedback.

30. Help A Friend Out Peer Editing Advice Growth as a writer comes from honest feedback.

31. Brief Peer Edit 1.Switch papers with your neighbor. 2.Highlight the topic the first time it is mentioned. 3.Highlight the reasons why the writer says the problem is a major concern. 4.Correct any errors that you see in the writing. 5.Give one strength and one weakness.

32. Cornell Notes: Take a moment to reflect. Explain what we’ve discussed so far about informational texts. Summarize what we’ve discussed in the “summary” section of your Cornell Notes.

33. Goal: 8 th Grade Seek to Beat! Last year 69 % of students passed the 8 th grade writing assessment. As a grade level let’s seek to beat last year’s scores. What is a high achieving, obtainable goal for 8 th grade this year?

34. As a grade level, what do you think is a high achieving, obtainable goal for writing this year?

35. Extra!! Extra!! Read All About It! Today, you will write a letter to the residents of your community. Your letter must be written in at least three paragraphs.

36. Organization For Writing Paragraph 1: Should clearly state topic. Introduce your reasons. Paragraph 2: Topic sentence that states your reason. Supporting details that explain the reasons. Supporting details that state the evidence you found yesterday. Paragraph 3: Conclusion: Restate the main points. Encourage the neighbors to do something about it. Give information or tips for improving the problem.

37. Introduction Dear Residents of the Stonewall Community, Home break-ins are such a major concern for our residents. It is important for us all to understand the importance of a having a safe and secure community. This problem is such a major concern because…

38. Informational sources How to Write Essay: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+write+an+informativ e+essay&FORM=HDRSC3&adlt=strict#view=detail&mid=718B5BE9 EB5C212BA8E0718B5BE9EB5C212BA8E0http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+write+an+informativ e+essay&FORM=HDRSC3&adlt=strict#view=detail&mid=718B5BE9 EB5C212BA8E0718B5BE9EB5C212BA8E0 Interviews http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2011/12/18/justin-bieber- interview-santa/http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2011/12/18/justin-bieber- interview-santa/

40. Warm Up 3-2-1 Warm Up 3-2-1 What are 3 types of informative texts? What are 3 types of informative texts? What are at least 2 types of questions Informative writing answers or explains? What are at least 2 types of questions Informative writing answers or explains? What is the 1 way that autobiographies and biographies differ from each other? What is the 1 way that autobiographies and biographies differ from each other?

42. Informative Writing This type of writing explains or answers questions such as: -What does this mean? - How does this work? - Why does this happen? - Why is this important?

43. Informative Writing Informative writing is write based on research such as gathering facts. You cannot write a successful informative piece without a thorough command of all relevant information on the topic. Writers seeking to write informative essays become experts on their subjects as part of the writing process.

44. Types of Informative Writing Classification Problem-Solution Compare/Contrast Description

45. Informative Writing Vocabulary Textual Evidence is evidence from one or more texts (Quotes and situations from a book that prove your point). Footnote is a notation (Note) at the bottom of the page in a printed document.

46. Informative Writing Vocabulary Endnote, a note, which is provided at the end of a document, rather than at the bottom of a specific page. Supporting Details are items of information that supports an idea. Supporting Details is the condition of being true and exact.

47. Informative Writing Vocabulary Tone is the author’s way of emoting feeling from his/her writing (Anger, sadness, humor, or happiness). Voice is the way the author tells/informs through their writing.

48. On your sticky note, answer these questions. What have you learned about informational texts? What do you want to know more about informational texts?

49. Informative Writing Video Link

50. Warm

51. 3 Thing Every Author Must Consider (PAC) Purpose/Focus you know why you are writing, and you use language to convey that meaning. Audience who you are writing for, and use meaningful words that will reach readers. Content/Clarity what your writing about is clear, your words and sentences are easy to understand.

52. How to write a paragraph. 1.Start with a topic sentence that tells what the paragraph is about. 2.Add at least four supporting sentences with details about the topic. 3.If you need it, use a closing sentence to restate the importance of the topic.

53. Always use what you’ve learned… Adding Support/Evidence Facts Quotes Anecdotes Examples Statistics Supporting Details Definitions Descriptions

54. Informative Writing Opening Paragraph 1.Focus the essay by telling what it is about. Then stick to that topic. Avoid getting sidetracked with unnecessary information. 2.A grabber, strong opening, makes the readers want to go on reading. You can… a. Ask a question b. Tell a story c. Use attention-getting language

55. Informative Writing Body Paragraphs 1.Put each reason in a separate paragraph 2.Use transitions to connect the paragraphs 3.Support your explanation with convincing details and examples 4.Vary the sentence structure and the choice of words 5.Check your paper for usage, spelling capitalization, and punctuation.

56. Informative Writing Closing Paragraph 1.Introduce a new fact that supports your explanation and/or make a generalization and/or a person observation. 2.End with a zinger. Zinger=A witty remark. 2. A sudden shock, revelation, or turn of events.

57. Model Paragraph

58. Exit Ticket Exit Ticket 1.What are three ideas every author must consider while writing? 2.Why is it important to consider these ideas when writing?

59. Citing Information What is citing sources in a text? Cite- writing down the where the information came from. Source- exactly where all of the information came from.

60. Bibliography On the last page of your five paragraph essay, you will need to cite the sources of your factual information. Example from an Internet Source: Ackermann, Ernest. "Writing Your Own Web Pages." Creating Web Pages. 23 Oct. 1996. http://people.umw.edu/~ernie/writeweb/writew eb.html. 28. Oct. 2012. http://people.umw.edu/~ernie/writeweb/writew eb.html

61. Bibliography Example from a book source: Pfeifer, Kathryn Browne. The 761 st Tank Battalion. New York: Twenty-First Century Books, 1994.

62. Don’t forget Commas Dashes Quotations Primary Source Secondary Source

63. Exit Ticket Exit Ticket