Monday, April 7, 2014

Informative Writing: The 5-Step Writing Process

Here are the steps of the writing process:

1. PREWRITING- Think
  X  Brainstorm in your Writer's Notebook

  X  Outline and create T-charts in your Writer's Notebook

  X  Research your topic. Use at least two credible sources.



2. DRAFTING- Write
  X   Put the information into your own words. Share your voice!

  X   Construct complete sentences and form them into paragraphs. Remember, a paragraph is three-five sentences in length.

  _   Read your writing to yourself, at least one time out loud and one time silently.



3. REVISING- Make it Better
  _   Read it to yourself again.

  _   Make sure that you have complete sentences. Check for capital letters for the beginning of sentences and for proper nouns. Did you use the correct punctuation, especially at the ends of your sentences? Did you indent for each new sub-topic/paragraph?

  _   Add or take out parts as needed. Is your paper at least one page long?

  _   How is the flow? Does your paper flow smoothly, using at least one transition per paragraph?



4. PROOFREADING- Make it Correct

  _   Read it to yourself again.

  _   Peer Edit: Remember this? Fill out a peer edit sheet, on your own writing, and then have a peer read your paper and do the same.

  _   Read it to yourself again. Make all of the changes your peer has suggested, that make sense to you; ask questions.

  _   Did you read it again? Does it represent you, and your voice? Is it based on fact and written in your own words? 

  _   Re-type all changes that you have decided need to be made, and you will have your finished product!



5. PUBLISHING-Share the finished product
  _   Read it to the class.

  _   Create a Keynote/Powerpoint slideshow of your paper. Make it at least 3 slides in length, including the Sources page.

  _   Add visuals that help illustrate your writing.

   _   Say in a loud voice, "I did it! I finished my informative writing and slideshow! Hip, hip, HOORAY!"

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Credible Sources and Plagiarism

Click here to visit the Credible Sources post on my other blog!

Click here to visit the webpage on Plagiarism! 

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Informational Writing

What is Informational Writing?

Definition: 

•Nonfiction text (real, not just “realistic”)

Used to inform or explain something to the reading audience

Types/Examples:
• Newspapers
•Biographies
•Autobiographies
•Almanacs

What makes Informational Writing different from fictional writing?
•Informational writing is factual while fiction writing is not.
•Informational writing is written to inform or explain something. Fictional writing is often a story that is used to convey an author's point of view or to entertain.

Click here for student samples.





Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Friday, January 10, 2014

It's.......COMMA TIME!

The Seven Rules of Commas


  1. Use a comma after “yes” or “no” at the beginning of a sentence.
    1. Yes, I would like to have a carrot.
    2. No, she did not arrive on time.

  2. Use a comma before or after a direct address (speaking to someone using their name).
    1. Mary, please hand me a pencil.
    2. Watch me do my turns, Ben!

  3. Use a comma after the greeting and closing of a letter.
    1. Dear Tom,
Thank you for the birthday card.
Sincerely,
Ms. Fit

  1. Use a comma to separate the day or month from the year.
    1. January 10th, 2014
    2. Friday, January 10th

  2. Use a comma to separate things in a series.
    1. I need to buy milk, bread, and eggs at the store.
    2. My favorite colors are pink, blue, and black.

  3. Use a comma before and after a quotation in a sentence.
    1. “What I really want,” said Aiden, “is some soup.”

  4. Use a comma after common introductory/transition words in a sentence, like clearly, however, and next.
    1. However, we did not get to practice on time.
    2. Next, we played a game.