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Prewriting:Making a Plan for Writing

Created by Christy Clausen

Graphics and layout by Michelle Sekulich, Curriculum and Assessment

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Prewriting …Sets the Thinking in Motion

• Asks the writer to consider topic, audience, and purpose.

• Is engaging the writer in thinking about and gathering ideas.

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Prewriting

• Involves asking the writer to envision what will or has happened.

• Involves thinking about what you already know about the topic.

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Prewriting

• Can occur during, as well as before, composition.

• Need not be time consuming or even written down.

• Is a process, not a form.

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A Menu of Prewriting Techniques

• Conversation/Talk • Quick-Write• List or Brainstorm• Graphic Organizer• Quality Literature• Artifacts/Concrete Objects• Draw• Research or Inquiry

Experience• Drama

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A Menu of Prewriting Techniques

•Conversation/Talk •Quick-Write•List or Brainstorm•Graphic Organizer•Quality Literature•Artifacts/Concrete Objects•Draw•Research or Inquiry Experience•Drama

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Conversation/Talk as a Prewrite

“All writers need time to think and talk about their ideas. Talking helps writers focus their idea and discover how they want to present it.”

(Freeman, 1999)

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Conversation/Talk as a Prewrite

“Young writers use talking and drawing as their main prewriting activity. Their talking and drawing leads them to their topics and provides visual stimuli for details about it.”

(Marcia Freeman)

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Turn & Talk (Setup)

1. Explain that talking is a way of prewriting.

2. Set procedures for it.• Sit knee-to knee.• Share your topic.• Think about the target

skill.• Model talking with a

partner.

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Prewriting: Talk about Your Topic

Activity:

Think of someone or something you care about.

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Turn & Talk

Activity:

Turn and talk to a partner about your topic.

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Turn & Talk

Activity:

Write for 3-5 minutes about your topic.

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Conversation/Talk

(Whole group sharing of writing)

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Turn & Talk (Benefits)

• Allows students to think through topic

• Develops topic with ideas• Quality of writing increases• Quantity of writing increases

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A Scaffolded Conversation

What is it?

An in-depth conversation with a student while the class listens in.

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A Scaffolded Conversation is…

• Purpose: Designed to ensure the writer has rich ideas and language to think about and use in his/her writing. Also, it ensures the writer has models of thinking to emulate. In this case, it provides models of thinking as a pre-write.

• Results: It produces excellent, coherent writing.

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Prewriting: A Scaffolded Conversation

(Demonstration & Fishbowl Experience)

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Conversations are Critical

Amount of high-level student talk correlates with reading and writing achievement.

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A Menu of Prewriting Techniques

• Converse/Talk • Quick-Write• List or Brainstorm• Graphic organizer• Quality Literature• Artifacts/Concrete Objects• Draw• Research or Inquiry

Experience• Drama

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Quick-Write

What is it?It is an invitation to write.It brings out the writer!It builds student confidence.It develops writing fluency (the ease, the

flow, the ideas).It helps students focus their writing.It focuses on content (not mechanics).

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Quick-Write Activity

Quick-Write Listen to a selection or prompt.

Write for 3-5 minutes, as quickly as you can. Focus on getting your ideas down onto paper.

Share quick-write (volunteers).

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A Menu of Prewriting Techniques

• Conversation/Talk • Quick-Write• List or Brainstorm• Graphic Organizer• Quality Literature• Artifacts/Concrete Objects• Draw• Research or Inquiry

Experience• Drama

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Make a List

Activity: Think of a hobby or

interest.

Brainstorm a list of ideas (of what you know) about that topic.

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Jogging (Sample List)

• Places• Enjoyment• Technique• Scheduling

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Make a List

Activity:

Now…think of a logical order and number them.

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Jogging

1. Technique2. Scheduling3. Places4. Enjoyment

Begin your writing!

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A Menu of Prewriting Techniques

• Converse/Talk • Quick-Write• List or Brainstorm• Graphic Organizer• Quality Literature• Artifacts/Concrete Objects• Draw• Research or Inquiry

Experience• Drama

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Graphic Organizer – 7 Boxes

Topic: My best friend - Sarah

Idea:Sarah is great to

be around

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Idea:Sarah is beautiful

Idea: Sarah is caring

Details:•Helps me when hurtTripped and scraped kneeTreats others fairlySays nice things about others

Details:•Has pretty blue eyes•Wavy bouncy hairCute clothesAll varsity T-Shirt

Details:•Challenges me•Plays soccer with meTalks about school and friendships

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Idea: jack-o-lantern

Details:

Triangular eyes Glowing in the night Jagged mouth Scar on right cheek Looks like a pirate Smooth orange skin

Graphic Organizer - Primary

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In Conclusion…

• Discuss the techniques with your grade level team or partner.

• Select one to intentionally incorporate into your writing program.

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The End-Session 1

Topics covered in Session 2:

• Quality Literature• Artifacts/Concrete Objects• Draw• Research or Inquiry Experience• Drama