The first slides• On these first (many) slides…you

should just read over the information. You do not need to take notes, etc. However, pay attention because you will have assignments at the end of the PowerPoint.

What is Step Up to Writing?

• Step Up to Writing is a writing program with an emphasis on organization

• The stoplight is used to help you remember how to properly organize paragraphs and essays

The Step Up to Writing Stoplight

Go! State your topic.

Slow down! Be Specific.

Stop! Explain; give examples.

Go back! Restate your topic.

GreenGreenTopic SentenceTopic Sentence Green means “go.”Green means “go.” Green says, “I have a place I am Green says, “I have a place I am

going with this paragraph.”going with this paragraph.” Green asks the writer to decide, Green asks the writer to decide,

“What am I going to prove?” “What “What am I going to prove?” “What am I going to explain?” “What am I going to explain?” “What information will I share?”information will I share?”

Yellow

Reasons/Details/Facts

• Yellow means “slow down.”

• Yellow identifies key ideas—reasons, details, or facts.

• Yellow introduces key concepts-- reasons, details, or facts.

RedRed

ExplainExplain Red means “stop and Red means “stop and

explain.”explain.” Red presents evidence.Red presents evidence. Red provides Red provides

explanations and explanations and examples.examples.

PinkPink

ElaborateElaborate Pink means “expand on your reds.”Pink means “expand on your reds.” Pink provides depth to your reds.Pink provides depth to your reds. Pinks can be quotes, anecdotes, Pinks can be quotes, anecdotes,

statistics, detailed examples, etc…statistics, detailed examples, etc…

Pink is not part of the original Step Up to Writing Pink is not part of the original Step Up to Writing Program. We added pinks to encourage students to Program. We added pinks to encourage students to take their writing to the next level; adding a little extra take their writing to the next level; adding a little extra detail and voice.detail and voice.

GreenGreen

ConclusionConclusion Green means “go back to your topic.”Green means “go back to your topic.” Green means restate your topic and Green means restate your topic and

the position.the position. Do not introduce new information.Do not introduce new information. Use synonyms and leave your Use synonyms and leave your

reader with something to remember.reader with something to remember.

The BluesThe Blues

We will also organize using blues. The We will also organize using blues. The blue stands for background blue stands for background information. The blues help to information. The blues help to “decorate” your topic.“decorate” your topic.

We will talk more about the blues We will talk more about the blues later.later.

Step Up to Writing is also about the writing process.

PrewritingPlanning

DraftingRevisingEditing

Creating a Final CopyProofreading

Sharing

Now – it’s your turn• On the next slides, answer the

questions directly into the slide. You’ll SAVE this PowerPoint under your name and turn in to me at the end of class.

Define these terms:(you may go back and look if needed)

• Green=• Yellow =• Red =• Pink =

Look at the next slides –read them for

reference• Again – you don’t need to take

notes/answer questions --- however pay attention so you can complete the assignment at the end.

PandasMy favorite animal is the Giant

Panda for two reasons. First of all, I like the panda because it looks so cute and cuddly. The panda's black and white body colors are simple, make it stand out, and look soft. Its sad looking face makes me want to hug it and make it happy. In addition, I am fond of the giant panda because it is endangered. We all should try to preserve the animals, like the panda, that are in danger of extinction. Clearly, the Giant Panda is the animal I like best.

How was this paragraph created?

Step 1 of the writing process:

PREWRITING

In Step Up to Writing we will create prewriting

outlines using the colors of the traffic

signal.

First, you must choose your topic

Topic: Pandas

Green- GO – Topic Sentence

Topic: PandasGreen-Giant Panda: Favorite Animal

Remember- Outlines do not have to be in complete sentences. They can be simple and we can add to them later.

Yellow- Slow Down-Reasons/Details/Facts

What are the reasons that the panda is your favorite?

Topic: PandasGreen-Giant Panda: Favorite Animal

Yellow- Cute and Cuddly

Yellow-EndangeredLeave space after your yellows so you can add in your reds (examples and explanations).

RED- Stop- Explain or give examples

Explain or give examples to support your yellows

Topic: PandasGreen-Giant Panda: Favorite Animal

Yellow- Cute and Cuddly Red-colorsRed-soft furRed-sad face

Yellow-EndangeredRed-We should try to

preserve

Topic: PandasGreen-Giant Panda: Favorite Animal

Yellow- Cute and Cuddly Red-colorsRed-soft furRed-sad face

Yellow-EndangeredRed-We should try to preserve

Green-Rephrase topic sentence

PandasMy favorite

animal is the Giant Panda for two reasons. First of all, I like the panda because it looks so cute and cuddly. The panda's black and white body colors are simple, make it stand out, and look soft. Its sad looking face makes me want to hug it and make it happy. In addition, I am fond of the giant panda because it is endangered. We all should try to preserve the animals, like the panda, that are in danger of extinction. Clearly, the Giant Panda is the animal I like best.

Topic: PandasGreen-Giant Panda: Favorite Animal Yellow- Cute and Cuddly

Red-colorsRed-soft furRed-sad face

Yellow-EndangeredRed-We should

try to preserveGreen-Rephrase topic

sentence

Let’s do some of your own now

• Remember – just type DIRECTLY into the slides. You’ll save and turn in to me later.

Questions• How do a pink and red relate to

each other?

• In what order would you use the colors (generally speaking)? List from first to last.

Change font Color in the text in these colors: Green, Yellow, and Red --- as appropriate to

the type of information Cats can protect themselves in two ways.

First, they can get away quickly from their enemies. Cats are fast runners. Also, cats are able to climb trees as well. Next, cats are good fighters. Cats have sharp claws that can inflict pain and discourage attackers. They also use their pointed incisors to bite their enemies when necessary. Felines can take care of themselves.

Answer to CATS paragraph --- How did you do on the

previous slide? Fix your mistakes.

Cats can protect themselves in two ways. First, they can get away quickly from their enemies. Cats are fast runners. Also, cats are able to climb trees as well. Next, cats are good fighters. Cats have sharp claws that can inflict pain and discourage attackers. They also use their pointed incisors to bite their enemies when necessary. Felines can take care of themselves.

Please change the font color for the greens, yellows, and reds….

• #1•  • While football is a great sport, basketball is the best

activity for children to pursue. Basketball provides children with many athletic skills. Kids learn to dribble and shoot. Also, kids can develop their eye-hand coordination while playing the game. Along with athletic skills, basketball provides a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn cooperation. Through teamwork, children learn to share. They also learn that, sometimes, helping others will actually help everyone. Obviously, basketball is the sport that all children should join.

•  • #2•  • Family is the most important thing in the world for

several reasons. First of all, family provides support to you always. Whenever I’m feeling upset, my family is there for me with kind words and hugs. In addition to providing emotional support, my family provides for me financially. My parents buy me food, clothes, and school supplies. Not only do they buy me those necessities, but they often buy me games and movies as well. Clearly, all kids should value their families tremendously.

•  

Try to Make Outlines• Paragraph #1

Green =Yellow=

Red =Red =Red =

Yellow =Red =Red =

Green =

Outline Paragraph #2

• Green =Yellow =

Red =Red =

Yellow =Red =Red =

Green =

Change font color for the Greens, Yellows,

and Reds• #3

• While homework is sometimes annoying, it is a necessity for all middle school students. One reason homework is important is that it provides extra practice time for skills introduced in class. For example, a math teacher might teach fractions during class, but students need to practice more problems at home to excel at fractions. Or, an English teacher might talk about paragraph writing, but students need to practice writing their own paragraphs to become better writers. Another reason students must complete homework is that it affects their grades. If students don’t ever complete their homework, their grades will suffer a great deal. For these reasons and many others, all students should consider completing their homework each night.

Outline – paragraph three

Green =Yellow =

Red =Red =

Yellow =Red =

Green =

Sample answers --- Greens, Yellows, Reds

• Answers to Sample Paragraphs

• *Answers should be very similar --- with some “wiggle room” for listing reds…•  • Paragraph #1•  • G = basketball great sport for kids • Y = athletic skills• R = dribble• R = shoot• R = hand/eye coordination•  • Y = cooperation• R = share in teamwork• R = helping others helps everyone•  • G = all kids should join basketball•  •  

Sample Answers

•Paragraph #2• •G = Family important • Y = support (emotional)• R = kind words• R = hugs• • Y = financial support• R = food, clothes, school supplies• R = games and movies•G = families are to be valued

Sample answers --- Greens, Yellows, Reds

• Answers to Sample Paragraphs *Answers should be very similar --- with some “wiggle room” for listing reds…

•  •  • Paragraph #3•  • G = middle school homework necessary• Y = practice academic skills• R = math fractions• R = paragraph writing•  • Y = affects grades• R = no homework/low grades•  • G = students should do homework each night

Change Font Color to greens, yellows, reds, and pinks…I’ll

check answers…• My dog is the best pet in the world. He’s a

great friend. When, I’m feeling lonely or tired, he’ll cuddle next to me and make me feel better. Last night, he sat with me for an hour in my room. Also, he’s always happy to see me when I walk through the door. Usually, he jumps on me immediately. My dog can do tricks, too. He can stand on his back legs and spin in a circle. Not only can he complete that feat, but my dog can bark to the tune of Happy Birthday. On my grandma’s birthday, my dog really cracked her up by performing the trick. Finally, my dog protects my family each and every night. He keeps watch over our house by barking if someone or something comes into our yard. Obviously, my dog is the most wonderful animal on earth!

Change font color for the greens, yellows, reds, and pinks…I’ll check answers…

• On the Lewis and Clark expedition, Sacagawea was the most important person on the trip. She was important because she helped find food for the group. She uncovered roots and berries along the journey. She also worked as a translator. With her help, the expedition was given for horses, food, and shelter from local tribes. If Sacajawea had not been with them, the white explorers would not have known the local languages and customs so no trading would have occurred. Also, her communication with these tribes helped Lewis and Clark pass safely through Native American territory. Tribal members viewed Sacagawea’s presence in the group as a sign the group was peaceful and not violent. Therefore, the tribes did not fight with the visitors since they believed Lewis and Clark meant them no harm. Without the help of Sacagawea, the expedition would not have been nearly as successful.

 

• What part of Step Up to Writing so far is the hardest/most confusing to you?

• What part is the easiest?

DONE • Now, please save this PP to your

Edison file as “Step Up New Student PP”

• Attach and email it to me at ksmith@osd.wednet.edu