Step Up to Writing

Grade 9, Steilacoom HS

Materials for this presentation

• A piece of notebook paper you can file under “Step Up to Writing”

• Pen or pencil for notes

I will alert you when you need to write something down

What is Step Up to Writing?

• Step Up to Writing is a way for students to organize and present ideas in a way that can apply to all courses of study

Why do we need this help?

• When we use purposeful strategies in any area of our life we reinforce the skills in that area.

• For example: Just knowing about painting does not make someone a skilled painter. You need to know and practice color blending, texture, different brush types, and application in order to become a skilled painter.

Why isn’t knowing enough?

• Just like the process of painting example, knowing the steps of the writing process does not ensure good writing. How may of you know the steps below? Would you also say you are a confident, quality writer?

• Pre-writing and planning• Drafting• Revising, editing• Proofreading (then publishing)

Step Up reinforces good habits

• Content (Ideas)

• Organization

• Style (Voice)

• Sentence Fluency

• Word Choice

• Conventions

• Presentation

Will other teachers use this?

Yes. It is a district-wide curriculum.– The same words we use in here to describe

writing will also be used by other teachers at Steilacoom HS

– Other teachers will also look for the same features of good writing

Will I use this outside school?

• Yes – The skill of organizing and presenting ideas clearly applies to any and all professions. Some examples:– Mechanics must clearly explain the work

they do to clients– Lawyers must present evidence convincingly

to the jury– Workers must justify their decisions with

explanations

The main goal

The goal is to help students internalize the skills associated with good writing so they can write clearly and independently for all of their school writing assignments.

Starting small

Features of a quality paragraph (copy them into your notes):

• A topic sentence• Transitions• Good explanations and examples• A conclusion

Does the paragraph on the next slide have all these features? Discuss with a neighbor (and be kind with your comments).

Although smoking may seem cool, it is very unhealthy and expensive. Many people die from smoking related problems such as cancer, heart disease, etc. every year. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, during the mid-1980s smoking contributed to 30 percent of all deaths from cancer and heart disease in the U.S. Furthermore, cigarette smoking was associated with 85 percent of all cases of lung cancer. Secondly, smoking is very expensive. If someone smoked one pack of cigarettes every day that cost $3 for 50 years, it would cost them over $54,000, which is enough to buy a luxury car. On the contrary, if someone put $3 a day into a bank or investment institution they would be making hundreds of dollars in only a few years just because of the interest they are collecting. Clearly smoking is very unhealthy and expensive too, so don’t start smoking until you have considered all of the negative effects.

Did the student…

• Provide a clear topic sentence?• Stay on the topic?• Help the reader follow the logic?• Help the reader with transition words and

phrases?• Provide developed ideas?• Conclude appropriately?

Hmm…What grade is the student author?

What suggestion would you give this student author?

Gangs are just a bunch of people with nothing better to do. Gangs cause problems. I would not join a gang. Well, maybe if I was with my friends but probably not. My mom is against gangs. The movies are filled with gangs and there are a lot of songs about gangs. Stay away from gangs they are bad for you.

Step Up to Writing will…

• Help all students organize their thoughts in order to communicate clearly in writing

• Provide strategies to create linear logic in writing

• Aid you in presenting your ideas in a way that will make sense to the reader

Review

Features of a quality paragraph (copy them into your notes):

• A topic sentence

• Transitions

• Good explanations and examples

• A conclusion

Questions to ask yourself: Did I…

• Provide a clear topic sentence?

• Stay on the topic?

• Help the reader follow the logic?

• Help the reader with transition words and phrases?

• Provide developed ideas?

• Conclude appropriately?

Read the paragraph on the next slide.

While reading:

• Consider the elements of a quality paragraph – are they all present?

• Think of at least one comment or question for the author that would help them improve their writing

Golf is a great sport to play. It’s fun to pound a golf ball around for nine to eighteen holes. However, to become good you need lots of practice and mental toughness. Practice is easy to come by, but we need toughness too. Personally, I need a lot of mental toughness. Golf can be really fun if you are playing well, but if you are playing badly, it can cause frustration.

Get with one or two other people in class, share one piece of paper, and designate a record-keeper. You are now going to help this student author with organization.

Topic Sentence

Step One: With your group, identify the main point of the student’s paragraph. The topic is golf, but what does the student wish to say about it exactly? Does the student say it clearly? If the student’s main message is not clear, compose it.

Becoming good at golf takes…

• Step Two: The student identifies two key ingredients for success at golf. What are these two items? Write each and save a few lines in between for additional information.

Did you identify these two?1. Practice 2. Toughness

Brainstorm, part 1

• Step Three: The student author lacks reasons that practice is important. Brainstorm with your partner one or two specific reasons practice may be important in golf. Write them in the space under “Practice.”

Brainstorm, part 2

• The student author also lacks specifics regarding why toughness is important. With your group, identify and write one or two reasons toughness is important in golf. (You might identify aspects of mental and physical toughness for more specificity.)

An outline

The student had trouble organizing ideas. Now help him organize his thoughts by placing all of the new information in outline format. Use this guide:

• Topic• Reason/detail/fact

– Explanation(s)

• Reason/detail/fact– Explanation(s)

• Conclusion (optional at this point)

A draft composition

• As it turns out, the student is physically unable to write, so you and your group members must write the improved version of the paragraph. Don’t worry about a conclusion unless you want to tackle it.

• Present your new, improved “golf” paragraph to me when you’re finished!

What did we do?

• Identified areas of need in another student’s writing

• Helped create logic out of poorly-organized ideas

• Presented ideas in a more linear order that is easier to understand

What else could you do?

Consider the questions you should be asking yourself. Could you further help the student…

• Provide a clear topic sentence?• Stay on the topic?• Help the reader follow the logic?• Help the reader with transition words and

phrases?• Provide developed ideas?• Conclude appropriately?

Extension idea

• Topic: I should be able to borrow the car for homecoming

• The topic needs support with reasons, details, explanations, examples