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"Direct, explicit and systematic instruction is the most widely suggested instructional practice for improving writing skills." - National Institute for Literacy
"Direct, explicit and systematic instruction is the most widely suggested instructional practice for improving writing skills." - National Institute for Literacy
The Writing Process US DOE.pdfIt all starts with the writing process. According to the US DOE, "Effective writers use strategies during all components of the writing process. An individual strategy can support one component of the process or span multiple components."
Depending on the purpose and the audience, different strategies may be utilized. The key is to following a process and use appropriate strategies to guide students throughout the process, from planning to publication of their work.
Below are a list of strategies that can be utilized to analyze writing prompts and two critical genres of writing at each stage of the process:
- Analyzing Writing Prompts
- Argumentative Writing
- Informational Writing
ANALYZING WRITING PROMPTS
ANALYZING WRITING PROMPTS
Our students are not usually determining their own writing topics - they are more often than not responding to a writing prompt, whether it is provided by a teacher or on a high stakes exam. Students need strategies to analyze writing prompts.
Analyzing Writing Prompts PAST Strategy.pdfUsing the RAFT Writing Strategy - ReadWriteThink.pdfRAFT Writing Template.pdfThe PAST strategy and the RAFT strategy are both helpful for students to analyze writing prompts. These strategies are explained on the handouts to the left.
ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
Students need to be able to make claims about topics and support their claims with evidence. Below are strategies to help students write argumentative essays at each stage of the writing process. Types of argumentative writing include editorials, argument essays, speeches, position papers, proposals and social action projects.
200PromptsArgumentativeWriting.pdfSTOP_DARE_Graphic_Organizer.pdf
Planning /Drafting Argumentative Essays -
Planning /Drafting Argumentative Essays -
Argumentative essays start with a provocative prompt and students must take sides. On the far left are 200 prompts designed for high school students on a range of issues from the NY Times. The STOP/DARE strategy in the center is a way for students to plan their responses by looking at both sides of an issue. The STOP strategy will lead into the DARE strategy, which helps students to draft their argumentative essays. The link to the near left is a more comprehensive description of the entire strategy, including several additional resources., from Johns Hopkins University.
Argumentative Writing Checklist.pdfscoring-guidance-for-the-argumentative-essay TASC.pdfEvaluating /Revising/Editing Argumentative Essays -
Evaluating /Revising/Editing Argumentative Essays -
It is important for students to utilize clear criteria for formative assessment as they write and to have the same criteria be the basis for their summative assessment grade. It is also very important for students to see exemplars of work at different levels. These two resources on argumentative writing can help. The one on the far left is a checklist for argumentative writing put out by the NYC DOE. The one on the near left is the scoring guide for the TASC argumentative essay, which includes exemplars.
INFORMATIONAL WRITING
INFORMATIONAL WRITING
Students need to be able to write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Graphic Organizers Informational Writing.pdfStructure of a General Expository Essay.pdfPlanning /Drafting Informational Writing -
Planning /Drafting Informational Writing -
There are an infinite number of ways to plan an informational essay; there are 21 different graphic organizers on the far left to choose from for students to plan and draft their essays. The guide on the near left offers one detailed map and outline format that guides students through the essay.
Information Writing Checklist.pdfscoring-guidance-for-the-informational-essay.pdfEvaluating /Revising/Editing Informational Essays -
Evaluating /Revising/Editing Informational Essays -
It is important for students to utilize clear criteria for formative assessment as they write and to have the same criteria be the basis for their summative assessment grade. It is also very important for students to see exemplars of work at different levels. These two resources on informational writing can help. The one on the far left is a checklist for argumentative writing put out by the NYC DOE. The one on the near left is the scoring guide for the TASC informational essay, which includes exemplars.
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