Tips for Writing

SHORT ANSWER EXAMPLE:

QUESTION: Would deforestation cause an increase or decrease in greenhouse gasses?

Possible connected vocab terms that I want to connect in my answer: producer, consumer, CO2, greenhouse gas, plants, photosynthesis, carbon cycle

R- Deforestation would increase greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere because...

A- trees, called producers, absorb CO2 through a process called photosynthesis. 

C- For example, an area with less trees and plants (deforestation) would have more CO2 in the atmosphere because there are no producers taking out the CO2 from the atmosphere through the Carbon Cycle. 

E- This extra CO2 in the atmosphere would contribute to the greenhouse effect by increasing the greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. 

R- In conclusion, deforestation is bad for our environment and atmosphere. 

A Writing Checklist

From MindPrintLearning

Before Writing

• Read assignment instructions. Review examples from your teacher.

• Jot down all your ideas. Don't worry about the order.

• Organize your ideas into an outline or Graphic Organizer. Each section should have a main idea and 2-3 supporting details.

While Writing

• Chose one section to start. You do not need to write in order.

• Take a short break after writing each section. Get up and move around, have a drink, or eat a snack.

• For each new section, make a clear connection to the previous section using transitions.

After Writing

• Re-read your paper with a focus on content. Is your overall main idea clear? Does each section have a main idea?

• Confirm you have enough supporting details and that each supporting detail clarifies the main idea.

• Print and re-read for proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Read it aloud to catch any errors.

More Tips for Proofreading

From MindPrintLearning

• Do not proofread immediately after you write. Wait an hour, or preferably the next day, so you read it with fresh eyes.

• If you typed your paper, you can use the spelling and grammar check. Carefully read each suggestion, make sure you understanding it, and then decide whether or not to accept it.

• Read your draft out loud to hear if the language sounds natural and clear. 

• If the meaning does not flow while reading, consider if you need to add transition words, another sentence, new ideas, different adjectives, etc.

• Consider what you might take out if it sounds too wordy.

• Always do a final check of your work printed out on paper as most people catch errors on the printed page that they miss on the screen. Use a different color pen so you can mark your corrections and then fix them on screen.

• If you can't print your work, change the font and background color when proofreading on screen. Since it looks different, you are more likely to notice your mistakes.