Writing Element: Conventions

Welcome to the final week of our review of the four writing elements.  Each week, you will be assessed on the specific element reviewed by completing a timed essay assessment similar to FCAT Writing. Fun!!

There are four writing elements which make-up the criteria for how writers are assessed. These elements include: focus, organization, support, and conventions.  Three weeks ago, we reviewed the element of focus.  Two weeks ago, we reviewed the element of organization. Last week, we reviewed the writing element of support.  This week, we will review the writing element of conventions.

The element of conventions is all the basic writing skills you have learned and practice since elementary school!!  For some of you this is the most difficult of all the four elements.  The best advice I can give you is that you must edit your writing. You can do this.

Get ready to "Write On!" this week.   

Take a look at this video presentation.  I also emailed everyone a pdf copy of the presentation as well as some additional information.  As always, feel free to post or email any questions or comments.

Writing Element: Support

Welcome to week number three of our review of the four writing elements.  Each week, you will be assessed on the specific element reviewed by completing a timed essay assessment similar to FCAT Writing. Fun!!

There are four writing elements which make-up the criteria for how writers are assessed. These elements include: focus, organization, support, and conventions.  Two weeks ago, we reviewed the element of focus.  Last week, we reviewed the element of organization. This week, we will review the writing element of support.

The element of support builds upon the skills which were assessed during the last two weeks.  You will notice how the same skills you have been practicing will be assessed within the writing element of support, and some new skills are added in.  The writing element of support is possibly the most difficult for many of you, but as I said on Friday, I have seen a dramatic improvement in this area in your class writing.  You can do this.

Get ready to "Write On!" this week.  

Take a look at this video presentation.  I also emailed everyone a pdf copy of the presentation as well as some additional information.  As always, feel free to post or email any questions or comments.

Writing Element: Organization

Welcome to the second week review of the four writing elements.  Each week, you will be assessed on the specific element reviewed by completing a timed essay assessment similar to FCAT Writing. Fun!!

There are four writing elements which make-up the criteria for how writers are assessed. These elements include: focus, organization, support, and conventions.  Last week, we reviewed the element of focus.  This week, we will review the writing element of organization.

The element of organization builds upon the skills which were assessed last week during the writing element of focus.  You will notice how the same skills you practiced last week will be assessed within the writing element of organization, and some new skills are added in.  It's getting more challenging, kiddos, but I have faith in you.

Get ready to "Write On!" this week!

Take a look at this video presentation.  I also emailed everyone a pdf copy of the presentation as well as some additional information.  Feel free to post or email any questions or comments.

Writing Element: Focus

For the next four weeks, we will be reviewing the four different writing elements.  Each week, you will be assessed on the specific element reviewed by completing a timed essay assessment similar to FCAT Writing. Fun!!

There are four writing elements which make-up the criteria for how writers are assessed. These elements include: focus, organization, support, and conventions.  This week, we will review the writing element of focus.

Take a look at this video presentation.  Feel free to post or email any questions or comments.

Flipped Lesson: Using Transitional Devices

For our next flipped lesson, I want to introduce the concept of using complex sentences (LB, S) as transitional devices.  This short video will go over how to incorporate these sentences at the beginning of body paragraphs to add more maturity to your writing.  With this new skill, you will stop using the typical transitional words like "first" "next" "also" "finally" and "in conclusion" to begin body and concluding paragraphs.  Instead, you will use the LB, S to smoothly and maturely move from one idea to the next.  Don't worry, you will still use transitional words!  Those transitional words work perfectly within paragraphs to indicate examples, additional information, and/or comparisons.  

As with our first flipped lesson, please take notes and jot down any questions you may have to ask me in class.  Also, feel free to comment on the blog, and I will respond there as well.  Remember, asking questions is part of learning.  Don't be embarrassed if you feel as if you're missing something.  Chances are someone else feels the same way; be the hero and ask the question!

Rules for Writing

Read this article in The New York Times How to Write

Questions to consider:  Which of these rules seem important to you?  Did you learn anything new?  Do we need rules for writing?   

Sure, it's extra credit.  Read the article.  Answer the questions. Make sure your responses provide evidence that you actually read the article (quote it!).  Due by Friday, 9/28

ps - If you comment here, you will get extra credit at the end of the quarter for blog participation, but you will only receive extra credit for this separate assignment if you turn in a separate response as described above.

A Flipped Lesson: Grabbers and Clinchers

What's a flipped lesson?  It's a form of teaching that allows us to spend more time actually practicing skills in the classroom instead of lecturing.  For this lesson, you are going to watch a video presentation which reviews the concept of Grabbers and Clinchers. (This is a review because you all learned about Grabbers and Clinchers last year.)  Make sure you have a piece of paper to take some notes or jot down any questions you want to ask in class tomorrow.

The handout of the presentation is posted on the website.

Disclaimer:  This is my very first flipped video. Be kind!

Please, feel free to comment or ask questions below; I'll respond!