Essay Writing6th grade Literacy

Writing PromptNo one would question that technology has changed dramatically over the years. Write an essay analyzing how technology enriches our lives. Explain three kinds of technology that are used today and why they are important.

Plan #1: Outline Introductory paragraph Lead Topic sentence Background information Preview the parts

Category 1 -Topic sentence Detail Elaboration (explanation, reason, detail,

fact) Detail Elaboration Detail Elaboration

Category 2 -Topic sentence Detail Elaboration (explanation, reason, detail,

fact) Detail Elaboration Detail Elaboration

Category 3 -Topic sentenceo Detailo Elaboration (explanation,

reason, detail, fact)o Detailo Elaborationo Detailo Elaboration Conclusiono Restate the main ideao Tell what you’ve learned or

realizedo Final comment/Zinger!

SPRING!

Introductory paragraphLead- Birds singing, neighbors mowing their lawns, boats passing by on the lake.TS-These outdoor sounds tell me that spring, my favorite season, has arrived.BI-Each season has its good points. Winter means different sports like skiing are possible, and people enjoy cozy fires in their fireplaces. Summer, with vacation, swimming, and long hours of daylight, is also a great time of year. Some folks prefer fall, with its crisp cool air and beautiful leaves, a perfect time for hiking.PP-While I like all these things, my favorite season is spring because of the weather(1) , the colors(2), and gardening(3).

Category 1 -Topic sentence: WeatherDetail-comfortable temperatures, nice change from coldElaboration (explanation, reason, detail, fact)Detail-light clothing; shorts and t-shirtsElaborationDetail-warmth of sun on skin; tanElaboration

Outline Example

Category 2 -Topic sentence: ColorsDetail- Azaleas in bright reds and pinksElaboration (explanation, reason, detail, fact)Detail-green-new grass and leaves on treesElaborationDetail-clear blue skyElaboration

Category 3 -Topic sentence: GardenDetail-dig in soil; satisfying-accomplishedElaboration (explanation, reason, detail, fact)Detail-earthy, rich smellElaborationDetail-anticipate eating crunchy snap peas, sweet tomatoesElaboration Conclusion-Restate: Spring is definitely my favorite season of the year.Realized: Summer means a long vacation, and my favorite holidays come in fall and winter, but spring is when the world wakes up after its winter rest.Zinger: It feels like a new beginning and fills me with warmth and hope.

Plan #2: Web

Topic of the

Essay

Introduction Paragraph A

Paragraph B

Conclusion

1) Lead2) Topic Sentence3) Background

Information4) Preview the Parts

1) Topic Sentence2) Detail

a. Elaborate3) Detail

a. Elaborate4) Detail

a. Elaborate

 

1) Topic Sentence2) Detail

a. Elaborate3) Detail

a. Elaborate4) Detail

a. Elaborate

 

1) Topic Sentence2) Detail

a. Elaborate3) Detail

a. Elaborate4) Detail

a. Elaborate

 

1) Restate2) Realize3) Zinger!

Paragraph C

Web Example

Plan #3: Boxes

on a piece of notebook paper-fold into 6 quarters

Introduction

Thesis:

A.

1.

B.

1.

C.

1.

 

Paragraph A

Topic Sentence

Detail 1

Elaborate

Detail 2

Elaborate

Detail 3

Elaborate

 Paragraph B

Topic Sentence

Detail 1

Elaborate

Detail 2

Elaborate

Detail 3

Elaborate

 

Paragraph C

Topic Sentence

Detail 1

Elaborate

Detail 2

Elaborate

Detail 3

Elaborate

 Conclusion

A. Restate the main idea

B. Tell what you’ve learned/realized

C. final comment/Zinger!

 

Hook Sentence

 

Wednesday-Rough Draft

Work on writing your 3 body paragraphs One paragraph per piece of notebook=3 pieces of

paper

REMEMBER: Use transition words. Vary how you begin your sentences. Vary sentence length. Reread carefully and OFTEN. Avoid using the same words over and over. Elaborate! Elaborate! Elaborate!

AS YOU WRITE:  Use your information where it fits best. SHOW, DON’T TELL. Just as with narrative fiction. Create

lots of images for your reader! Stop often and reread what you’ve written. It’s

critical that your writing be CLEAR. Ask yourself: What am I trying to say? Am I saying it? Does it make sense? If not, stop and revise. Say out loud what you mean,

and rewrite it using those words. Then reread again to see if you got it right. Keep trying until you get it right.

  

TransitionsContinuing a Line of Reason: To Change the Line Consequently Clearly, then However Furthermore On the other handAdditionally ButIn addition YetMoreover NeverthelessBecause On the contraryBesides that Following this further Also 

For General Use or for Opening a Paragraph: Admittedly ObviouslyAssuredly Of course Certainly To be sureGranted UnquestionablyNo doubt Generally SpeakingNobody denies Undoubtedly For the Final Points of a Paragraph or Essay:

Finally Lastly

 To Signal a Conclusion (In other words, the end is coming, just not yet!):ThereforeHenceIn final analysisIndeed To Restate a Point Within a Paragraph in Another Way, or in a More Specific Way:In other wordsPoint in factSpecifically Sequence or Time Words:After MeanwhileAt last Afterwards

Before In the first placeAs soon as Soon In the meantimeAt first Then Finally LaterBefore long NextFirst…second…third…

Thursday-Leads Topic sentence: Identify what you are going

to talk about without saying, “I’m going to tell you about…”

Background/elaboration: Give some general background information that will help the reader better understand the topic. It should be information that you are NOT planning to talk about in the body of your essay.

Wrap: Preview the parts or categories you plan to talk about.

Sample Introductory ParagraphCan you imagine a tree without branches? The branches are where the leaves or needles are found that are crucial to the tree’s growth. Our federal government is like a tree, because it is divided into three separate and important parts called branches. The founding fathers did this to insure a balance of power. Each branch of the government has a special role to play but cannot function without the other two parts. The three basic branches of government are the legislature, judiciary bodies, and the executive branch.

Sample Introductory Paragraph If April showers bring May flowers, what

do Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims! This riddle describes a time of the year called Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is holiday celebrating when the Pilgrims came to America on the Mayflower. It is a time to give thanks to what you have and are grateful for. My favorite things about this holiday is the food, decorations, and of course, family.

Ending/Conclusion Conclusions wrap things up! Restate Information-Restating means to say the same thing in

different words. Reminding readers of your main points to end your essay.

Examples: TS: Cycling is a great way to stay in shape and have fun, too. Restate: Give cycling a chance and I think you’ll like it as much as I do. TS: Raising earthworms to sell for bait is an interesting and profitable

hobby. Restate: I never thought I’d enjoy raising earthworms, but I think the

worms and I are going to be friends for a long time.

Realize/tell what you’ve learned Final comment/Zinger!-last thing your reader will read-Make it

interesting! My close call with a giant alligator has certainly taught me not to

dangle my feet in the water while canoeing. You better be careful the next time you're tempted to sneak outside at

night. You might run into trouble!

Friday-Revise/Edit Revising is the hardest part of writing, but it can

also be the most satisfying. Add-sentences Remove-words or sentences you don’t need Move- change a word or placement of a sentence Substitute-trade words or sentences for new ones Capitalize- names, places, titles, months, etc. Usage- nouns and verbs are correctly used Punctuation- periods, quotes, commas, semicolons,

apostrophes, etc. Spelling- check all words, look for homophones, use a

dictionary

**You will revise/edit someone’s paper-use the correct marks to help them have the best paper they can have!!

Monday-Final Draft

Neatly written Single space **We need to create a rubric.