Advanced Writing StrategiesAdvanced Writing StrategiesSchool-wide plans and long-term

assignments

Creating a School-Wide PlanCreating a School-Wide Plan

A good school writing plan is:

• Uniform

• Progressive

• Cumulative

• Teaching skills and content

Sample School PlanSample School Plan

GRADE 7 GRADE 8 GRADE 9

Length 1 page 2 pages 3 pages

Source(s) Memory reading Reading and research

Skills paragraphs Intro/concl. Use quotes

Example of Progressing SkillsExample of Progressing Skills

• Grade 7: – All students write essays using main idea

“The Ancient Greeks and Romans had similar militaries, governments, and religions.”

• Grade 8:– All students write essays answer question

“How did the works of (artist) reflect the ideas of the Renaissance?”

• Grade 9:– All students write an essay about World War I

that addresses the issue of morality in war.

ResultsResults

• Students all learn basic skills early that they use constantly throughout school.

• Students are able to adapt those skills to a variety of assignments.

• Constant practice will develop strong writing skills.

• After three years, we saw dramatic improvement in our schools because of a uniform approach.

LONG TERM WRITING LONG TERM WRITING ASSIGNMENTSASSIGNMENTS

Research-Based Academic Papers

Expanding the Five StepsExpanding the Five Steps

The 5 Step method can be applied to advanced writing:

1. Think = Plan

2. Gather Information = Research

3. Organize

4. Write

5. Edit

Designing Long Writing Designing Long Writing AssignmentsAssignments

• Determine minimum length (pages vs. word count?)

• Establish a timeline

• Monitor progress by having students turn in pieces of the assignments– Notes– Outline– Rough Draft

PlagiarismPlagiarism

• Plagiarism cannot be tolerated, and students must learn early to use their own words and ideas

• Practice paraphrasing with students during class so they become used to rewording

• What needs a citation?– Direct quote– Very close paraphrase– Exact statistics or data that is not found in

multiple sources.

Crediting SourcesCrediting Sources

• All students using outside sources should create a Works Cited Page (Bibliography)

• Works Cited Page must be properly formatted.

• Quotations or paraphrased words used in writing must include a citation. – Example: …sentence ends here. (Keyes, 54)

Remember…Remember…

• It takes a long time to become a good writer

• Even when one is competent, writing takes time

• Students need instruction and practice to develop good writing skills.