Nonfiction Writing

3rd Grade

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4

Writers study the features of All About Books

so that they can generate ideas in their notebooks about topics and

features they may want to include in

their All About Book.1.) They think about topics they know a lot about.2.) They create a list of possible topics.

TP #1 3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 – TP 2

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 – Text Features

Writer create a list of topics and then

“try their topics out” to evaluate whether they know enough

about that topic to write an All About Book.

1.) They select three possible topics.2)They see if they can come up with

at least three chapters.3)They select their All About topic.

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 - TP 2

Writers generate ideas for their own “All About Book” by studying how other nonfiction books or “Mentor Texts” vary nonfiction features.1. They look for features they like. (headings, definitions, charts, photographs, page layout, etc. )2. They evaluate the benefits of using that feature in their book.3. They try out designing and writing that page of their book.

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 TP 1

Writers plan out their subtopics (or categories) by using envelopes. Writers collect details and ideas

by creating notecards for each subtopic to put

inside each envelop. 1. Think… “What do I know about _______ and what could I

teach to others?”2. Think “What do I know that most people might not

know?”.

3. Start making notecards to record your ideas and place them into the envelop for safe keeping.

(Making “jot lists or notes” helps you prepare to write.)

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 - TP 4

Writers draft “All About Books” by writing about one subtopic Big Idea and adding more details.1. Look at the jot lists and notes you wrote about a subtopic. 2. Ask… “What more can I tell about this sentence?”3. At the end of writing a sentence…. Push yourself to Tell more, tell more, tell more

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 - TP 5

Writers add pizzazz to their All About Book by adding “anecdotes” or mini-stories to support the big idea. Here’s one way to create a three sentence mini-story…. 1. Once….. 2. What happened… 3. Feeling…

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 - TP 6

Writers organize and design their books by making them easy to read and appealing to look at using a variety of page designs and layouts. 1. Look at all the page designs.2. Pick one of those… or create your own design.3. Write each page in a unique way.

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 TP 13 (But use in the

Writers “liven up” their All About Book by writing that reflects their own ideas and by adding their “voice”

because then the writing will sound natural.

1. Write interesting facts about your topic.2. Add your own thoughts and ideas to explain why you found this interesting.3. Use your own “voice”.

By voice I mean that it sounds like the writer is actually talking to you.

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 - TP 7

Authors write book introductions by informing the reader about your book’s topic and making the reader want to read your book. (We call this the “hook”.)

Try some of these strategies: * Ask Key Questions. * Define a Topic. * Explain why you’re an expert.

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 - TP 7

Writers wrap up their nonfiction All About Book by “Giving Advice” or using a “Fact File” ending. 1. Think of some personal advice you could give the reader.2. Look back at some of the facts and “recap” those in the ending.3. Try out both endings and then decide which is better for your book.

3rd Grade Nonfiction - Writing - Unit 4 - TP 9

Writers create interesting headings by “Asking Questions” and using “Catchy Phrase” headings to grab the readers attention. 1. Think of ways to grab the reader’s attention. 2. Try to use rhyming words or catchy phrases. 3. Try out a Question heading. 4. Decide which heading is best for you.

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 TP 10

Writers include a Table of Contents to help the readers of their book by putting all the pages in order, then writing the page heading and page number down in order.

1. Put all the pages in the book in the order you want them in. 2. Write page 1 on the Table of Contents. 3. Write numbers on each page and list them in order on the Table of Contents.

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 TP 11

Writers edit their work for spelling paying special attention to their expert words by using resources in the classroom and/or books.

• Writers Capitalize Proper Nouns• Writers Use Commas in a Series• Writers Make Sure Subjects and Verbs Agree• Writers Understand the Difference Between Present and Past Tense Verbs

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing -

Unit 4 TP 12

Writers organize and design their books by making them easy to read and appealing to look at using a variety of page designs and layouts. 1. Look at all the page designs.2. Pick one of those… or create your own design.3. Write each page in a unique way.

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4 TP 13

Writers Celebrate Their

Success in Writing

Nonfiction Books!

3rd Grade Nonfiction Writing - Unit 4