Strand 4 Writing Grades 6 – 8

Debra Gaffney

Eleven Elements of Effective Adolescent

Writing Instruction

• Writing Strategies

• Summarization

• Collaborative

Writing

• Specific Product

Goals

• Word Processing

• Sentence

Combining

• Prewriting

• Inquiry Activities

• Process Writing

Approach

• Study of Models

• Writing for Content

Learning

Mentor Sentence Activity Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson

His room smelled of cooked grease, Lysol, and age.

Maya Angelou I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, p. 255

Mentor Sentence Directions

Part One

1. Read and discuss the Maya Angelou

sentence.

2. Write a sentence that follows the structure of

the sentence.

3. Share sentences orally (pairs, small groups,

and/or large group).

Mentor Sentence Activity

Part 2

1. Choose a book, magazine, or on-line

reading source.

2. Find a sentence you like that matches

the structure we’re studying.

3. Write the sentence in your journal or

on your paper. Cite your source.

4. Be ready to explain why you chose

this sentence.

Sentence Combining &

Sentence Fluency

Sentence Building Activities—

Sentence Frames

Engage:

Matching Sentences & Frames Handout—Sentence Sheet

• Simple Sentence

• Comma in a Series

• Fanboys

• Opener

• Interrupter

• 2 joined independents;

• Closer

Think about how these sentence structures work. Using the

handout, try sorting the 20 sentences into one of these

categories.

•

_____ Sentence Fluency

___ Complete sentences

___ No run-ons

___ Different lengths

___ Different beginnings

___ Solid simple sentences

___ Demonstrate compound sentence

___ Demonstrate complex sentence

___ Don’t start with and, but, or, so,

because (unless intro phrase)

Complete form and spreadsheet can be found in resource section.

In-Depth Analysis/Assessment of Skills for 7th Grade

THE WRITING PROCESS

Be Aware: Some students have problems with

web/cluster organizers at Grades 6 - 8

ODE Writing Graphic Organizer 1

ODE Writing Graphic Organizer 2

Prewriting—Standard 5 Paragraph

Essay Organizer

Introduction:

Support:

Support:

Support:

Conclusion:

T-Chart—Modified Cornell Notes

Pre-writing—Modified Cornell Notes

.

Prewriting—Modified Cornell Notes Color Coded (Write Tools & Step Up to Writing)

.

..

Let’s Transition

Closure

• What practices are currently in place to

support students in organizing their writing

and building sentence fluency?

• Could you integrate some of today’s

strategies into your program?

• In what areas do your students need more

support?

• Do you have tools/practices in place to

identify your students’ areas of needed

support?