Writing Help Packet

PROPER%HEADING%ON%%
ALL%PAPERS%AND%DOCUMENTS!%
!
!
Wendy%Wasilewski%
LA%Period%3/4%
RJ%p.%120%#4%Ext.%Response%
August%28,%2015%
%
%%%When%writing,%indent%all%paragraphs%%
%
%
about%a%halfTinch%from%the%red%margin%line.%%%
%
%
All%other%lines%must%align%with%the%red%line.%
%
For%all%writing%assignments,%you%must%
%
%
%
double%space,%whether%typing%or%handwriting!%
%
%
%
If%page%numbering,%the%number%goes%!%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%1%
%
ss%
In My Opinion . . . (Main Topics and Supporting Points)
!
Five-Paragraph Essay
Main Idea, Introductory and Thesis Paragraph
Support/Proof Details
Support/Proof Details
Support/Proof Details
Summary/Conclusion
©Teacher Created Resources, Inc.
#3208 Graphic Organizers: Grades 4–8
ATTENTION-GETTING OPENINGS
Techniques That Grab Attention
1.
Startling Statement—an unexpected fact or shocker like the example above.
2.
Quotation—a famous person's or expert's words on your subject.
Example:
3.
Rhetorical Question—a question that the audience only answers in their head, not aloud.
Example:
4.
“While out driving, a father and his 6 year old son passed a race track. The boy,
never having seen one, asked what it was. "It's a place where people go to race
dogs," the father replied. After a long thoughtful pause the boy said, "I bet the dogs
win."
Appealing to the Senses—the use of descriptive words that appeal to our sense of sight, hearing,
touch, taste, or smell.
Example:
7.
"The great scientist Louis Pasteur was terrified by one thing—dogs. The sight of a
dog immobilized him. Even the sound of a dog barking caused him to break out
into a cold sweat. His fear actually began when he witnessed a friend die of rabies
after being bitten by a rabid dog. The incident traumatized him to the point that he
became driven to finding a vaccine for rabies."
Humorous Anecdote—a funny story that relates to your topic.
Example:
6.
"If you were awarded an expense free trip to any place in the world, where would
you go? A tropical island, maybe the bright lights of New York, or maybe go
down-under mate."
Illustration—A short story or anecdote, true or fictional, that applies to your topic.
Example:
5.
"Genius, said Thomas Edison, is one percent inspiration and 99 percent
perspiration."
“One bone-crushing hit from a mountainous man can end your career. That’s what
every quarterback in football faces each time he walks onto the field.”
Setting the Scene—Setting up a situation that allows the audience to put themselves into it using
their imaginations.
Example:
“Imagine you are in a burning building. Flames are nipping at your heels as you
struggle to find air to breathe. Suddenly a man in a bright yellow jacket hands you
an oxygen mask and leads you to safety. Although you could never have imagined
having this happen to you, this is just a typical day for a fireman.”
Name_____________________________
DIALOGUE RULES, WORKSHEET, AND WRITING ASSIGNMENT
What is dialogue? It is conversation between characters in a story and is very important to add
interest to the piece and to move the plot forward. There are some rules to dialogue, however,
that you want to make sure you know.
Dialogue Rules
RULE #1: A direct quotation begins with a capital letter.
Jimmy shouted, “See you at the game!”
“Is it true?" asked Cindy.
RULE #2: When a quotation is interrupted into two parts with words like “he asked” or
“the teacher demanded,” the second part begins with a lower case letter.
“What are some of the things,” Mrs. Baskin inquired, “that make school so much
fun?”
“One thing I like,” replied Sarah, “is recess!”
RULE #3: When writing dialogue, all punctuation marks at the end of the quotation go
inside the quotation marks.
“Let's visit the museum,” suggested Samantha.
Jon replied, “Didn't we go there last weekend?”
“But when we did,” Beth added, “we didn't see the Ancient Egyptian exhibit.”
RULE #4: Do not put a period at the end of a quotation followed by things like she said,
mom asked, he explained, etc. Use commas, question marks, and exclamation marks but
not periods. Periods end sentences.
“My Algebra class is driving me crazy!” Paul yelled.
“That's my favorite class,” Becky replied.
RULE #5: Make a new paragraph (indent) when a different person begins to speak.
"Last night, I dreamt that I ate a giant marshmallow," Kevin said.
"Was that anything like the dream you had about eating your way through a
mountain of fruit cocktail?" asked Suzy.
"Scarier," Kevin explained. "This time I woke up and my pillow was gone."
OTHER REMINDERS:
-Always make it clear who is speaking in the dialogue.
-Try to avoid using the word “said” repeatedly.
Name_____________________________
Writing Dialogue Worksheet
Directions: Please read the following piece. You will rewrite it, correcting the dialogue. Feel
free to use the remainder of this side of the sheet and the back of this sheet to rewrite the
conversation.
I love to go to the movies Cameron said but there is nothing good showing at all I know Marcie
replied it is crazy how many silly romantic comedies they churn out tell me about it Cameron
exclaimed if I see one more stupid Kate Hudson/Matthew McConaughey puke-fest I will
personally poke my eye out with an ice-pick and perform my own lobotomy I think that may be
a little bit outrageous Marcie pointed out but I can get behind the sentiment my big beef,
though, is the atrocious horror movies lately what happened to scaring us rather than grossing
us out would you rather go out to dinner tonight Cameron asked sounds like a plan Marcie
agreed they left to go to the corner deli, walking arm in arm.
20#MOST#COMMON##
WRITING#ERRORS##
#
##1.##No#comma#after#introductory#element#
Clauses,#phrases,#introductory#words#and#names#i.e.,#Wendy,#close#the#door.##Yes,#I#will#go#with#you.#
##2.##Vague#pronoun#reference#
The#teacher#gave#the#student#her#notes.##(who#is#her—the#teacher#or#student?)#
##3.##No#comma#in#compound#sentence#
When%the%parts%are%joined%by%and,%but,%so,%yet,%nor,%or%for,%insert%a%comma#
##4.##Wrong#word#
The#Wolves#played#there#best,#but#it#still#was#not#good#enough#to#win.##(their)#
##5.##No#comma#with#“which”#clauses;#appositives#
Kristin’s#first#doll,#Malibu#Barbie,#is#still#her#favorite.#(nonrestrictive#means#nonessential#here)#
##6.##Wrong/missing#inflected#endings#(i.e.#plural##
########word#endings,#or#verb#tenses#like#ed#or#ing)#
Erin#use#imagery#in#her#last#writing#assignment.#(used)#
##7.##Wrong#or#missing#prepositions#
We#met#in#Union#street#at#Oak#Brook.#(met#on,#in#Oak#Brook);#Who#called#the#game#yesterday?#(called#
off#the#game)#
##8.##Comma#splice#(no#coordinating#conjunction)#
I#really#liked#the#teacher#she#had#patience#with#children.##(teacher,#for#(because)#
##9.##Possessive#apostrophe#error#
Marys#book#was#left#on#the#bus.#(Mary’s);#A#dog#has#to#learn#it’s#place.#(its)#
10.#Tense#shift#
Joy#laughs#until#she#cried#during#the#performance.#(laughed)#
11.#Unnecessary#shift#in#person#
When#one#sees#a#beautiful#sunset,#you#are#reminded#of#the#wonders#of#nature.#(one#is)#
12.#Sentence#fragments#
The#old#aluminum#boat#sitting#on#its#trailer.#(was#sitting#on#its#trailer)#
13.#Wrong#tense#or#verb#form#
By#the#time#Jill#arrived,#the#movie#sold#out.##(movie#had#sold#out)#
#
14.#Subjectaverb#agreement#
The#main#goal#in#my#life#are#to#be#happy.#(is#to#be#happy)#
15.#Lack#of#comma#in#a#series#
Sharks#eat#mostly#shrimp,#squid,#crabs#and#other#fish.##(comma#after#crabs)#
16.#Pronoun#agreement#error#
Each#of#the#puppies#thrived#in#their#new#home.#(its#new#home—each#is#singular)#
17.#Unnecessary#comma#with#“that”#
He#said,#that#I#may#leave.#(no#comma#after#that)#
18.#Runaon#or#fused#sentence#(aka#runaons)#
I#liked#the#movie#very#much#it#made#me#laugh#often.#(insert#because#after#much;#insert#a#semicolon#
after#much;#insert#a#period#and#capitalize#It)#
19.#Dangling#or#misplaced#modifier#
Having#been#thrown#in#the#air,#the#dog#caught#the#stick.###Smashed#flat#by#a#truck,#Sparky#sniffed#at#what#
was#left#of#the#hamburger.#
20.#It’s#versus#its#
The#car#is#lying#on#its#side#in#the#ditch.##It’s#a#2012#Ford#Mustang.#
#
FANBOYS#TO#THE#RESCUE!#
###For# #
###And##
###Nor##
###But# #
###Or# #
###Yet# #
###So#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
####################Use#These##
#################Coordinating#
#################Conjunctions##
###################To#Connect#
##################Independent#
# ##############Sentences#
AAAWWUBBIS##
#
###After# #
###Although#
###As# # #
###When# #
###While# #
###Until# #
###Because#
###Before# #
###If# # #
###Since# #
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
# ########When#You#
##############Use#These#
# ####Subordinating#
############Conjunctions#
###########Use#A#Comma!#
# #
# #########They#Will#
################Never#Be#
# ###########Able#To#
# #######Stand#Alone!#
!
MY!FIRST!REVISION!
1.!!Read!your!draft!silently!and!then!aloud!to!yourself!in!a!!
!!!!!quiet!voice.!
2.!!What!do!you!think!is!good!about!your!writing?!What!parts!!
!!!!!do!you!like!best?!What!parts!do!you!think!are!unclear!or!!
!!!!!weak.!!Should!anything!be!added?!Should!anything!be!!
!!!!!eliminated?!
3.!!Take!a!closer!look!at!each!paragraph.!Are!they organized?!!
!!!!!!Is!each!main!idea!clear!and!supported!by!sufficient!details?!!
!!!!!!Do!the!paragraphs!follow!each!other!logically?!Did!you!use!!
!!!!!!transitions!between!them?!
!
4.!!Take!a!closer!look!at!your!sentences.!Are!they!logically!!
!!!!!!organized?!Are!they!easily!understood?!Did!you!use!!
!!!!!!variety!in!your!sentence!opening!words?!Did!you!use!!
!!!!!!variety!in!sentence!structure!(compound,!complex,!!
!!!!!!compoundQcomplex)?!
5.!!Now!focus!on!the!words!and!phrases.!Did!you!repeat!!
!!!!!!words?!Can!you!find!other!word!choices!that!may!make!!
!!!!!!your!writing!clearer!to!your!reader?!Do!you!have!too!many!!
!!!!!!phrases!and!repetitive!words!causing!your!writing!to!be!!
!!!!!!cluttered!with!unnecessary!information?!
MY!SECOND!REVISION!CHECKLIST!
_____!!1.!!!Did!I!write!what!I!wanted!to!write?!
!
_____!!2.!!!Is!my!topic!focused?!Do!I!go!offQtopic?!
_____!!3.!!!Will!my!readers!understand!what!I!am!saying?!
_____!!4.!!!Is!my!writing!clear?!
_____!!5.!!!Does!my!opening!capture!reader's!attention?!Is!my!thesis!!
!!!! !!!!!!!clear?!
_____!!6.!!!Are!my!main!ideas!supported!with!enough!evidence!and!!
!!
!!!!!!!details?!Did!I!include!examples!and!explanations?!
_____!!7.!!Does!my!conclusion!summarize!my!writing!and!lead!back!to!!
!!
!!!!!!my!thesis?!
_____!!8.!!Did!I!include!unnecessary!information?!Are!there!words,!!
!!
!!!!!!phrases,!and!sentences!that!clutter!my!writing?!
_____!!9.!!Are!there!places!where!I!need!to!expand!my!ideas?!
_____!!10.!Is!my!piece!unified?!Do!all!the!parts!explain!my!thesis?!
_____!!11.!Are!my!paragraphs!unified?!Do!I!have!only!one!main!idea!in!!
!!
!!!!!!!!each?!Did!I!use!transitions!to!lead!to!the!next!idea?
_____!!12.!Is!my!style!of!writing!consistent!throughout!the!essay?!
_____!!13.!What!part!of!my!writing!do!I!like!best?____________________________!
_____!!14.!What!part!of!my!writing!do!I!like!the!least?______________________!
_____!!15.!What!can!I!improve!on!and!how?___________________________________!
!!!!!!7TH!GRADE!
!!!!!6!+!1!TRAITS!
!
CATEGORY!
!
IDEAS!
!
!
!
!
!
ORGANIZATION!
!
!
!
!
!
VOICE!
!
!
!
!
!
WORD!CHOICE!
!
!
!
!
!
SENTENCE!FLUENCY!
!
!
!
!
CONVENTIONS!
(Spelling,!Grammar,!
Punctuation,!
Capitalization,!Usage,!
Paragraphing)!
!
PRESENTATION
!
!!!!!!!STRONG!WRITING!
!
!
!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!4!
!
!
Clear!focus,!holds!reader’s! !
attention,!includes!
relevant!details!and!
anecdotes!that!enhance!
the!central!theme.!
!
Enhances!and!showcases!
the!central!theme!with!a!
compelling!introduction!
through!to!an!effective!
conclusion.!
!
Speaks!directly!to!the!
reader!delivering!purpose!
and!topic!in!a!compelling!
and!engaging!manner;!has!
personality.!!!
!
Language!is!powerful,!
engaging,!and!conveys!
message!in!a!precise!yet!
natural!way;!creates!
imagery.!
!
Writing!has!an!easy!flow,!
rhythm,!and!cadence.!
Sentence!structure!is!
effective!and!varied.!
!
Writing!demonstrates!a!
good!grasp!of!standard!
writing!conventions,!
enhancing!readability.!
!
!
Form!and!presentation!of!
the!text!enhances!the!
ability!of!the!reader!to!
understand!and!connect!
with!the!message.!!It!is!
pleasing!to!the!eye.!
!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5!
!
!!DEVELOPING!WRITING!
!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!3!
!
Central!theme!is!present.!
However,!ideas!are!too!
general!and/or!simplistic.!
!
!
!
Structure!begins!to!
emerge;!reader’s!ability!to!
follow!text!is!slowed.!
!
!
!
Author’s!voice!is!hard!to!
recognize.!Writing!seems!
sincere,!but!not!fully!
engaged,!involved,!or!
compelling.!
!
Language!is!functional,!
but!reader!must!interpret!
parts!for!understanding.!
!
!
!
Some!sentences!flow,!
while!others!lack!variety,!
cohesion,!and!sound!
mechanical.!
!
Writing!shows!some!
control!over!standard!
writing!conventions.!
However,!errors!are!
present!throughout!text.!
!
The!writer’s!message!is!
understandable,!yet!lacks!
the!creativity!that!
enhances!reader’s!ability!
to!connect!with!the!
message.!
!
!
!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!2!
!
!
!!!!BEGINNING!WRITING!
!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!
!
No!clear!sense!of!purpose!
or!theme.!Reader!must!
infer!based!on!limited!
details.!
!
!
No!effective!
organizational!structure;!
lacks!a!clear!sense!of!
direction.!
!
!
No!clear!voice!is!evident.!
Writing!is!indifferent!or!
uninvolved!from!the!topic,!
purpose,!and/or!audience.!
!
!
Language!is!limited;!no!
mental!imagery!is!
present.!
!
!
!
Sentences!are!choppy,!
fragmented,!rambling,!or!
awkward.!Phrasing!does!
not!sound!natural.!
!
Errors!in!the!conventions!
are!numerous,!distracting!
the!reader!and!making!the!
text!unreadable.!
!
!
The!writer’s!message!is!
confusing!due!to!the!
problems!relating!to!the!
presentation!of!the!text.!
!
!
FIRST&EDIT:&&PEER&EDITOR'S&CHECKLIST&
1.&&&&Sentences&begin&with&capital&letters.
2.&&&&Sentences&have&correct&ending&punctuation.
3.&&&&Sentences&are&complete.
4.&&&&Paragraphs&are&indented.
5.&&&&Commas&are&used&in&compound&sentences,&and&for&the&&
&&&&&&&&listing&of&items&in&a&series.
6.&&&&Quotation&marks,&if&any,&are&used&correctly.
7.&&&&Apostrophes&are&used&correctly&for&possessive&nouns.
8.&&&&Contractions&are&not&used.
9.&&&&Proper&nouns&and&adjectives&are&capitalized.
10.&Common&homophones&(there,&their,&they're)&are&used&correctly.
11.&Verb&tenses&are&correct.
12.&Subjects&and&predicates&agree.
13.&Subject&and&object&pronouns&are&used&correctly.
14.&Pronouns&agree&with&the&nouns&they&replace.
15.&Unnecessary&words,&phrases,&and&sentences&have&been&eliminated.
16.&Colons&and&semicolons&are&used&correctly.
17.&Italics&are&used&correctly&for&titles&(in&handwriting,&underlining&is&
&&&&&&&used).
18.&Parentheses&are&used&correctly.
19.&Dashes&are&used&correctly.
20.&Internal&Citation&formats&are&used&correctly.
21.&Spelling&is&correct.