Grade 7
Language Arts
Writing
Standard 1

WRITING STRATEGIES.


 
Resources
Lesson Plans
Assessments
Elements of Literature First Course Pg. 570 The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse, by Aesop.
Substitute "The Town Mouse and The country Mouse", pg. 570 Elements of Literature First Course for Story suggestion.

1.) Have students form groups of three or four, and give them a set of sentence strips that form a piece of writing. They are to put the statements in order as a group, discussing the reasoning for their order. Students should pay particular attention to the transition words that help them in sequencing. Once all groups are finished, have students share their findings and discuss the words that helped them. Next, have students discuss and create a skeleton outline of the short informational piece, writing in the important transitional words that determine the structure.

2.) Have students, individually, write a piece on a topic of their choice, that follows a similar structure. Students should underline all of the transitional words that help the reader follow the organization of their writing.

During the first portion of the activity, the sequencing of the piece, provide oral feedback to students as they discuss reasoning and determine the correct order of the piece of writing.

2.) Have students attach their skeleton of the piece of writing to their own essay.

Use the following criteria to assess student writing:
 

  • Beginning captures attention of reader and gives a clue to what is coming 
  • Transitional words help the reader follow the organization 
  • Everything fits where it is, like pieces of a puzzle. 
  • There is a structure that can be identified and mapped out. 

    • It ends at a good spot, not abruptly