I Got This! #1: Let's Begin With An Expository Paragraph!
How it Will Work!
In responding to certain writing pieces as a class, each step of the way, we will edit and re-edit our responses until we produce an intelligent response that the entire class can be proud of! You will also be assessed by your participation and you will be given an individual assessment on the skills covered throughout the project.
Purpose: We will start by analyzing (studying) the prompt BELOW to make sure that we understand what it is asking us to do. We will open this up for discussion on the Discussion Page where we will post our thoughts on this.
Planning: As a class, we will collaborate to brainstorm possible words and phrases that will become our main details.
Element #1 Topic Sentence, and Element #2 Plan: As a class, we will collaborate to develop a topic sentence we are all satisfied with that will also list the plan within it. REMEMBER: Topic Sentence= Main Idea Plan= Brief mention of the main details we will write about.
Element #4 Transitions, and Element #5 Details: As a class we will choose appropriate transitions to introduce our main details. Then we will develop a sentence for each of our main details.
Element #6 Conclusion: As a class, we will collaborate to develop a conclusion that creatively restates our topic sentence.
The Reward!
At the end of each completed project, we will hold a class celebration where the final product will be reviewed, translated into each of your native languages, and sent home so your parents, too, can proud of what you've created!
ASSESSMENTS:
1. Group participation: This grade will be based on the effort, contributions, and encouragement you offer throughout our class project. Don't worry, though. If you feel you are not that strong in writing (turning your ideas into sentences), but you make an attempt, while contributing some great ideas to your classmates, you can still earn a decent score! By watching your classmates turn one of your ideas into a brilliant sentence, you can use that sentence as a model to help you improve in your own writing. Plus, you can feel good about the contribution! If you are contributing not only ideas, but much encouragement to your classmates throughout the project, you will earn an even better score! The world needs more encouragers!
2. Individualized Assessment:
Group A: For this expository paragraph project, you will be given an example of an expository paragraph containing the different elements of the paragraph all out of order. Your task will be to place the paragraph elements in the correct order. Don't worry. By the time you are finished with this lesson, you should be able to complete this task with ease!
Groups B and C: Your task will be to respond to an expository prompt by writing a single paragraph that includes all the elements of an expository paragraph.
Colorado State Standards covered:
Standard 1a, b, c, d, e, f, g: Students will read and understand a variety of materials.
Standard 2a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i: Students will write for a variety of purposes.
Standard 3a, b, c, d, e, f: Students will write using conventional grammar, usage, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
Standard 4a, b: Students will apply thinking skills to their reading and writing.
Standard 5a, b, c, d, e, f: Students will read to locate, select, and make use of relevant information from a variety of media, reference, and technological sources.
I Got This! #1: An Expository Paragraph!
Analyze Prompt and Purpose
PROMPT: After viewing the movie, Freedom Writers, the story of teacher, Erin Gruwell, and her students at Wilson High, Los Angeles, we saw her students overcome some very difficult racial, cultural, and social challenges. What are some racial, cultural, and social differences experienced by students in our school?
Purpose: Are we writing to entertain, persuade, or inform? What is the prompt really asking us? Let the Discussion Begin! (Click on the "I Got This!" Class Blog link in the left margin to begin.)
I Got This! #1: Let's Begin With An Expository Paragraph!
How it Will Work!
In responding to certain writing pieces as a class, each step of the way, we will edit and re-edit our responses until we produce an intelligent response that the entire class can be proud of! You will also be assessed by your participation and you will be given an individual assessment on the skills covered throughout the project.Purpose: We will start by analyzing (studying) the prompt BELOW to make sure that we understand what it is asking us to do. We will open this up for discussion on the Discussion Page where we will post our thoughts on this.
Planning: As a class, we will collaborate to brainstorm possible words and phrases that will become our main details.
Element #1 Topic Sentence, and Element #2 Plan: As a class, we will collaborate to develop a topic sentence we are all satisfied with that will also list the plan within it. REMEMBER: Topic Sentence= Main Idea Plan= Brief mention of the main details we will write about.
Element #4 Transitions, and Element #5 Details: As a class we will choose appropriate transitions to introduce our main details. Then we will develop a sentence for each of our main details.
Element #6 Conclusion: As a class, we will collaborate to develop a conclusion that creatively restates our topic sentence.
The Reward!
At the end of each completed project, we will hold a class celebration where the final product will be reviewed, translated into each of your native languages, and sent home so your parents, too, can proud of what you've created!ASSESSMENTS:
1. Group participation: This grade will be based on the effort, contributions, and encouragement you offer throughout our class project. Don't worry, though. If you feel you are not that strong in writing (turning your ideas into sentences), but you make an attempt, while contributing some great ideas to your classmates, you can still earn a decent score! By watching your classmates turn one of your ideas into a brilliant sentence, you can use that sentence as a model to help you improve in your own writing. Plus, you can feel good about the contribution! If you are contributing not only ideas, but much encouragement to your classmates throughout the project, you will earn an even better score! The world needs more encouragers!
2. Individualized Assessment:
Group A: For this expository paragraph project, you will be given an example of an expository paragraph containing the different elements of the paragraph all out of order. Your task will be to place the paragraph elements in the correct order. Don't worry. By the time you are finished with this lesson, you should be able to complete this task with ease!
Groups B and C: Your task will be to respond to an expository prompt by writing a single paragraph that includes all the elements of an expository paragraph.
Colorado State Standards covered:
Standard 1a, b, c, d, e, f, g: Students will read and understand a variety of materials.
Standard 2a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i: Students will write for a variety of purposes.
Standard 3a, b, c, d, e, f: Students will write using conventional grammar, usage, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
Standard 4a, b: Students will apply thinking skills to their reading and writing.
Standard 5a, b, c, d, e, f: Students will read to locate, select, and make use of relevant information from a variety of media, reference, and technological sources.
I Got This! #1: An Expository Paragraph!
Analyze Prompt and Purpose
PROMPT: After viewing the movie, Freedom Writers, the story of teacher, Erin Gruwell, and her students at Wilson High, Los Angeles, we saw her students overcome some very difficult racial, cultural, and social challenges. What are some racial, cultural, and social differences experienced by students in our school?
Purpose: Are we writing to entertain, persuade, or inform? What is the prompt really asking us? Let the Discussion Begin! (Click on the "I Got This!" Class Blog link in the left margin to begin.)