Procedural Writing

Lesson 6: Adding Text Features

You may choose to play the instructional video, or to work through the slideshow on your
own. If you choose to work through the slide show on your own, these instructions will
help you.

Slide 1: Introduce today’s lesson.

Slide 2: Explain what text features are, and that images are the main text
feature in a procedural piece.

Slide 3: Have students read through the sample procedural piece “How to
Draw a Person’s Face: Without Images” (or read through it together as a
class). You can purchase this piece in my TpT store. This piece does not
contain images. Point out that certain steps in this piece could be confusing
to the reader. Images would make it easier to understand.

Slide 4: Read the example on slide four and look at the image together as a
class. Have students turn and talk. What do they notice about the image? In
this case, there is one image for two steps, and, in this case, it is an image of
the final product. It is better to have a separate image for each step.

Slide 5: Read the example on slide five and look at the image together as a
class. Have students turn and talk. What do they notice about the image? In
this case, the image does not fit with the instructions.

Slide 6: Read the example on slide six and look at the image together as a
class. Have students turn and talk. What do they notice about the image? In
this case, the image is of a poor quality. This image would not be very helpful
to the reader.
Slide 7: Go over the important criteria for creating or choosing images. The
first three points refer to the examples from slides 4-6. Also explain that,
since this piece is the work of the writer, the images should be their work as
well. It is best if the writer can draw his/her own images, or take his/her own
pictures. If the writer uses images from the internet, they need to make sure
these images are copyright free. I use images from Book Creator©, which are
copyright free, and this is an option for students who are familiar with that
program.

Slide 8: Look through the mentor piece “How to Make a Bed” as a class. You
can purchase this piece in my TpT store. You will notice that I took my own
pictures. Remind students that they can also draw their own pictures. Also,
point out that the position of the pictures changes, and depends on the text
and how it will look on the page.

Slide 9: Explain to students the steps they will take to add images to their
procedural piece. If students take their own photos, or draw their own
pictures, this step of the process could take several days.