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Prewriting Stage Modules: National Rti Writing Demonstration Project
Prewriting Stage Modules: National Rti Writing Demonstration Project
It is …
• a series of stages to help you write well;
• like using a map to get to an unfamiliar place;
• comprised of six stages - prewriting, drafting,
sharing, revising, editing, and publishing; and
• a process that is enhanced by collaboration.
It is not …
• a linear process; you may revisit any stage as
many times as needed.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
Why might you need a Writing Process?
What is “prewriting?”
It is...
• the first stage of the writing process;
Strategies
Prewriting Strategies
What-Why-How Strategy
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project Source: The Writing Teacher’s Strategy Guide by Steve Peha at http://www.ttms.org/
What-Why-How Strategy
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
• What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
1.
2.
3.
What-Why-How Strategy Form
The purpose of this form is to help you develop and
record your ideas about your topic.
All your ideas will be helpful when you start drafting
your paper.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project Source: The Writing Teacher’s Strategy Guide by Steve Peha at http://www.ttms.org/
What do you think?
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project Source: The Writing Teacher’s Strategy Guide by Steve Peha at http://www.ttms.org/
Name _______________________________ Class _________ Date ___________ Period ____
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think..
Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
What do you think? think. What details describe what you think?
What is the main idea of the paragraph? • What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
1.
The dog is the
most amazing
animal in the
whole world. 2.
3.
What-Why-How Strategy
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project Source: The Writing Teacher’s Strategy Guide by Steve Peha at http://www.ttms.org/
What-Why-How Strategy
Why do you think it?
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think.
Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
What do you think? think. What details describe what you think?
What is the main idea of the paragraph? • What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
3.
He does homework
for Sam.
What-Why-How Strategy
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project Source: The Writing Teacher’s Strategy Guide by Steve Peha at http://www.ttms.org/
What-Why-How Strategy
Examples, evidence, or descriptions are important as
your readers need proof to understand your opinion.
How do you know?
Example: The “dog”
Why How
• He protects Sam. • Whenever someone comes to the
door he barks to let Sam know.
• He plays with Sam. • At the park he plays Frisbee. He
catches it in his mouth and brings
it back.
• He does homework • He’s great with math. He has a
for Sam. little trouble holding the pencil,
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
though.
Source: The Writing Teacher’s Strategy Guide by Steve Peha at http://www.ttms.org/
Name _______________________________ Class _________ Date ___________ Period ____
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
What do you think? think.
What details describe what you think?
What is the main idea of the paragraph? • What reasons support the main idea?
What examples prove your thought?
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
• What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
You identify:
• What you think about the topic. Your opinion.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project Source: The Writing Teacher’s Strategy Guide by Steve Peha at http://www.ttms.org/
What-Why-How Strategy
HOW #2: For instance, (evidence, Why and How information goes here
examples, descriptions):
Quote and explanation of quote and from (What-Why-How Strategy)
refers back to thesis:
Transition sentence:
WHY #3/Main Idea – Reason (topic
sentence):
Essay
Organizer
Prompt
Topic What-Why-How Essay Organizer
Strategy
No
Prompt
HOW #2: For instance, (evidence, Why and How information goes here
examples, descriptions):
Quote and explanation of quote and from (What-Why-How Strategy)
refers back to thesis:
Transition sentence:
WHY #3/Main Idea – Reason (topic
sentence):
Step 3: Decide on the order of your main ideas (#1, #2, and #3).
Topic
Prompt
How do I
do that?
To deconstruct a prompt:
1. Read it.
2. Take it apart.
3. Understand what you need to do.
4. Determine how to respond to the prompt correctly.
Form Pairs
Strong
Role Audience Format Task
Key Words
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
Practice Writing Prompt
Lots of people try to give us advice—parents, friends, brothers, or sisters, teachers, etc.
Tell a true story about a time you were given or gave advice. Tell if the advice was
followed or not and the results.
Role
Audience
Format
Task
Strong key
words
The most important prewriting activity is to think
about what you are going to write about.
icon
Topic
Prompt No Prompt
PROMPT
Sometimes you are given the topic or prompt.
NO PROMPT
icon
Topic
No Prompt
Prewriting Strategies
How do you find things you care and feel strongly about?
Like Hate
Typical Unusual
Regret/Proud of
Things you regret and things you are proud of
Fun/Required
Thing you do for fun and
things you do because you have to do them.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
Prewriting Stage – Pick Your Topic
Now you have your topic and one that you care about.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
The most important prewriting activity is to think
about what you are going to write about.
icon
“Voice” is choice!
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
This Prewriting Stage lesson is about…
Thesis
Statement
EXAMPLE:
Elvis Presley (subject) was an extremely influential
musician and public figure (opinion about the subject)
before his death.
http://www.irsc.edu/uploadedFiles/Students/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingLab/E13-Writing-an-Effective-Thesis-Statement.pdf
Example of an Effective Thesis Statement:
Compare the effective thesis statement above with ineffective statements below.
http://www.irsc.edu/uploadedFiles/Students/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingLab/E13-Writing-an-Effective-Thesis-Statement.pdf
Example of an Effective Thesis Statement:
Swimming (subject) is great way to improve physical and
mental health (opinion about the subject).
Compare the effective thesis statement above with ineffective statements below.
Keep in mind:
Thesis Statement
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
1.
2.
3.
Name _______________________________ Date: __________________ Period: _______
What-Why-How Strategy Form
My opinion:
What: Ask yourself
• What is my overall opinion? My thesis statement:
• What will my thesis statement be?
IDEAS VOICE
Why: Ask yourself How: Ask yourself
• Why do I think this way? • How do I know this?
• What are the reasons that support my opinion? • What is the evidence that proves your opinion?
Main Idea – reason to support your opinion (evidence, examples, descriptions, quotes)
Paragraph
Main Idea – reason to support your opinion (evidence, examples, descriptions, quotes)
Paragraph
ORGANIZATION
Main Idea – reason to support your opinion (evidence, examples, descriptions, quotes)
Paragraph
Adapted from The Writing Teacher’s Strategy Guide by Steve Peha at http://www.ttms.org/
Essay Organizer Form – 5 Paragraph Essay
Hook:
INTRODUCTION
Introduce issue (prompt):
WHAT/Thesis statement:
Explanation of Thesis:
Lead in (transition to body):
WHY #1/Main Idea – Reason (topic
sentence):
Transition sentence:
WHY #2/Main Idea – Reason (topic
sentence):
Role
Audience
Format
Task
Strong key
words
Examples of
What-Why-How Strategy
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
1. My Mom and Dad have • Dad said his tattoo signifies our family
The adults in my ‘ohana have genealogy.
tattoos. tattoos.
• Dad was in the army when he got his first
tattoo.
• My mom loved butterflies when she was in
high school.
2. My Uncles and Aunties have • Uncle said his friend did it for free.
tattoos. • Aunty put Uncle’s name when they got married.
• Uncle put grandpa and grandma’s name in
memory of them after they died.
• Uncle has all my cousins names to signify their
birth..
3. My older siblings and cousins • My cousin put our zip code and said, ”that’s
have tattoos. where I’m from.”
• My brother put his girlfriends name.
• My sister put her Hawaiian Name.
• My cousin put a Chicken cause he like to chicken
fight.
Name _______________________________ Class _________ Date ___________ Period ____
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
1. Child labor banned in USA but not • Child labor is banned in America .
You should think before buying • 200 million children world-wide work
something made in a country that other countries.
full time in conditions not fit for an
uses child labor to make cheap animal.
items for Americans and other • Pakistan and India use child laborers as
people to buy. young as four years old.
3. Children are not paid in full for the • Children are not paid minimum pay.
work they do. • Children in Haiti are paid 28 cents per
hour on average and 18 cents in Sri
Lanka.
• Children in Viet Nam and China do not
make more than 11 cents.
Name _______________________________ Class _________ Date ___________ Period ____
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
My mother is my hero. 1. My mom was in the army. • She joined the army when men laughed
at women in the service.
• She survived wilderness tests most
men could not do.
• She is in the World Book of records.
• She received a metal.
3. My mom started her own business. • She wanted to be her own boss.
• She helps people make money.
• She employs two other people.
Name _______________________________ Class _________ Date ___________ Period ____
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think.. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
My dog is the most amazing 1. He protects me. • Whenever someone comes to the
animal in the whole world. door he barks to let me know.
• When we take a walk, he growls at
strangers.
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think.. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
A square is also a rectangle, a 1. The definition of a rectangle fits a • A rectangle has two sets of congruent
parallelogram, and a rhombus. square. parallel sides.
• A rectangle has four right angles.
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think.. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
Jun Ken Po is a fair game. 1. Everybody has the same three • Each player has a 1/3 probability of
choices: rock, paper, scissors. selecting rock, paper or scissors.
• Each choice only beats one of the other
choices.
What do you think? Why do you think it? How do you know this?
Write one sentence that tells what you think.. Give reasons that tell why you think what you Give examples to support each reason.
think. What details describe what you think?
What do you think?
What reasons support the main idea? What examples prove your thought?
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
2. Bigger storms produce bigger •Fetch is the surface area affected by the
swells. storm.
•Bigger storms cover more surface area on
the ocean transferring more energy.
•When waves slam together they combine
their energy to make swells that can travel
great distances.
3. The amount of time the wind •The amount of time the wind blows is
blows over a spot in the called duration.
ocean affects the size of the •Longer storms transfer more energy to the
swell. ocean.
•Long, strong storms make the best swells.
Name _______________________________ Class _________ Date ___________ Period ____
appropriate details. introduction and strong conclusion. connection to topic and audience is
__ Main idea clear and important __Introduction catches the audience’s strong.
__ Interesting details attention __Author cares strongly about the topic
__“Showing” and telling __Feels finished at the end __Strong feelings; honest statements
__ Purpose is clear and meaningful __Parts arranged in the best order __Individual, authentic, and original
__Surprising or unusual approach that __ Parts well paced __Well developed personality
works __Easy to follow from part to part __Writing evokes strong connection in
__Effective transitions the reader
3 – Focus on topic is somewhat defined. 3 – Generally unified structure with a 3 – Individuality fades in and out; result
noticeable introduction and ending;
Approaches criteria
1 – Focus is unclear, has disconnected 1 – Demonstrates no evidence of a 1 – Writer lacks commitment to topic and
Does not meet criteria
details and a common approach. unified structure with no introduction connection to audience; evokes minimal
or conclusion; transitional devices not emotion in the reader.
__ Main idea is not clearly defined used. __Author lacks caring or involvement
__Limited or disconnected details __No real introduction with topic
__ Telling does not help understanding __Does not feel finished at the end __Lacks feelings or honesty in statements
__ Purpose is unclear __Parts were missing or hard to follow __ Individuality is not evident
__ Common approach __ Parts unevenly paced or missing __ Personality is not evident
__ Difficult to follow from part to part __ Writing evokes minimal emotion in the
__No use of transitions reader
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
Six Writing Traits Rubric
Word Choice Sentence Fluency Conventions
5 – Writing has an easy flow, rhythm, 5 – Good grasps of standard writing
5 – Words convey the intended message
and cadence; varied, natural, and well conventions; uses conventions
in a precise, vivid, and natural way. The
Meets criteria
message is clear. are choppy and awkward. sometimes effective and enhance
__ Ordinary verb choice __Some variety in sentence beginnings readability.
__ Adequate adjectives and adverbs __Some variety in sentence length and __ Punctuation sometimes causes the
__Basic words and phrases structure reader to stumble and pause
__Somewhat accurate and effective __ Some sentences are smooth and __ Capitalization is mostly accurate
words and phrases others are halting __Paragraphing is present
__Somewhat effective language for __Sentences follow a predictable pattern __Spelling is mostly correct
purpose and audience __ Most sentences are understandable __ Grammar is mostly correct
1 – Limited vocabulary searches for 1 – Rhythm and flow is lacking; sentences 1 – Minimal grasp of the standard
Does not meet criteria
words to create meaning; word choice are unclear and patterns are repetitive. writing conventions; numerous errors in
& phrasing is inappropriate or repetitive. __Little or no variety in sentence conventions distract and/or confuse the
__ Limited verb choice beginnings reader.
__ Ineffective adjectives and adverbs __Lacks variety in length and structure __ Punctuation frequently causes reader
__Uninspiring words and phrases __ Sentences lack pattern when read to stumble and pause
__Inaccurate or ineffective words and aloud __ Capitalization is frequently inaccurate
phrases __Sentences lack rhythm and flow __Paragraphing distracts the reader
__Unclear or inappropriate language for __ Sentences are not easy to understand __Spelling is often incorrect
purpose and audience __ Grammar is often incorrect