4 Square

Be There
 Class, I’m going to give you
a writing prompt. I want
you to read it carefully so
that you will respond to all
parts of the prompt. You
will have 55 minutes to
write. Be sure to plan your
writing, develop your ideas
fully with vivid details,
organize your ideas
coherently, use good word
choice and sentence variety,
and edit your grammar and
mechanics.
 Your family has just won a
one-week trip. Write about
where you choose to go and
what happens there. Develop
your writing with details.
OK. I’ll brainstorm, and
then I’ll make a 4-Square
outline. Then I’ll write my
essay.
 Places I’ve been:
Six Flags, San Antonio (last
summer), Orlando (two years ago)
Places I’ve read about, studied,
or seen on TV that I might be
able to write about:
Paris, London

I’ll write about

San Antonio, Texas.
 Brainstorming
Your family has just won a one-week trip. Write
about where you choose to go and what happens
there. Develop your writing with details.
San Antonio, Texas
Alamo River Walk El Mercado Ripley’s

History, Santa Cool, trees, Mexican Strange items

Anna, Houston, flowers, water, market, shops, from nature,
Travis, shops, mariachi manmade odd
Crockett, restaurants, music, Spanish things, wax
heroes, against below street dancing museum w/
all odds, level, unique Wow! many from
church things to buy, history and
mission, giant music, eat current time,
trees, wishing outdoors, buy history of
well, big jewelry, Ripley’s,
cannon souvenirs Presidents
Don’t forget to use
The Writing Center
as a resource for
teachers, students,
and parents.
I use it all the time.
Information is
organized by
writing traits.
There is a whole
section on 4-Square.
Any time I am
having trouble
writing something,
I click on
The Writing Center,
and I can find
something to help
me.
 Nice Your family has just won a
commercials, one-week trip. Write about
people. where you choose to go and
Now, I’ve what happens there. Develop
forgotten your writing with details.
the prompt.
 Hey, Ma’am… Teacher…
Miss… um…Teacher! I have a
question.
I don’t know how to organize
this.
Is this a narrative essay
(you know, a story)
like…
 HOW MY FAMILY
WON THE LOTTERY
AND
SPENT A WEEK
IN
SAN ANTONIO,
TEXAS
 See, Ma’am. Now, that
would be a narrative essay.
A narrative essay is like a
little story.
 …OR is it a
descriptive essay
like…
SAN ANTONIO,
TEXAS,
THE BEST
VACATION SPOT
IN THE
WORLD!
 See what I mean? In a
descriptive essay, I would be
just describing what San
Antonio is like…you know,
telling what goes on there.
See my problem, Teacher?
A narrative essay
(story)
should be written like this…
Time Connector Time Connector
Event 1 Event 2
Detail Detail
Vivid Vivid
Detail The Trip to San Detail
Vivid Antonio: Vivid
Detail Who? Detail
Vivid What?
Vivid
Where?
Time Connector When?
Time Connector
Event 3 Why?

Detail NA R
RAT
Vivid I
“ A S V E ES S  Big
Detail TOR
Y”
AY Ending
Vivid
Detail
Vivid
 …but a
descriptive essay
should be written like this.
Connecting Word Connecting Word
Reason/Example/Support Reason/Example/Support
Detail Detail
RIP TIVE
Vivid DESC Vivid
Detail ESSAY Detail
Vivid Vivid
Detail Detail
San Antonio is the best
Vivid Vivid
vacation spot.
Connecting Word
Reason/Example/Support
Detail  Wrap-Up Sentence with
Vivid Connecting Word
Detail Personal/Reflective Sentence,
Vivid Question, or Exclamation
Detail
Vivid
 See? They’re really
different…

HOW MY SAN
FAMILY WON ANTONIO,
THE LOTTERY TEXAS,
AND THE BEST
SPENT A VACATION
WEEK SPOT IN THE
IN
SAN WORLD!
ANTONIO,
TEXAS
 This is the prompt: Your family
has just won a one-week trip.
Write about where you choose to go
and what happens there. Develop
your writing with details.

“…where you choose to go…” means the

destination of your trip.
“…what happens there” can mean either
(1.) what happens once you and your
family arrive (narrative) or
(2.) what kinds of things happen there
(descriptive).
…so should my
essay by
narrative or
descriptive?
Either narrative or descriptive will
be fine for this prompt. You
decide based on which one you like
better and which one you think will
work better.
Will the writing test
people tell me which
“mode” to use?

No. You have to decide.

OK. I choose descriptive!

Now I can start my
4-Square organizer.
Paragraph 2 Paragraph 3
This is the 4-Square
Organizer.
(Box 2) (Box 3)

(Box 1)
Thesis Statement –
Develop into Introductory Paragraph

Paragraph 4 Concluding Paragraph

(Box 4) (Box 5)
Write your thesis statement in the
middle box (Box 1). Your thesis
statement is just a sentence stating
what you are going to claim, assert,
declare, insist, suggest, proclaim,
affirm, or say.

OK, I’m going to

make a
statement about
a place.
 Later, when you begin to write, you will
start with this (1.) topic sentence.
Then, you will add (2.) a “wrap up”
sentence that tells your 3 examples and
(3.) a personal/reflective sentence.

San Antonio, Texas, is an excellent

vacation spot.

Huh?
 Like this…

San Antonio, Texas, is an

excellent vacation spot. Strolling
on the River Walk, wandering
through Ripley’s, and exploring the
Alamo fulfill any traveler’s
dreams. If one is looking for a
beautiful, exciting, meaningful
place for relaxation, San Antonio
is the place.

San Antonio, Texas, is an

excellent vacation spot.
River Walk Ripley’s Believe It or
Not and Wax Museum
Now you have to choose 3
examples to describe WHY it
is a good vacation spot.

San Antonio, Texas, is an excellent

Alamo vacation spot.

Easy.
First, Second,
River Walk Ripley’s Believe It or
Not and Wax Museum

San Antonio, Texas, is an excellent

Third, vacation spot.
Alamo In conclusion,
Save room for some
connecting words.
 Are those the only
connecting words we
can use?

Dude, those
transition
words are
so “second
grade.”
Let me get my
writing book. It
has a lesson on
transition, or
“connecting”
words.
First Use these Second
color-coded
One reason connecting Another reason
words as
For example transitions Another example
One example between Also Don’t
paragraphs.
To begin with In addition you
have
To start with ___, like ___, any
more
Third In conclusion words?
Additionally Last
____, as well as ____, Finally
____, too, As one can see
For instance In summary
Along with It is easy to see that
Paragraph
links! Instead of a connecting “word,” you can
use a connecting “phrase.” It’s a more
grown-up way to write. We call it a
“paragraph link.”
All you do is this. Instead of using one of
the connecting words, just mention the
“example” from the previous paragraph
before you start writing about the
“example” in your current paragraph.
Like this:
It is true that the River Walk is an
exciting part of San Antonio, but nothing
can top Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum
and its Wax Museum for unbelievable
entertainment.
Great! We get the idea!

Yeah!
This is OK: Another example of
an interesting place in San
Antonio is the Alamo.
This is much better: Although
Ripley’s Museum will leave
tourists entertained, the Alamo
will certainly satisfy anyone’s
hunger for history.

Wow!
That’s
better!
First It is true that RW…but Ripley’s …
River Walk Ripley’s Believe It or
•Wind through downtown 1 Not and Wax Museum
level below main city •Odd man-made items
streets •Unusual items from nature
•Unique shops •Wax people who look real
•Restaurants San Antonio, Texas, is an excellent
Finally vacation spot.
Alamo It is easy to see that
•Former mission
Now we add
•Texans vs. Santa Anna’s three details to
army describe each of
•Well in square in our examples.
courtyard
Sure, you can Yeah. You have to
add details to follow each detail with
your examples, a “vivid.” That is a
but if your sentence that answers
details are not this question: “LIKE
VIVID, you WHAT?” Your vivid
are just using should bring a picture
words, not to the mind of the
mind pictures. reader. It should be a
taste, a smell, a sound,
a touch, or a sight.
 LIKE WHAT?

SEE
SMELL

TASTE

HEAR

TOUCH

Use a vivid description to “extend” the

development of your detail.
Connecting Word or Transition Link

Example
Detail
Vivid

…so boxes 2,
3, and 4 should
be like this… 2 3

4 5
First
River Walk
Wind through downtown 1 level
below main city streets
Cool, watery, tree-lined banks LIKE WHAT?
Unique shops
Southwest clothing, jewelry, art
LIKE WHAT?
Restaurants
Outdoor patio, aroma of food, sound of
music LIKE
WHAT?

Yeah!
Vivid!
 Have It is true that RW…but Ripley’s …
you
Ripley’s Believe It or Not and
ever
been Wax Museum No,
there? Odd man-made items but I
Eiffel Tower made of toothpicks, Lord’s
want
Prayer on grain of rice
to go!
Unusual items from nature It
Petrified raindrop, shrunken heads
sounds
Wax people who look real cool!
Britney Spears, Abraham Lincoln, Cher
Finally
Alamo
Former mission
Chapel most photographed building
Texans vs. Santa Anna’s army
Outnumbered greatly but courageous I love
Well in square in courtyard history.
Cool, shady, trees, stone pathway
 It is easy to see that San
Antonio is a prize-winning
vacation spot because with the
River Walk, Ripley’s, and the
Alamo, the fun never ends.
Let’s jump in the car and head
that way right now!
Concluding Paragraph:
(1.)Connecting word(s); (2.)Wrap up
sentence (includes your 3 examples); and
(3.)Personal/reflective sentence, question,
or exclamation.
 Dude, you are really good
with this 4-Square thing.
However, my teacher gave us
some tips on writing better
introductions and conclusions.
You know, you can “narrow
down,” use quotations, use
future predictions, and
things like that. You can
find those tips at
www.edmondschools.net
Click Curriculum
Click The Writing Center
 What about Traits are the
these “traits” I characteristics of writing.
keep hearing Traits are how we describe
about? writing.
Like this:
(1.) How did you develop
your thesis?
(2.) How did you organize
your ideas?
(3.) What kind of word
choice did you use?
(4.) Did you use a variety
of sentence structures?
(5.) Did you edit for
grammar, usage, and
mechanics?
Ideas and Development (30%)
4 - Excellent

The content is well suited for the

audience and purpose; main idea or
thesis is clear; ideas are fully
developed and elaborated using
details, examples, reasons, or
evidence; writer expresses an
insightful perspective towards the
topic
Organization, Unity, and Coherence
(25%)
4 - Excellent

Introduction engages the reader;

sustained or consistent focus on the
topic; logical and appropriate sequencing
and balanced with smooth, effective
transitions; order and structure are
strong and move the reader through the
text; conclusion is satisfying
 Word Choice 15%
4 – Excellent

Appropriate word choice which conveys the

correct meaning and appeals to the audience in
an interesting, precise, and natural way; the
writing may be characterized by, but not
limited to lively verbs, vivid nouns, imaginative
adjectives, figurative language, dialogue; no
vague, overused, repetitive language is used (a
lot, great, very, really); ordinary words used
in an unusual way
 Sentences and Paragraphs 15%
4 – Excellent

Writing clearly demonstrates

appropriate sentence structure;
writing has few or no run-on or
fragment errors; writing has a rich
variety of sentence structure, types,
and lengths; ideas are organized into
paragraphs that blend into larger
text; evidence of appropriate
paragraphing
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics
15%
4 - Excellent
The writer demonstrates appropriate
use of correct spelling, punctuation,
capitalization, grammar, usage;
errors are minor and do not affect
readability
 Ideas and Development is 30% of
the score. Graders look for each
paragraph to be fully developed
with a topic sentence that gives
your reason, example, or support;
a second sentence that gives a
“detail” describing the example; a
third sentence giving a “vivid”
describing the detail; and a
concluding sentence reminding us of
the topic.
How should I try
to improve in
Ideas and
Development?
 What about Organization,
Unity, and Coherence?
What should I concentrate
on?

Stick to your topic!

Keep everything in sequence.
Use smooth, effective
transitions.
Have an “engaging” introduction.
Have a conclusion.
I’m all wet on
Easy! Choose a few
Word Choice.
lively verbs, vivid nouns,
imaginative adjectives,
and interesting adverbs
that you like, and use
them frequently as you
write. Always include a
simile. Revise
overused, repetitive
language.
 I know Yeah, we always win
everything writing contests because
about of our superb sentence
Sentences and variety! I like to use
Paragraphs! I appositive phrases,
like to use compound sentences,
introductory and two independent
participial clauses with a semicolon
phrases! in the middle!
 Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics! If you
are writing a timed, in-class prompt, take
a few minutes to edit your paper before
you turn it in. However, if it is
homework and you have plenty of time to
edit and revise, ask someone to read your
paper for you, get suggestions, use Spell
Check, use a dictionary, and use your hot
pink Edmond Grammar Guide.
 Do you realize
that all of the
rubrics our
teachers use to
grade our
writing are on
the web? We
can see exactly
how they’re
going to grade
us!
 I’m going to
make a note of
this excellent
resource!
 Go write
something
that’s well
organized now.
Assess your
own writing
according to
OCCT, EOI,
and Edmond
standards.
Just fill in the
boxes before
you write.
See ya,
dudes.