The Writing Process EDUC6584.92 SUMMER 22006

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The Writing ProcessEDUC6584.92SUMMER 2-2006

• Valley Middle School
• Ms. Greenwald
• English Grade 7
• 2006-2007

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What is the Writing Process?

• The writing process is a method to help organize
  your thoughts and ideas down on to the paper.
• It also involves a series of consecutive steps
  that are easy to follow and help to create
  wonderful pieces of writing.
• Finally, you will be able to appreciate all of
  the time and effort spent in producing an article
  of written work. (Ex newspaper editor/magazine
  company!)

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There are SIX main steps in the writing process

• 1. Pre-Writing/Brainstorming
• 2. First Draft
• 3. Revise/Self-Peer-Edit
• 4. Second Draft
• 5. Second Revision
• 6. Final Draft/Publishing

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First Step BRAINSTORMING/PRE-WRITING

• Q What is Brainstorming/Pre-Writing?
• A This is the first step when you begin to jot
  down ideas for your piece of writing on to the
  paper. You may simply list them down or you may
  use a Graphic Organizer.

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Second Step FIRST DRAFT

• When developing your writing process piece, it
  should include the following five paragraph
  format in this order
• PARAGRAPH ONE - Introduction
• PARAGRAPH TWO - First Body
• PARAGRAPH THREE - Second Body
• PARAGRAPH FOUR - Third Body
• PARAGRAPH FIVE - Conclusion

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All paragraphs should include the following
(writers checklist)

• Topic sentence
• Three (or more) supporting details relevant to
  your topic
• Closing sentence
• Appropriate use of transitional words (at least
  two in each paragraph)
• WORD CHOICE A rich, varied vocabulary
• USAGE Subject/verb noun/pronoun agreement
• MECHANICS Proper punctuation, grammar, and
  spelling
• SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION Varied, elaborated,
  appropriate details, and correct construction

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Third Step REVISE/SELF-PEER-EDIT

• At this time, you will begin to revise and edit
  the FIRST ROUGH DRAFT of your paper.
• First, you will SELF EDIT your paper individually
  according to the writers checklist and NJ
  holistic scoring guide given to you.
• Next, you will switch your paper with another
  peer to PEER EDIT (Peer editors will change each
  time we do this in class, so everyone has a
  chance to work with each other!).
• As a PEER EDITOR, it is your job to revise and
  edit your partners essay according to the same
  writers checklist that you used for your own
  self-editing. Please take your time and be
  thorough! Remember, you are trying to help the
  person improve their piece for the second draft!

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Fourth Step SECOND DRAFT

• After you have finished the SELF/PEER EDIT
  revising process, you will then read over the
  suggestions given to improve your paper.
• Then, you will re-write the SECOND DRAFT using
  the following criteria
• proper heading (name, period, date,
  assignment)
• written in cursive
• skip lines in between each sentence on the
  paper
• Usually we begin the SECOND DRAFT in class and
  are given two to three days to re-write the
  paper and hand it in to me for a quiz grade.

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Fifth Step SECOND REVISION

• TEACHER WRITING CONFERENCES During this time, I
  will meet with each student for approximately 5
  minutes individually to discuss his/her essay.
• Q What else happens during the writing
  conference?
• A I will go over some suggestions I have for you
  on your second draft. Additionally, you will be
  given a quiz grade for your second draft during
  this meeting. Finally, if you have any questions
  regarding any of my comments then now is the time
  to ask! If you need extra assistance with your
  piece, then we will schedule an appointment to
  meet after school.
• PLEASE SEEK HELP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

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Last Step FINAL DRAFT/PUBLISHING

• For your final copy of the assigned process
  piece, you will incorporate any changes or
  suggestions given from the SECOND REVISION and
  Teachers Writing Conference.
• When you are drafting/publishing your FINAL copy,
  please adhere to the following requirements
• proper heading (name, period, date,
  assignment) font type Times New Roman
• font Size Twelve
• margins 1/2 in. all around
• document spacing Double spaced

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ESSAY DUE DATES EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!

• If you are absent for any reason, or anticipate
  that you will not be in class the day an essay is
  due, then please..
• If you are out sick/absent, please hand in your
  essay to me on the next school day.
• If you know you will not be in class the day
  prior to an essay due date, then please give me
  the paper ahead of time.
• If you miss class for any extracurricular
  reason and are present in school, then you must
  hand in the paper to me immediately before or
  after school.
• Failure to do any of these will result in a late
  deduction and lowering of your final essay grade.
• GETTING YOUR PAPER TO ME ON TIME IS YOUR
  RESPONSIBILITY! NO EXCEPTIONS!

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Now Its Your Turn!

• ESSAY TOPIC
• Summer Reading Requirement
• Tuck Everlasting

MATERIALS Please take out your Tuck
Everlasting book, English binder, and a writing
utensil at this time.
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QUESTION

• Do you believe that drinking from the magical
  spring was a curse/blessing/or both for the
  members of the Tuck family?

Now for the Brainstorming/Pre-Writing stage of
the process!
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First Step BRAINSTORMING/PRE-WRITING

• Please begin the process by taking a position
• The magical spring was a curse for the Tuck
  family because
• The magical spring was a blessing for the Tuck
  family because
• The magical spring was both a curse and a
  blessing for the Tuck family because

• After you have selected your position, please
  begin to brainstorm ideas that will serve as
  supporting details and your three body
  paragraphs.
• Outline
• Graphic Organizer

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Second Step FIRST DRAFT

• First Paragraph Right now, please write your
  first introductory paragraph. Please include
• Topic sentence or grabber
• (A grabber hooks the audience immediately!
  It
• can be a quote, short dialogue, definition,
• question, anecdote, etc.)
• Three reasons why you feel immortality
• for the Tuck family is a blessing/
• curse/or both
• Transitions between sentences
• Closing transitional sentence

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Lets See What You Got!

• At this time, we are going to share our
  Introductory
• paragraphs out loud with one another!
• As we share, please listen for all of the first
  paragraph details!
• Dont be shy! First, I will take some volunteers

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Three Body Paragraphs

• Second Paragraph First Body
• This will include your first reason why you feel
  everlasting life is blessing/curse/or both for
  the Tuck family.
• Please include a topic sentence that has a
  transition.
• Please include at least three concrete and
  specific supporting details and examples from the
  novel to back up your reason. (BE AWARE OF
  REPETITION!)
• Please include a closing transitional sentence
  that has a transition and leads us to the next
  body paragraph.

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You may then follow the same directions for the.

• Third Paragraph Second Body (second reason)
• Fourth Paragraph Third Body (third reason)

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The Conclusion

• Conclusion Fifth/Last Paragraph
• Q What should I include in my conclusion?
• A Please briefly state your position again along
  with some key points mentioned in your body
  paragraphs. This is also known as a wrap up of
  information.
• Include a topic sentence (usually re-stating your
  position)
• Include three key points
• Include transitions in between sentences
• Include a closing sentence that may also be
  creative
• (Ex question, moral, cliffhanger,
  etc.)

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IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THE CONCLUSION!

• PLEASE DO NOT RE-STATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE
  ALREADY MENTIONED WORD FOR WORD.
• VARY YOUR WORD CHOICE (SYNONYMS/ANTONYMS) AND DO
  NOT REPEAT YOUR SENTENCES.
• YOU ARE RE-STATING YOUR POSITION AND POINTS
  USING DIFFERENT WORDS.

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Congratulations!

• Great job everyone! You may now finish
  completing your first draft on your own.
  Whatever you have not finished you should
  finalize tonight for homework. Tomorrow we will
  be self-peer-editing in class!
• Happy writing and see you tomorrow!
• -Ms. Greenwald
• NOTE If you are having trouble with your paper I
  will be available today after school. Please let
  me know if you are coming!