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01 A Basic Writing Guide

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003
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Writers Express

A Basic Writing Guide

Start-Up Activity

Have students pull out a piece of paper and tell them, "On your paper, jot down a question you have about writing." After students have written their questions say, "Pass your paper to the person on your left. (Students on the far left will have to cross the class to the person on the far right.) Now read the question and write an answer you might have for it." Once students finish their answers, have volunteers share their questions and answers with the class.

Then tell students that "A Basic Writing Guide" can help answer some of their questions. They will find many more answers throughout Writers Express, which will guide them as they write in this class and any other!

Think About It

“A strange thing happens when you write: you discover what you truly think and what your heart means.”

—Shirley Rousseau Murphy

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.7

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.7

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.4.W.2.5

LAFS.4.W.4.10

LAFS.5.W.2.5

LAFS.5.W.4.10

LAFS.4.W.2.4

LAFS.4.W.3.7

LAFS.5.W.2.4

LAFS.5.W.3.7

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.6.b.11.A

110.6.b.11.C

110.6.b.11.D

110.7.b.11.A

110.7.b.11.C

110.7.b.11.D

110.7.b.12

110.6.b.13

110.7.b.13

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 4 from Writers Express

Questions and Answers About Writing

Use this page and those that follow to provide answers to students' frequently asked questions. Of course, students want to know why they need to learn a skill like writing. Point out that writing helps students in all of their learning. It deepens their thinking.

Also use these pages to get students paging through their handbooks. As you discuss these questions and answers, have students flip to some of the suggested chapters. Ask them to find something interesting or surprising in each chapter and to share it with the class. The more comfortable students become with their handbooks, the more they will use them in your class and all classes.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.2.5
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.A, 110.6.b.11.C, 110.6.b.11.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.1, LA 4.2.1.a, LA 4.2.1.e, LA 4.2.1.f, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Writing

Page 5 from Writers Express

3. What topic can I write about?

Use this page to preview topic selection, a key part of prewriting. If you are like most teachers, you will provide a general subject for most assignments and allow students to select a specific topic. For example, you might say, "Choose your favorite character from Ramona the Brave, describe the person's appearance and personality, and tell why you like this character." Then students each choose their favorites.

By giving a subject area, you keep students from floundering. But by providing them room to select a specific topic, you keep students engaged. If they write about people, places, things, and ideas that interest them, they will more willingly research their topics and more readily (and excitedly) write.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.A
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Prewriting

Page 6 from Writers Express

5. How do I know what to say about my topic?

Use this page to round out your introduction of prewriting. After students have selected a specific topic, they need to further narrow their topic to form a focus. The topic is what the student will write about, and the focus is what the student wants to say about the topic. Have students turn to the indicated pages to learn more.

You can also preview the drafting phase of writing using the suggested chapters. Minilessons let you dig more deeply into these topics.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.A
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
PrewritingWritingLogical Organization

Page 7 from Writers Express

7. How can I make my writing interesting?

Use this page to discuss how writing and speaking are similar. Students should write as if they were speaking to their audience. They will adopt a natural, relaxed voice if writing to classmates and a more formal voice if writing to adults. Writers need to remember their readers and seek to communicate.

Also, point out how writing and speaking are different. When you speak to others, you can read their facial expressions and body language, and they can read yours in real time. In writing, the words alone have to express your thinking. That's why writers need to revise and polish their words—so that they can stand on their own, without the writer present.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.A
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
WritingRevising

Page 8 from Writers Express

9. When should I check for errors, and how should I go about it?

Help your students understand that revising is about making big improvements to writing, focusing on ideas and overall structure. Editing is about making smaller but critical improvements, focusing on correctness. Students will find many editing checklists in their handbooks, helping them know what to look for as they fix their writing.

You can also use numerous editing minilessons to provide additional support to students.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.A
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Editing