Improving the Quality of Expository Writing Jeffrey Liang EDSC 310

Summarize Teaching summarizing helps students focus on the macrostructure of a text instead of the microstructures (individual words or sentences). directs attention to essential information. strategy teaches student to condense and combine ideas

Text Structure Helps students with ELN understand and recognize the structure and organization of the text and their own writing. Teaches ELN students to write in various disciplines. Provides a pattern for students to follow so confusion is avoided Strategy is both explicit and structured

Writing Frames Compare and Contrast of X 1. Both D and C are X. 2. These two types of X are similar yet very different. 3. Both D and C are alike in I. For example, D is M and C is M. 4. However, D and C are very different in P. For example, D is P1 and C is P2. Compare and Contrast: Dave and Carol Both Dave and Carol are athletics. These two types of athletics are similar yet very different. Both Dave and Carol are alike in their interests. For example, Dave is interested in basketball and Carol is interested in basketball. However, Dave and Carol are very different in personality. For example, Dave is passive and Carol is aggressive.

Rubrics Rubrics help students know exactly what the teacher expects. Helps writers develop self- regulation as they self- monitor and self-check their work. Anxiety is reduced. Mathematician Biography Presentation

Data Retrieval Charts explicitly identifies the information that the students seeks provides structure and organization for students critical thinking is engaged as students seek specific answers Dictionary Online TextbookWebsite.ed u Summary What is bacteria? Members of a large group of unicellular microorganisms that have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease. Bacteria are single celled microbes. Bacteria are single celled and lack organelles; it also lacks a nucleus How does bacteria reproduce? Bacteria reproduce by binary fission Conceptually this is a simple process; a cell just needs to grow to twice its starting size and then split in two How is bacteria dangerous? Bad bacteria love when you or your environment is unhygienic or dirty. Data Retrieval Chart for Bacteria

Adapted Evaluation Matrices Decision: While restaurant 1 and 2 are both good choices, restaurant 1 is the better choice. Both choices are close in distance to home. In taste, both are similar, although restaurant 1 is consistently better in taste. However, restaurant 1 has far more options than the limited selection offered at restaurant 2. Therefore, restaurant 1 is the better choice. Alternative 1 Restaurant 1 Alternative 2 Restaurant 2 Criterion 1 Distance 10 8 Close to home 10 Extremely close to home Criterion 2 Menu Selection Many choices offered on the menu 7 Limited selection of food Criterion 3 Taste The options are consistent and delicious 17 Taste differs from day to day Total4134

Graphic Organizers helps student better understand expository text while supporting their writing. can be used in a variety of contexts and subjects. powerful tool to help scaffold students in writing. As the sun heats up bodies of water, liquid turns to gas and moves up into the air. Condensation: water vapors in the atmosphere cools during contact with the air and becomes back liquid; in the form of cloud droplets. Droplets merge and eventually gravity pulls down the droplets resulting in precipitation. This could be rain, hail, snow, etc. Water eventually flows and joins large bodies of water such as ocean and lakes. Cycle starts again. Water Cycle

Conclusion implementation of these strategies results in an improvement of student writing. strategies help relieve frustration because instructions are explicit and the tools are well organized and structured. Personal favorite: Summarizing.