Writing across the Content Areas The POWER Paragraph Writing across the Content Areas # 1 in Series

YOUR THOUGHTS? What do you think about writing? Do you enjoy it when your teacher asks you to write for class? Are you a confident writer? How does a person become a confident writer? You should let students Think, Pair, Share with this reflection. They take a moment or two to share whole group.

Share YOUR THOUGHTS 

Getting Respect the Derek Jeter Way Think about these questions as you watch. This could be a stretch for the students. You will need to make it clear that Jeter began his career hating “rookie league” and ended his career as the most respected player of his time. He earned that respect through hard work and dedication—the same qualities it will take for students to become good, confident writers. Watch this video. How did Derek Jeter feel about his rookie year? Why do you think he felt that way? Did he feel confident in himself as a player when he was a rookie? Watch this video. This commercial aired as part of Jeter’s retirement after 20+ years in MLB. How has he changed? Does he seem more confident? Why do you think that?

BIG QUESTION: WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT WRITING FROM DEREK JETER? Turn and Talk to a partner(at school) or write your response on the next slide (at home). How do you think Derek Jeter was able to become such a great and well-respected baseball player? What appeared to happen to his confidence level as he grew as a player? BIG QUESTION: WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT WRITING FROM DEREK JETER? Again, Think, Pair, Share is appropriate at this time. Guide discussion to hit the comments from the previous slide.

BIG QUESTION: WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT WRITING FROM DEREK JETER?

BIG QUESTION ANSWERED HARD WORK, PRACTICE, AND DEDICATION CAN GET YOU PRETTY FAR—and BUILD CONFIDENCE! Notice the musicians…for those students who don’t connect to sports, try to help them see the same connection to music. As players begin, they are not proficient at their craft, but with hard work, practice, and dedication both skill and confidence increase.

WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS—QUICKLY SHARE THEM WITH A PARTNER TIME TO GET THE POWER! Let’s get started with a prompt you can all talk about first! What super power would you most love to have? Why? WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS—QUICKLY SHARE THEM WITH A PARTNER Think, Pair, Share.

Notice the language in this sentence is very similar to the prompt. Let’s model! What superpower would you love to have? Why? P = Present your PROMPT RESPONSE (Begin your sentence with this sentence starter.) The superpower I would love to have is the ability to manipulate time. Notice the language in this sentence is very similar to the prompt. Possible/model response: The superpower I would love to have is the ability to manipulate time.

Your Turn!

Let’s model! O = OFFER your OPINION to back up your topic sentence. (Think the crossed out sentence starter, but don’t actually write it.) The reason I would love to have this superpower is because I would love to be able to get from one afterschool activity to another so I could participate in more. Possible/model response: I’m going to think the words “The reason I would love to have this superpower is because,” but I’m only going to write. “I would love to be able to have the time to get from one afterschool activity to another so I could participate in more.”

Your Turn!

Let’s model! W = WIDEN or WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY? How can you prove this? Give an EXAMPLE? (Begin your sentence with this sentence starter.) For example, right now I’m playing soccer and baseball, but with both of those activities taking so much time, I don’t always finish my homework or get to practice guitar. Possible/model response: For example, right now I’m playing soccer and baseball, but with both of those activities taking so much time, I don’t always finish my homework or get to practice guitar.

Your Turn!

Let’s model! E = EXPLAIN what you meant in your example from W. (Begin your sentence with this sentence starter.) This shows how hard it is for me to get to participate in all the activities I enjoy everyday. Possible/model response: This shows how hard it is for me to get all of my afterschool activities finished each day.

Your Turn!

Let’s model! R = RESATE your main idea or WRAP IT UP! What do you want your reader to REMEMBER? (Begin your sentence with this sentence starter.) Remember, having time control for a superpower would make my life so much better. Possible/model response: Remember, having the ability to manipulate time for a superpower would make my life so much better.

Your Turn!

Let’s model the whole thing! The superpower I would love to have is the ability to manipulate time. I would love to be able to have the time to get from one after school activity to another so I could participate more. For example, right now I’m playing soccer and baseball, and with both of those activities taking so much time, I don’t always finish my homework or get to practice guitar. This shows how hard it is for me to get to all my after school activities finished each day and how little time I have. For all these reasons, having the ability to manipulate time would make my life so much better. This highlighted material is something I changed from the “draft” version above because it sounded better. That’s all part of the writing process. If you can find a way to make your paragraph stronger, you can!

Check out what you can do!

ALWAYS ANSWER THE QUESTION OR RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THE PROMPT! THE POWER ACRONYM P PRESENT your main idea. What is the topic of this paragraph? ALWAYS ANSWER THE QUESTION OR RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THE PROMPT!   O OFFER a reason why this is your main idea. What point do you want to make about the topic? W WIDEN your information. What is your proof? Go to the text for support—offer evidence! E EXPLAIN the connection between your proof and the topic. How or why is this all connected? R RESTATE your main idea. What do you want your readers to really know about this topic? What is an acronym? Can you think of any others? How can acronyms help you learn something? How could it help you to use this acronym for your school writing? Think, Pair, Share

wow, you REALLY hammered that one! Now you have all the tools you need to write with POWER. YOU CAN DO IT!