STEP UP TO WRITING

THE WRITING PROCESS: STEP UP TO WRITING What is the step up to writing process? Prewriting and Planning Drafting, Revising, and Editing Creating a Final Copy, Proofreading, and Sharing

The Traffic Signal to Writing Writing by Color GREEN = GO (Topic Sentence) YELLOW = SLOW DOWN : Be Specific (Reasons / Details / Facts) RED = STOP: Give examples (Explain) GREEN = GO BACK: Restate your topic (Conclusion)

GREEN TOPIC SENTENCE “GREEN” means “GO” “GREEN” says “ I have a place I am going with this paragraph. “GREEN” asks the writer to decide, “What am I going to prove? “What information will I share?”

GREEN Topic Sentence: The main topic of the paragraph is stated. In other words, here is where the writer tells the reader what is going to be proven or explained. This the heart of the paragraph.

YELLOW Reasons / Details / Facts YELLOW means “slow down” YELLOW identifies key ideas – reasons, details, or facts. YELLOW introduces key concepts – reasons, details, or facts.

YELLOW Reason/Detail/Fact: Give the reader a reason, detail or fact that proves or explains the topic.  Transition words or phrases are a good was to start these star/key ideas.  The transitions are like glue; they keep all the pieces together.

RED EXPLAIN RED means “Stop and explain.” RED presents evidence. RED provides explanations and examples.

RED Examples, Evidence, Explanation and Elaboration: The meat of the paragraph contains examples, evidence, explanation and elaboration. Red from the traffic signal reminds students to stop and explain.

GREEN CONCLUSION “GREEN” means “GO back to your topic” “GREEN” means “ restate your topic and the position.” Do not introduce new information Use synonyms and leave your reader with something to remember.

GREEN Conclusion: Time to go back to the topic sentence and make a strong, meaningful connection with it - not just copy it. Think of the conclusion as a green ribbon that ties all of the ideas together and gives the reader something to think about.

NOW – IT’S YOUR TURN DEFINE THESE TERMS: (you may go back and look if needed) GREEN = YELLOW = RED =

Writing a Paragraph The three colors of the traffic light help me remember how to write a simple paragraph.  First, I use green to get me going.  My topic sentence is green; it tells the reader what I am going to prove, going to explain, going to describe, or going to share.  Next, yellow reminds me to slow down and support my topic with good reasons, interesting facts, or well-described details.  I introduce my reasons, details or facts with transitions.  Finally, I see red and it reminds me to stop.  Red examples, explanations, evidence, and events bring my paragraph to life.  My conclusion, of course, is green because I go back to my topic and use my last sentence to remind the reader of the topic.

EXAMPLE FOR REVIEW Pandas My favorite animal is the Giant Panda for two reasons. First of all, I like the panda because iti looks so cute and cuddly. The panda’s black and white body colors are simple, make it stand out, and, look soft. Its sad looking face makes me want to hug it and make it happy. In addition, I am fonmd of the Giant Panda because it is endangered. We all should try to preserve the animals, like the panda, that are in danger of extinction. Cearly, the Giant Panda is the animal I like best.

EXAMPLE FOR REVIEW

SO, HOW WAS THIS PARAGRAPH CREATED? Step 1 of the Writing Process: PREWRITING We will create prewriting outlines using the colors of the traffic signal.

FIRST, YOU MUST CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC TOPIC: PANDAS

GREEN – GO – TOPIC SENTENCE TOPIC: Pandas GREEN – Giant Panda: Favorite Animal Remember- Outlines do NOT have to be in complete sentences. They can be simple and we can add to them later.

YELLOW – SLOW DOWN – REASONS /DETAILS / FACTS What are the REASONS that the panda is your favorite? TOPIC: PANDAS GREEN – GIANT PANDA: Favorite Animal YELLOW – Cute and Cuddly YELLOW - Endangered

RED – STOP EXPLAIN OR GIVE EXAMPLES Explain or give examples to support your yellows TOPIC: Pandas GREEN – Giant Panda: Favorite Animal YELLOW – Cute and Cuddly (Orange/ First) RED – Colors RED – Soft Fur RED – Sad Face YELLOW – Endangered ( Orange/ Second ) RED – We should try to preserve

TOPIC: PANDAS Green – Giant Panda: Favorite Animal YELLOW – Cute and Cuddly RED – colors RED – soft fur RED – sad face YELLOW – Endangered RED – We should try to preserve GREEN – Rephrase topic sentence.

LET’S REVIEW

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE Either in groups or individually, color code the four paragraphs you have before you.

LET’S DO ONE OF YOUR OWN COMPLETE THE SPOTLIGHT PARAGRAPH ORGANIZER ON ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: What is one challenge teenagers in America face today? How is this challenging? What is one effective way to peacefully protest, and why is it effective? OR

BRAINSTORM:

MAKING AN OUTLINE GREEN = YELLOW = RED =

LETS REVIEW AGAIN:

USING THE GREEN, YELLOW, AND RED COLORS, WRITE A SENTENCE TO MATCH: GREEN = TOPIC AND CONCLUSION YELLOW = MAIN SUPPORTING IDEAS RED = EXAMPLES, EXPLANATIONS, EVIDENCE Topic: