Trait Focus: Word Choice plus Editing & Revision Week of March 7, 2011

3/7/11

 Complete your final draft ◦ It may be handwritten neatly, or ◦ IF typed, please use 12 point, Times New Roman font, 1” margins top, bottom, left, right ◦ Remember to include a list of our sources in a bibliography

 Monday – Specific nouns and adjectives  Tuesday – Strong verbs  Wednesday – Choosing the right words for your audience  Thursday – Writing a strong opening  Friday – Powerful, precise language  Everyday – editing and revising

 Choose specific nouns and adjectives to make your descriptions more precise.

 Let’s read this story together – we want to replace the vague adjectives and general nouns with better words that could provide a more accurate description. ◦ Jot at least five that your hear/see  Conventions focus –add commas after introductory words or phrases

 Edit your final draft - look for vague adjectives and general nouns.  Circle five of these words and replace them with better words that provide a more accurate description.  When you are done, begin writing your FINAL DRAFT

 Show me five vague words and your precise replacement words.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

 Choose strong, specific verbs to show exactly what is happening. Avoid tired, overused verbs.  How many forms of the verb walk do you see in this story (pg. 78)?  Let’s look at an improved version of this same paragraph.

 With a partner, read Survival of the Fastest and circle the tired verbs.  Each person needs to rewrite an improved version of this paragraph.  Conventions focus – fix incorrect forms of their, there and they’re in your improved paragraph.

 Edit your research papers looking for tired or overused verbs. Change them to strong, specific verbs.  Show me when you’re done.

 Turn in your improved paragraphs  Show me the verbs you’ve circled and the strong, specific verbs that you have added.  Reminder: your final draft is DUE FRIDAY

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

 Let’s look at two research reports. Which version of the report would your teacher rather read? Why? (pg 90)

 Work with a partner on this next essay. Cross out the overly formal words and replace them with one from the box.  Conventions focus: practice writing compound sentences.

 Peer editing – trade research reports with your language arts partner.  Acting as “critical friends” provide feedback using these sentence starters: Positive: (provide three specific comments) “I like…..” “It was effective when you…” Critique: (provide two specific comments) “I wonder if…” “Have you thought about…”

 Your peer editing comment sheet  Your edited paragraph

Thursday, March 10, 2011

 To write a strong opening and get your reader’s attention, use powerful, precise language.

 Let’s look at two versions of an opening paragraph. In the second paragraph the writer uses certain techniques to get our attention.

 Working with your language arts partner, write two examples of each technique

 Peer Editing – exchange research reports with your language arts partner. Read only the first paragraph. ◦ Does the author use a certain technique to get your attention?  Use the critical friends protocol from yesterday to provide feedback.

Positive: (provide three specific comments) “I like…..” “It was effective when you…” Critique: (provide two specific comments) “I wonder if…” “Have you thought about…”

Friday, March 11, 2011

 Use powerful, precise language to make your reader want to keep reading.

 Rewrite the first paragraph of the LuCille Ball story – use the facts from the box to help you.  Conventions focus – fix misspelled plural nouns.

 Read your story one last time – are there any word choices you can change to make your language more powerful and precise?  TURN IN YOUR WRITTEN OR TYPED FINAL DRAFT

 Next week we begin our novel studies! It will be fun to share a book together, and it will give you practice using advanced reading comprehension skills like: synthesis, inference, prediction and connecting.  Have a GREAT weekend – you’re worked hard, and I can’t to read your final drafts!