1. Writing Workshop: Courage & heroism
EFFECTIVELY
Reading, Gathering Information, and Planning for an Explanatory Response

2. Learning Goals: Engage in the writing process
Students will read, gather evidence & plan for wriitng
Students will be able to write explanatory essay with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
Cite several pieces of evidence to support analysis of what text says
Produce clear and coherent writing in which development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, style, and audience.

3. Understanding the Rubric is Key to Achieving a High Score
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BEFORE?!?!
Purpose, Focus, and Organization
Evidence and Elaboration
Conventions

4. Purpose, Focus, and Organization
Clear controlling idea (if explanatory)
Connections between ideas & support (Transitions at beginning of body paragraphs and internal transitions)
Logical progression of ideas (Topic Sentence in body paragraphs & sum it up)
Appropriate style & tone

5. Evidence and Elaboration
Relevant, smoothly integrated, & well-cited evidence
Effective elaboration (Explain ~Your analysis. DO NOT RESTATE)
Precise language & domain-specific vocabulary

6. Conventions Adequate Convention Use No patterns of errors, if any
Adequate use of punctuation, capitalization, sentence formation, & spelling

7. 4 –Exemplary: The student fully demonstrates the indicators in the category.
3 –Proficient: The student mostly demonstrates the indicators in the category.
2 –Emerging: The student partially demonstrates the indicators of the category.
1 – Unsatisfactory: The student minimally demonstrates the indicators of the category.
U – Not scorable: The student does not provide enough information for the paper to be scored, or the student’s writing is illegible.

8. Passage Set and Prompt at a Glance:
Where is the prompt located? It will be in the back of the passage set. Always go there first.
What should I do? Read the prompt and underline or highlight key words that help you understand the topic and what you must do to answer the question.
What do I do next? Scan the passages. Notice their titles, length, etc. Begin read to text mark + annotate, looking for significant details that will help you answer the question.

9. Let’s Try it: Highlight only the key words in the writing prompt:
Possible Key Words: - what it means to be courageous
- Use evidence from multiple sources - Avoid overly relying on one source - Multi-paragraph essay

10. Scan the Titles:
Three texts: Source 1: An Act of Courage - Source 2: Monuments Men Foundation - Source 3: 2014 International Women of Courage

11. Planning is Key Explanatory Decide your controlling idea (thesis)
Pull evidence ~ underline, star line numbers, etc.
Make a quick outline

12. Just a quick outline II. Reason 1 Evidence & Analysis III. Reason 2
I. Controlling idea (restate prompt)
II. Reason 1
Evidence & Analysis
III. Reason 2
Reason 3
V. Conclusion

13. Draft Your Response Introduction
If you use a lead, it must be connected to your controlling ideas.
Give background information if needed.
State controlling idea

14. Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs must have a topic sentence to include a reason for position. The evidence pulled should prove/support your reasons. Don’t forget to elaborate by explaining the evidence. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE PARAGRAPH and essay.
DON’T FORGET TRANSITION WORDS!

15. Conclusion Remind the reader of the controlling idea.
You may remind the reader of your three reasons or not.
Explanatory - Relate to the lead, address the controlling idea in a new way. End with final thought

16. Extra Time? Take time to edit and revise. Look for dead words.
Add transitions.
Look for common spelling mistakes or punctuation errors.

17. Time to Shine

18. Final Tips for Explanatory Writing
Analyze the prompt – you must restate the prompt to create a controlling idea for your paper
Body paragraphs MUST begin with a Topic Statement
Organization (paragraphs)
Transitions – signal the reader. Do not forget internal transitions
State evidence and clearly give an analysis or explain the inferred meaning. EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER. Many of your papers simply restated what the source material stated. Connect your evidence to the topic sentences.
Clear summarizing sentence

19. Time for Reflection:
Think about your Character Analysis Essay for Zebra or the book report?
What questions or concerns do you have about planning or drafting?

20. Take a look at a sample