1. Scaffolding the Writing Task for
Sentence Frames:
Scaffolding the Writing Task for
Special Education Students, English Language Learners, and Everyone Else

2. To write, you need three things:
Something to Say
Sentences to Hold
the Words
The Words to Say It

3. What we mean by “Sentence Frames”:
(aka “Sentence Stems”)
Sentences that explain classification systems:
(Simplest): ________________ goes with ___________________.
(More complex) _______________ and ________________ may be classified as
_______________________ because they both __________________________.

4. Why scaffold a writing task with a sentence frame?
Provides models
Focuses the writer on content: “training wheels”
Allows the writer to be clear and concise
Is appropriate differentiation: Frames can be offered in increasing levels of
language complexity
Forms a mental template that will grow into the writer’s technique
Gives reluctant writers access to acceptable forms

5. We will be learning frames for that hold these types of skills:
Classifying √
Comparing
Linking cause to effect
Evaluating
Predicting
Summarizing

6. Sentences that Compare and Contrast:
1. (Simplest) _____________ and _________________ both __________________.
2. (More Complex) Both ______________ and ________________ both
____________________; however, _______________________________
3. (More complex) Although _______________ and ______________both
____________________, ____________________(is, has)(more,less)__________
4. (More Complex) Despite having _______________in common, _____________
is different from ___________________because____________________________.

7. Sentences that Link Cause and Effect:
1. (Simplest) _____________ , so ________________.
2. (More Complex) As a result of _______________, ________________(happened,
occurred, grew, lessened, began, ended, developed, increased, decreased…)

8. Sentences that evaluate: (opinion)
(Simplest) In my opinion, I think______________________________
because________________________________________________
(More complex) I don’t think the evidence supports the belief that
____________________________ because____________________________.

9. Sentences that predict
(Simplest) I think______________________________will happen
because________________________________________________
(More complex) Even though_____________________________,
I know that______________________________________________.
Therefore, I predict that________________________________________.

10. Sentences that summarize
(Simplest) In the beginning,_____________________. But then,
______________________________. In the end, ____________________,
and so________________________________________________________
(More complex) _____________wanted_________________, but
______________________________________________, so
______________________________________________________.