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    Student Writing Model

    My Interpretation of The Joy Luck Club

    Amy Tan’s book The Joy Luck Club explores the relationships between four Chinese American daughters and their often-misunderstood, more traditional Chinese mothers. By sharing quotations from the book, Fawn, the author of this literary analysis, intends to show how, as they grew up, the daughters came to understand, respect, and appreciate their mothers more.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Response to Literature
    Form: 
    Literary Analysis
    Theme: 
    Books
    Literature
    Culture
    Life

    Student Writing Model

    Limadastrin

    A response to literature can take many forms other than a book report. Sixth-grader Mark decided to respond in a poem patterned after the poetry he read in the Redwall series of fantasy books. (These stories are about peace-loving small animals who exhibit human characteristics in a medieval setting, facing day-to-day struggles of good versus evil, life versus death.) The author of the Redwall books never mentions where the “Badger lords” come from, so Mark created this fictional place called Limadastrin and describes how one would find it.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Response to Literature
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Poem
    Theme: 
    Books
    Fantasy
    Literature

    Student Writing Model

    A Story of Survival

    Opening with a quotation is a great way to begin a book review. Kelsey, the author, summarizes the plot well without giving away the whole story, and she shows genuine enthusiasm for the story.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Response to Literature
    Form: 
    Book Review
    Theme: 
    Books
    Life
    Environment
    Nature
    Literature

    Student Writing Model

    The Best Little Girl in the World

    The voice of Joanna, the author of this book review, comes through as she reveals her concern for teenagers’ vulnerability to eating disorders..

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Response to Literature
    Form: 
    Book Review
    Theme: 
    Books
    Health
    Life
    Personality
    Literature

    Student Writing Model

    Diary of Gaspard

    For her history class, Samantha created an entry for the diary of a character from A Tale of Two Cities. She focuses on a pivotal event in his life and imagines what it must have been like for him.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Response to Literature
    Form: 
    Fictionalized Journal Entry
    Theme: 
    Books
    Literature
    Law
    Family
    Life
    People

    Student Writing Model

    One Great Book

    This book review is well organized and shares interesting details related to the book.

    Level: 
    Grade 2
    Mode: 
    Response to Literature
    Form: 
    Book Review
    Theme: 
    Books
    Animals

    Student Writing Model

    Adam’s Train of Ghosts

    In this vintage essay, Abigail expresses her thoughts and feelings about the songwriter and lead singer of the band the Counting Crows, who are still making music a quarter century on. She analyzes the themes in Adam Duritz’s songs from the '90's and offers her interpretation of symbolism present in them.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Response to Literature
    Form: 
    Music Review
    Theme: 
    Music
    Art
    Imagination
    Entertainment
    Personality

    Student Writing Model

    How to Make Boiled Eggs

    This model of “How-To” writing is based on a model submitted by Dagmary. She has decided to list the steps in her recipe instead of putting them in paragraph form.

    Level: 
    Grade 3
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    How-To
    Theme: 
    Food

    Student Writing Model

    Letter to the Editor

    Fifth-grader Melissa clearly states her opinion in the first paragraph. She shares supporting ideas, with details, in the middle paragraphs. In her conclusion, she restates her opinion in a fresh way.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Persuasive Writing
    Form: 
    Letter to the Editor
    Theme: 
    Education
    Goals
    Life

    Student Writing Model

    The House on Medford Avenue

    Ninth-grader Samantha’s assignment for this essay was to write a series of vignettes, loosely modeled on the novel The House on Mango Street, about her own house, neighborhood, family, and friends.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Books
    Life
    Family
    Friends
    Love
    People
    Literature

    Student Writing Model

    Deer Don’t Need to Flee to Stay Trouble-Free!

    Dylan, the fourth-grade writer of this model, concludes the report by repeating the main points he explained in the body.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Research Writing
    Form: 
    Report
    Theme: 
    Animals
    Science
    Nature

    Student Writing Model

    My Trip to Mexico

    Many details are included in this writing, and a personal tone emerges. The piece has a clear beginning, middle, and ending.

    Level: 
    Grade 1
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Narrative Paragraph
    Theme: 
    Play
    Travel
    Geography

    Student Writing Model

    My Favorite Place to Go

    This model is based on an essay submitted by fourth-grader Mia. She uses some vivid verbs and sensory details—“devour juicy caramel-covered apples,” “crisp fall breeze,” “soft spring trickles of rain splashing the sidewalks,” “warm summer sun”—to help the reader experience her favorite place.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    Description
    Theme: 
    Family
    Travel
    Environment
    Fun
    Nature
    People
    Play
    Recreation
    Transportation

    Student Writing Model

    A Lesson to Learn

    Eddie, a seventh grader, wrote a brief journal entry about his little brother’s annoying habit of asking questions all the time—and how it taught him a lesson.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Personal Writing
    Form: 
    Journal
    Theme: 
    Family
    Education

    Student Writing Model

    How the Stars Came to Be

    Sixth-grade student Laura wrote this fantasy in which the “storybook” voice sets the tone appropriately.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Story
    Theme: 
    Fantasy
    Environment
    Life
    Nature

    Student Writing Model

    Take Me to Casablanca

    The 9th-grade writer of this personal narrative, Emily, uses original word choice to effectively convey a vivid image of the people and environment she encountered on a trip to Africa. The opening paragraphs communicate a sense of excitement that, by the end of the trip, is reduced to disappointment, shock, and guilt.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Travel
    Culture
    Education
    Geography
    Transportation

    Student Writing Model

    From Bed Bound to Breaking Boards

    In this profile of a person, tenth-grade writer Rachel remains focused on an affliction that affects, but never defines, her subject's young life. Rachel engages her readers with direct quotations and plenty of interesting details.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    News Feature
    Theme: 
    Health
    Goals
    Life