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    Student Writing Model

    Rules

    This model is based on an essay submitted by fourth-grader Isabel. In the second paragraph, Isabel adds interest and humor to her writing by including her personal comments in parentheses.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Essay
    Theme: 
    Rules
    Family
    Love

    Student Writing Model

    My Mother

    Fourth-grader Abigail wrote an essay that describes how great her mother is. She includes both serious and fun reasons!

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Essay
    Theme: 
    Family
    Love
    Home

    Student Writing Model

    Ann

    Kendra, a fourth grader, submitted this model in which she shares a very personal experience.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Friends
    Love
    Life
    Fun
    Play

    Student Writing Model

    Indy’s Life Story

    Elliot, a fifth grader, submitted the model that this narrative is based on. Elliot shares the details of his personal experience in chronological order, just as they happened. He ends his narrative with good feelings about his dog.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Animals
    Family
    Life

    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

    Shadow Fort

    This model is based on an essay submitted by fourth-grader Amy. She explains her favorite place by telling (1) how she built the fort and (2) a special time she spent there with a hurt friend.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    Description
    Theme: 
    Friends
    Play
    Environment

    Student Writing Model

    Adopting a Pet from the Pound

    This model is based on an essay submitted by fourth-grader Kristyn. She clearly states her opinion in the first paragraph. Then she shares a supporting reason in each of the middle paragraphs.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Persuasive Writing
    Form: 
    Editorial
    Theme: 
    Animals
    Family
    Life

    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

    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 Terror of Kansas

    Fifth-grader Ashley begins her story in the middle of the action. After the first paragraph, the reader is hooked and needs to know . . . “What happens next?”

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Story
    Theme: 
    Environment
    Family
    Life
    Nature

    Student Writing Model

    Chloe’s Day

    Erin, fifth grade, tells her story from the point of view of her cat. The closing lines bring this adventure full circle.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Story
    Theme: 
    Animals
    Family
    Love

    Student Writing Model

    The Haunted House

    Fifth-grader Tommy includes lots of details in a story that leads up to a surprise ending.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Story
    Theme: 
    Fantasy
    Play
    Holidays

    Student Writing Model

    Height-Challenged German Shepherd

    Layton, a fifth grader, grabs the reader’s attention with a couple of questions and a clear picture of what he is planning to talk about in his report. Notice the effective use of humor in the final paragraph.

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

    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

    I Am Attean

    Nicholas, the fifth-grade author of this model, uses repetition effectively in a poem about a young Native American facing the realities of his time.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Poem
    Theme: 
    Community
    Culture
    History

    Student Writing Model

    Did You Ever Look At . . .

    Fifth-grader Trista wrote this poem to give her readers an important message.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Poem
    Theme: 
    Self
    Life
    Environment
    Nature
    Plants

    Student Writing Model

    The Civil War

    Seth, this model’s fifth-grade author, wrote a poem about a historical event and the reasons behind it.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Poem
    Theme: 
    Freedom
    Government
    History
    Rights

    Student Writing Model

    Sloppy Joes

    Molly, the fourth-grade author of this short poem, tells us something about her favorite food.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Poem
    Theme: 
    Food

    Student Writing Model

    When I Was Upside Down

    Chloe, in fourth grade, uses a repeating phrase and rhyming words to give her poem rhythm.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Poem
    Theme: 
    Play
    Life

    Student Writing Model

    Dreams

    The word pictures in this poem, submitted by fifth-grader Sarah, paint a dreamy image!

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Poem
    Theme: 
    Freedom
    Health
    Imagination

    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

    Giving Life

    This is a very moving narrative about a difficult experience. Sharing what she learned from this friendship makes an effective conclusion.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Friends
    Health
    Life

    Student Writing Model

    The Great Paw Paw

    Charlotte, the seventh-grade writer of this model, organizes her essay into paragraphs that describe different aspects of her subject. The closing leaves the reader with a clear idea of the important place her grandfather holds in her memory.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Family
    Love
    Life
    Fun
    Home
    Play

    Student Writing Model

    Friendship

    Five paragraphs in the body of this essay—one for each of the senses—provide a clear organization pattern that is easy for the reader to understand. Note that each of the five paragraphs begins with a sentence that repeats the same, simple pattern. This repetition of a sentence pattern provides unity. The use of an extended metaphor—comparing friendship to the making and baking of bread—works quite well and shows that Nate, the sixth grade writer of this essay, is willing to take creative risks.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    Definition
    Theme: 
    Friends
    Love
    Life

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