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    Video

    Teaching Students How to Plan

    Video

    Step 5 of the Inquiry Process: Improving

    Video

    Defining and Teaching 21st Century Skills

    Video

    Creative Thinking: You Don't Have to Be an Art Teacher to Teach It

    Video

    Effective Problem Solving

    Video

    Collaboration: Working Together for a Common Goal

    Video

    Asking Better Questions

    Video

    The Seven C's of Argumentation

    Video

    How to Teach Critical Thinking Skills

    Video

    Using Inquire in Your School Library

    Video

    Teaching Inquiry in Science

    Video

    What Is the Inquiry Process?

    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

    The Racist Warehouse

    This personal narrative by eighth-grader Alicia presents an engaging voice. Read the essay and notice how Alicia’s personality comes through; she obviously cares about her subject. Her use of details gives the reader a clear picture of the characters and environment in this account of Alicia’s first encounter with racism.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Community
    Freedom
    Rights
    People
    Personality

    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

    Student Writing Model

    Cheating in America

    In this problem and solution essay, sixth-grade writer Nicholas grabs the reader’s attention with some “shocking statistics” that identify the problem. The essay closes with some possible solutions as well as a point to ponder.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Persuasive Writing
    Form: 
    Problem-Solution
    Theme: 
    Education
    Rules

    Student Writing Model

    Summer: 15 Days or 2 1/2 Months?

    Jordan wants to have a nice, long summer at the end of seventh grade; her persuasive essay makes that quite evident with several points that support her opinion through the use of statistics, comparison, and expert testimony.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Persuasive Writing
    Form: 
    Editorial
    Theme: 
    Education
    Rules

    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

    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 Cowboy's Journal

    Eighth grader Shelley imagines she is a cowboy in the old West as she writes this journal entry. She includes historical details that add a realistic touch to the writing.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Fictionalized Journal Entry
    Theme: 
    Work
    Occupation
    History

    Student Writing Model

    Hang Up and Drive

    A surprise comparison opens this editorial by eighth grade student Jessie, drawing readers in. Her position on the subject becomes evident early in the essay.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Persuasive Writing
    Form: 
    Editorial
    Theme: 
    Transportation
    Rules
    Vehicles

    Student Writing Model

    What Really Matters

    In this feature article, eighth grader Irené informs the reader about spina bifida as she highlights the achievements of a classmate who has the condition. Quotations from the classmate add a personal side to the writing.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    News Feature
    Theme: 
    Health
    Medicine
    Life

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