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    Student Writing Model

    Snapshots

    Before Facebook, Snapchat, and Pinterest allowed us to gather and store images digitally, students kept their memories in photo albums and even shoeboxes. In this historic model, Alita writes about her shoebox collection of memories. Vivid details recreate the feeling of thumbing through pictures.

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

    Student Writing Model

    H’s Hickory Chips

    Karen, in eleventh grade, shares the details of a Saturday spent working for her family’s business. Her descriptions bring the subject to life, and her ending tells the reader why this work is important to her.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Family
    Work
    Love

    Student Writing Model

    Anticipating the Dream

    Michelle (grade 11) develops this eyewitness account by answering the “5 W’s and H” about her parents becoming American citizens. The writer also shares her sensory impressions.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Culture
    Family
    Community
    Rules
    History
    People
    Rights

    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

    Student Writing Model

    Student Entrepreneur Reaches for Dreams of the Sky

    Tenth-grade writer Julie develops her report with plenty of information and quotations from her subject, T. McDowell. Readers get a clear picture of McDowell’s determined business sense as well as his dreams for the future.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    News Feature
    Theme: 
    Technology
    Money
    Goals
    Life
    Occupation
    Work
    Personality

    Student Writing Model

    Mosquito Madness

    When writing about pet peeves, you can react humorously or analytically to a common, everyday annoyance. Katie, the writer of this essay, tries to be sensible and analytical about the mosquito in her bedroom but becomes (in her own words) “like a crazed wind turbine.” Watch for a second simile that works very well in this piece. Also notice how the writer feels about the breeze in the first paragraph and how her feelings have changed by the sixth paragraph—this change shows how stressed she has become.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Persuasive Writing
    Form: 
    Pet Peeve
    Theme: 
    Health
    Environment
    Animals
    Life
    Nature

    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

    Mama’s Stitches

    This poem addresses domestic violence. If you prefer not to read about that subject, please continue to the next model. Twelfth-grade writer Jessica’s words paint memorable images; her lines present realism without the aura of shame or blame.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Poem
    Theme: 
    Family
    Health
    Freedom
    Rights
    Law

    Student Writing Model

    The KHS Press

    In this model, a dialogue develops between a number of students and their advisor for the school newspaper. Notice how the dialogue takes on a lighthearted tone; it was based on actual conversation. As you begin to write your own dialogue, model it after conversations you have heard. This will help you create dialogue that sounds natural and reveals the personalities of your characters.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Creative Writing
    Form: 
    Play
    Theme: 
    Communication
    Education
    Work
    Occupation
    Personality

    Student Writing Model

    Huddling Together

    David deftly interweaves past events that lead up to the football game with the present events of the game itself. The author’s voice comes through loud and clear in the dialogue and in his new-found zeal for football.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Family
    Love
    Recreation
    Sports
    Home

    Student Writing Model

    Save the Elephants

    This essay opens with a brief explanation of a case in which a herd of elephants is spared from death, but then goes on to explain how that is not typical—that, in fact, elephants are headed toward extinction. Michelle, the author, clearly establishes the main causes and effects of the problem before suggesting possible solutions.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    Cause-Effect
    Theme: 
    Animals
    Environment
    Science
    Occupation
    Geography
    Nature

    Student Writing Model

    If Only They Knew

    The author of this essay shares a personal struggle against the backdrops of two different schools and the friends at each school. The strong conclusion neatly sums up the lessons she learned from dealing with her illness and offers a positive ending.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    Comparison-Contrast
    Theme: 
    Health
    Medicine
    Life
    Goals
    Personality
    Self

    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

    Mid-Project Report on History Paper

    Danielle, the writer of this email, presents a clear, organized message. The beginning states the email's purpose, the middle provides the necessary details, and the ending explains what happens next.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Business Writing
    Form: 
    Email
    Theme: 
    Culture
    Community
    Love
    Travel

    Student Writing Model

    Vegetarian Lunch Options at Bay High

    Karin, the email writer, speaks knowledgeably and sincerely as she presents a reasonable, thoughtful request.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Business Writing
    Form: 
    Email
    Theme: 
    Food
    Education
    Rights

    Student Writing Model

    Unique Wolves

    Sixth-grader Bryan wrote this report after visiting a wolf park in Battle Ground, Indiana.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Research Writing
    Form: 
    Research Report
    Theme: 
    Animals
    Science
    Environment
    Nature

    Student Writing Model

    Grandpa, Chaz, and Me

    Cody, a fourth grader, writes about his wish that his little brother could have known their grandfather.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Family
    Love
    Home
    People
    Personality

    Student Writing Model

    The Day I Took the Spotlight

    Fifth-grader Kelli begins this personal narrative with a question that captures the reader’s interest.

    Level: 
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Education
    Goals
    Life
    Self

    Student Writing Model

    Musical Arts

    The use of an authority’s quotation to open this editorial lends credibility to the writer’s opinion. Seventh-grader Jess backs up her position in subsequent paragraphs.

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

    Student Writing Model

    Mir Pushed the Frontier of Space

    This report is clearly focused around a specific thesis. It is evident from the writer’s voice that he is interested in and knowledgeable about the topic.

    Level: 
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Mode: 
    Research Writing
    Form: 
    Research Report
    Theme: 
    Science
    History

    Student Writing Model

    Caught in the Net

    Kim’s essay uses narration and definition to focus on Internet addiction. This essay predates Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Skype, and smart phones. How has our definition of Internet addiction changed?

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Explanatory Writing
    Form: 
    Definition
    Theme: 
    Technology
    Health

    Student Writing Model

    Internet Plagiarism

    Dan writes a problem-solution essay that focuses on one of the great temptations of the digital age: stealing intellectual property via the Internet. The essay begins by explaining the problem in detail and then shifts to recommending a set of solutions.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Persuasive Writing
    Form: 
    Problem-Solution
    Theme: 
    Education
    Technology
    Rules
    Rights

    Student Writing Model

    It’s a Boy!

    This model recounts an embarrassing public experience that provided the writer with new insight into teen pregnancy, single parenthood, and social stigmas. The voice of the piece shows the writer's personality and easily connects with readers. Many vivid details make the experience come to life.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Family
    Education
    Community

    Student Writing Model

    The Climb

    Amy, the author of this personal narrative, effectively uses voice to convey the fear she feels as she ascends a path to an area above a 100-ft. waterfall. Her expert choice of words helps to paint a beautiful picture of her surroundings.

    Level: 
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
    Mode: 
    Narrative Writing
    Form: 
    Personal Narrative
    Theme: 
    Exercise
    Recreation
    Travel
    Goals
    Sports

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