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03 Prewriting

Page
021
from
Write for College

Prewriting Chapter Opener

Start-Up Activity

Ask students to describe the best process for getting into a cold swimming pool. Do they prefer to wade in, inch by inch? Do they prefer to plunge in and get the shock over at once? Different people will have different methods, but most would agree that once they are in, they can get along "swimmingly."

Ask students how they start other difficult activities:

  • getting up in the morning

  • beginning homework

  • searching for a job

  • asking a person on a date

  • cleaning a room

  • getting to sleep at night

For each activity, getting started is the hard part. That's why students use certain methods, techniques, and rituals. The same is true with writing. Often getting started is the toughest part. However, students can use any number of prewriting strategies to help them wade in to those cold waters or deal with the shock of "taking the plunge."

Think About It

“I'm a curious person, and I always like to test new waters, and I've always jumped into the cold water and then started to think about how to swim.”

—Jochen Zeitz

 

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.7

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.8

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.9

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.1112.W.2.5

LAFS.1112.W.4.10

LAFS.1112.W.3.7

LAFS.1112.W.3.8

LAFS.1112.W.3.9

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.38.c.9

110.38.c.9.A

110.38.c.9.C

110.38.c.9.D

110.39.c.9

110.39.c.9.A

110.39.c.9.C

110.39.c.9.D

110.38.c.10

110.39.c.10

110.38.c.11

110.39.c.11

110.38.c.11.E

110.38.c.11.F

110.38.c.11.G

110.39.c.11.E

110.39.c.11.F

110.39.c.11.G

110.38.c.5.D

110.38.c.4.H

110.39.c.5.D

110.39.c.4.H

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 022 from Write for College

Selecting a Topic

Students often complain, "I don't know what to write about." Use these two pages to give them concrete strategies for finding worthwhile topics.

After students have reviewed these pages, ask them to use one or more of the strategies to find a topic. This topic can provide the starting point for a formal essay or an idea to use with the prewriting strategies that follow in this chapter. For example, on the next pages, students will refine their thinking about their topic and find a focus.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.5
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.9.A, 110.38.c.9.C, 110.38.c.9.D, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.9.A, 110.39.c.9.C, 110.39.c.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1, LA 12.2.1.a, LA 12.2.1.e, LA 12.2.1.f, LA 12.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Writing ProcessPrewriting

Page 023 from Write for College

Selecting a Topic (Cont.)

Introduce the strategies on this page and encourage students to experiment with them whenever they are searching for a topic.

Check out the "Basics of Life" minilesson for a strategy that connects to many free resources on the Thoughtful Learning Web site.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.5
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.9.A, 110.38.c.9.C, 110.38.c.9.D, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.9.A, 110.39.c.9.C, 110.39.c.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1, LA 12.2.1.a, LA 12.2.1.e, LA 12.2.1.f, LA 12.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Writing ProcessPrewriting

Page 024 from Write for College

Freewriting Guidelines

Use this page as a deeper dive into freewriting. Show students that this technique has multiple uses:

  • Exploring a general subject to find a specific topic
  • Discovering prior knowledge
  • Reflecting on gathered information
  • Writing a quick first draft
  • Breaking through writer's block
  • Gaining fluency

Also, help students understand that freewriting is free. It won't be graded (except perhaps for having been done) and emphasizes quantity over quality. The point of freewriting is to get ideas flowing. Later students can worry about which ideas are useful (and which are not).

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.5
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.9.A, 110.38.c.9.C, 110.38.c.9.D, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.9.A, 110.39.c.9.C, 110.39.c.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1, LA 12.2.1.a, LA 12.2.1.e, LA 12.2.1.f, LA 12.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Prewriting

Page 025 from Write for College

Shaping the Topic

Review the topic-shaping strategies on this page, pointing out how each uses writing to refine students' thinking. Then ask students to choose one strategy that appeals to them and use it to further explore the topic they selected on pages 22–23.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.5
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.9.A, 110.38.c.9.C, 110.38.c.9.D, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.9.A, 110.39.c.9.C, 110.39.c.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1, LA 12.2.1.a, LA 12.2.1.e, LA 12.2.1.f, LA 12.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Prewriting

Page 026 from Write for College

Asking Questions

Remind students that a question is a request for information. It creates a space that needs to be filled with an answer. By using questions, students can open up spaces for thought about their topics.

Lead students through the questions about problems, policies, and concepts. If their topics fall into one or more of these categories, have them answer the questions for description, function, history, and value. When they can't answer a question, have them write it down to prompt their research.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.5
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.9.A, 110.38.c.9.C, 110.38.c.9.D, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.9.A, 110.39.c.9.C, 110.39.c.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1, LA 12.2.1.a, LA 12.2.1.e, LA 12.2.1.f, LA 12.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing Basics
21st Century Skills:
Critical Thinking
English Language Arts:
Prewriting

Page 027 from Write for College

Using Graphic Organizers

Introduce students to the many graphic organizers on this page and the one that follows. These tools help students think visually, organizing their ideas in linear and nonlinear ways. Help students understand that different types of organizers work for different writing purposes.

You can download digital versions of each organizer by clicking below.

Downloads:
Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.5
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.9.A, 110.38.c.9.C, 110.38.c.9.D, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.9.A, 110.39.c.9.C, 110.39.c.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1, LA 12.2.1.a, LA 12.2.1.e, LA 12.2.1.f, LA 12.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Prewriting

Page 028 from Write for College

Graphic Organizers (Cont.)

Make sure that students understand how they can use each of these types of graphic organizers to think about and gather information for their topics. You can provide them digital versions of the organizers by clicking on the links below.

Downloads:
Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.5
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.9.A, 110.38.c.9.C, 110.38.c.9.D, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.9.A, 110.39.c.9.C, 110.39.c.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1, LA 12.2.1.a, LA 12.2.1.e, LA 12.2.1.f, LA 12.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Prewriting

Page 029 from Write for College

Taking Inventory

Use this page to teach students a key strategy for understanding writing assignments, closely reading texts, and responding to writing prompts on tests. The PAST questions address the four major parts of any communication situation:

  • Purpose: Why is the person communicating (writing/speaking)?
  • Audience: Who is receiving this communication (reader/listener)?
  • Subject: What is this communication about (topic, thesis)?
  • Type: What kind of communication is this (essay, story, report, email)?

This acronym helps students create on-target essays and analyze nonfiction and fiction. By teaching this strategy here and throughout the book, you will prepare your students for reading and writing on high-stakes tests.

 

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.5
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.9.A, 110.38.c.9.C, 110.38.c.9.D, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.9.A, 110.39.c.9.C, 110.39.c.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1, LA 12.2.1.a, LA 12.2.1.e, LA 12.2.1.f, LA 12.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Prewriting

Page 030 from Write for College

Focusing Your Efforts

Throughout this chapter, students have moved from general to specific: not knowing what to write, finding a general subject area, narrowing it to a specific topic, answering questions about that topic, and gathering specific details. This page helps them refine their focus one more time, deciding just what special thought or feeling they want to express about the topic.

Teach students the simple formula for writing a thesis statement: naming the topic and the special thought or feeling.

Then show them how the thesis statement will drive the overall organization of their details, suggesting main points in a specific order, with supporting details for each main point.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.1112.W.2.5
TEKS Standard:
110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.9.A, 110.38.c.9.C, 110.38.c.9.D, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.9.A, 110.39.c.9.C, 110.39.c.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 12.2.1, LA 12.2.1.a, LA 12.2.1.e, LA 12.2.1.f, LA 12.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 11Grade 12
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Prewriting