Bookmark

Sign up or login to use the bookmarking feature.

04 Qualities of Writing

Page
021
from
Writers Express

Start-Up Activity

Draw a T-chart on the board. Above the left column, write "Good Writing." Above the right column, write "Bad Writing." Then ask your students, “What are some of the things you notice when writing is really good or when writing is really bad?” Write down their responses in the appropriate columns. After you have a strong list, lead a discussion about the qualities that make writing work well.

Think About It

“If you want to write, you must begin by beginning, continue by continuing, finish by finishing. This is the great secret. . . . Tell no one.”

—Jack Heffron

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.C

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.C

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.C

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.C

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.C

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.C

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.2

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.4.W.1.1

LAFS.4.W.1.2

LAFS.4.W.1.3

LAFS.4.W.2.4

LAFS.5.W.1.1

LAFS.5.W.1.2

LAFS.5.W.1.3

LAFS.5.W.2.4

LAFS.K12.L.1.1

LAFS.K12.L.1.2

LAFS.K.L.1.2

LAFS.4.L.1.1

LAFS.4.L.1.2

LAFS.5.L.1.1

LAFS.5.L.1.2

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.6.b.12.C

110.6.b.11.B

110.6.b.12.B

110.6.b.12.A

110.6.b.11.A

110.7.b.11.A

110.7.b.11.B

110.7.b.12.C

110.7.b.11

110.7.b.12.B

110.7.b.12.A

110.6.b.11.B.i

110.7.b.11.B.i

110.6.b.11.B.ii

110.7.b.11.B.ii

110.6.b.3

110.7.b.3

110.6.b.1.C

110.6.b.11.D

110.6.b.11.D.ix

110.6.b.11.D.x

110.6.b.11.D.xi

110.7.b.1.C

110.7.b.11.D

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 022 from Writers Express

Understanding Structure

Use this page to help students understand the large-scale structure of writing:

  • Beginning (topic sentence in a paragraph; opening paragraph in an essay)
  • Middle (body sentences in a paragraph; middle paragraphs in an essay)
  • Ending (closing sentence in a paragraph; final paragraph in an essay)

You can make this connection by telling students that a paragraph is a mini-essay, and an essay is a maxi-paragraph. If your students have written a paragraph about a topic they like, they could expand the paragraph into an essay. If they have read an essay they like, they could summarize the essay in a paragraph.

 

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.12.C, 110.6.b.11.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.2.b

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingStructure

Page 023 from Writers Express

Understanding Structure (Continued)

After discussing the three main parts of a piece of writing, point out those parts to your students as you read through this model. Show how the beginning paragraph introduces the topic of the essay and gives a focus, the middle paragraphs provide support for the focus, and the ending paragraph sums up the focus.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.12.C, 110.6.b.11.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.2.b

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingStructure

Page 024 from Writers Express

Organizing Your Ideas

You can use this page and the next three to demonstrate different ways that students can put their details together. Your students can learn to organize sentences in the order that best fits their subject and purpose for writing. They also can use different transitions and key words (in the colored boxes) to connect their sentences and create flow.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.B.i, 110.6.b.12.C
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.1.b

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingStructure

Page 025 from Writers Express

Organizing Your Ideas (Continued)

On this page, you'll find information about order of importance and cause-effect order, with suggested transitions and examples.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.B.i, 110.6.b.12.C
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.1.b

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingStructure

Page 026 from Writers Express

Organizing Your Ideas (Continued)

This page explains comparison-contrast order, giving transitions that can help your students sort out similarities and differences. At the bottom of the page, you'll see an example of how a variety of different patterns can be used to connect different types of details to each other.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.B.i, 110.6.b.12.C
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.1.b

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics

Page 027 from Writers Express

Developing Your Ideas

Lead your class through the list of details on this page. Each type of detail does a different job, as explained and demonstrated. Ask your students what kind of details would work best to give information. What kind would work best to tell a story? What kind would work best to persuade someone?

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.B.ii, 110.6.b.12.C
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.b, LA 4.2.1.b

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeas

Page 028 from Writers Express

Combining Types of Details

Use this page and the next to help students see different combinations of details in action. Here, you'll find two ways to structure details:

  • Main Idea, Example, and Explanation
  • Main Idea, Reason, and Explanation

Lead a discussion about how each type of detail in the examples has a different effect on the writing.

 

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.B.ii, 110.6.b.12.C
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.b, LA 4.2.1.b

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeas

Page 029 from Writers Express

Combining Types of Details (Continued)

This page helps you demonstrate two other versions of elaboration:

  • Main Idea, Reasons, and Reflection
  • Main Idea, Anecdote, and Reflection
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.B.ii, 110.6.b.12.C
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.b, LA 4.2.1.b

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeas

Page 030 from Writers Express

Using the Best Words and Sentences

This page and the one that follows help your students improve their style. On this page, you can demonstrate the power of specific words, metaphors, and similes. You can also give students an overview of varying the lengths and beginnings of sentences.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.2
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.3, 110.6.b.12.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.1.5, LA 4.2.2.d

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeas

Page 031 from Writers Express

Using the Best Words and Sentences (Continued)

Use this page to give an introduction to level of language (formality) and tone (sincerity).

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.2.4
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.11.A
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeas

Page 032 from Writers Express

Following the Conventions

In the green example boxes at the top of the page, you'll find an error-filled piece of writing and a corrected version. Have students try to read the first model aloud. Have them then read the second model aloud. Lead a discussion about how errors in writing make it hard to read and understand.

Then lead students through the conventions listed at the bottom of the page and have them flip to pages in their handbooks that deal with some of these issues.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.K12.L.1.1
NE ELA Standard:
LA 1.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingConventions

Page 033 from Writers Express

Using a Qualities Checklist

Use this checklist to help your students check the quality of their writing. During prewriting, your students should focus primarily on the questions under "Developing the Ideas." When writing a draft and revising it, your students should focus on the questions about ideas and those under "Developing the Structure." When editing, students should focus on the questions under "Checking for Conventions."

Downloads:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.K12.L.1.1
NE ELA Standard:
LA 1.2.1.h

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Writing Basics
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingStructureIdeasConventions