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17 Writing Emails and Blogs

Page
125
from
Writers Express

Writing Emails and Blogs

Start-Up Activity

Discuss with students the origins of the words email and blog. Email is a shortened form of “electronic mail” and blog is a shortened form of “web log.” Ask students to share their experiences with these forms.

Think About It

“I’ve been blogging since February of 2001. When I started blogging, it was a dinosaur blog. It was me and a handful of tyrannosaurs. . . . Now anyone can blog.”

—Neil Gaiman

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.E

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.E

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.10

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.4.W.1.1

LAFS.4.W.1.2

LAFS.5.W.1.1

LAFS.5.W.1.2

LAFS.K12.W.4.10

LAFS.4.W.4.10

LAFS.5.W.4.10

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.6.b.12.C

110.6.b.11.B

110.6.b.11.A

110.6.b.11.B.i

110.6.b.11.B.ii

110.6.b.12.B

110.7.b.11.A

110.7.b.11.B

110.7.b.12.C

110.7.b.11.B.i

110.7.b.11

110.7.b.12.B

110.7.b.11.B.ii

110.7.b.12

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 126 from Writers Express

Using Email

Many students think that email is a casual form of writing, so they don't have to use the writing process. Point out that many people have gotten themselves in trouble with the same kind of thinking. Either they send emails that are embarrassing because they are full of errors, or they send emails written hastily or in anger that they wish they could take back.

Help your students see that the information on page 126 of the student handbook provides a condensed version of the writing process. Student still need to think about their topic and purpose, write the three parts of the message, and revise and edit their work. Download and distribute the "Email Revising and Editing Checklist" to help students remember the questions they should ask themselves before they press "Send."

Downloads:
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 BasicsBusiness Writing
Form:
Email
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeasStructureWriting ProcessPrewritingWritingRevisingEditingPublishing

Page 127 from Writers Express

Sample Email

Have a student volunteer read the sample email aloud to your class. Afterward, point out the parts of the email message:

  • A salutation using "Dear" and the person's title and last name, followed by a comma
  • A beginning that states the topic and purpose
  • Middle paragraphs that support the beginning
  • An ending that thoughtfully wraps up the message
  • A complementary closing that thanks the reader
  • The writer's name

For additional examples of student emails, see "Dear Ms. Nathan" and "Dear Dr. Larson."
 

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 BasicsBusiness Writing
Form:
Email
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeasStructureWriting ProcessPrewritingWritingRevisingEditingPublishing

Page 128 from Writers Express

Using Blogs

Use this page to help establish student expectations about contributing to a classroom blog or wiki. Have students practice their new skills by posting a topic of discussion on your classroom blog or wiki and having students respond.

Download and distribute the "Blog Revising and Editing Checklist" to help your students know what sorts of questions to ask before they post on your classroom blog.

Downloads:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.K12.W.4.10

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Personal WritingBusiness Writing
Form:
Blog Post
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeasStructureWriting ProcessPrewritingWritingRevisingEditingPublishing

Page 129 from Writers Express

Sample Classroom Blog

Use the sample classroom blog on page 129 to demonstrate to students how they can contribute to an ongoing conversation about a topic. Note that the tone is polite and respectful.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.K12.W.4.10

Related Resource Tags

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

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Personal WritingBusiness Writing
Form:
Blog Post
Theme:
Literature
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeasStructureWriting ProcessPrewritingWritingRevisingEditingPublishing