Writing:
The Bridge: Bagrut,
Project and Literature
By Ann Shlapobersky
"Writing is mind traveling,
destination unknown."
(unknown – at least I couldn’t find it)
You can talk, but can you write?
 When do we write?
 Why do we write?
 What do we write?
 Do we write in sentences?
 Why don’t we write sentences?
Teaching writing
 Noun/verb combo
 a…b…c….d…
 bag, chance, exploratory
 under the bed, behind the
curtain
 We walk… Sue conceives…
 Noun expansion
 The big gray evasive eagle
 Verb expansion
 flew cumbersomely above the
jagged cliff
 Topic sentence, supporting
details, conclusion
 Letters
 Words
 Phrases
(subject)
(predicate)

Paragraph
Technicality of writing - PGS
do i need to go to
school today to learn
new things the
teacher teached
yesterday but no one
remembers because
 Punctuation
we don’t listening.
 Grammar
 Structur3
(of sentences/paragraphs)
But, we taught it! So,
why won’t they write?
why won’t they express their
thoughts on paper?
why won’t they put pen to paper /
fingers to keyboard?
Writing Requirements
 Concrete sentences / paragraph structure
 Clarity of thought
 Fluid ideas
 Display an understanding of content
Bridging to Writing
 Provide:
specific steps
detailed examples
rules
step-by-step expansion
sentence
to paragraph
to paper
 Explain the process
What’s required to Bridge
Task to Literature?
 Cover page
 Rationale for the choice of topic
 Introduction about the topic
 Summary of information about the topic
 Conclusion
 Bibliography
Length Requirements:
– 4 pointers – 500–750 words
(2 – 3 typed written pages
250 words per page)
– 5 pointers – 750–1000 words
(3 – 4 typed written pages
250 words per page)
Bridging Task:
What must be decided?
 Cover page
 Name of literary text and
topic / student’s name/ class
 Rationale for the choice of topic  Why I chose this topic?
 Umbrella topic: Expansion of
historical, social or cultural
context
 Introduction about the topic
 Introduction to bridging task
What am I writing about?
more to decide
 Summary of information
about the topic
 How do I integrate the information I
found and read?
 How do I write a summary of it all?
 How do I explain how the topic I chose
is reflected in the text or how it may
have influenced the writing of the
text?
 Conclusion
 What’s my conclusion?
How do I explain how the information I
learned about enhances or changes my
understanding of the literary text.
 Bibliography
 Two sources – four points
 Three sources – five points
While we’re reading – what can we do?
 Cover page
Play / Short Story /
Article / Poem
 Rationale for the
choice of topic
Pre- Reading Activity:
 Discussion of themes
related to topic
(historical, social and
author)
 Introduction about Basic Understanding
of the Text:
the topic
 Choose three to five
aspects of the topic that
you want to learn more
about.
 Write questions if that
helps.
 Name of literary text and
topic / student’s name/
class
 Why I chose this topic?:
Umbrella topic: Expansion
of historical, social or
cultural context
 Introduction to bridging
task
What am I writing about?
More:
While we read – what can we do?
 Summary of
information
about the
topic
 Analysis and Interpretation:
Locate the answers to the
questions and write one paragraph
explaining each answer.
 Write about the topic
integrating the information
you found and read.
 Bridging Text and Context:
Explain how the topic you choose is
reflected in the text or how it may
have influenced the writing of the
text.
 Conclusion
 Summary / Conclusion
What I can conclude from what I
learned of the topic.
 Reflection
 Bibliography
How does what I learned enhance
my understanding of the literary
text?
 General conclusion of the
task
 Explain how the
information you learned
about the topic enhances or
changes your understanding
of the literary text.
 Two sources – four points
Three sources – five
points
The Task outline
I.
Cover page
a.
Name of topic
b.
Name of literary text
c.
Name of student/class
II.
Rationale for the choice of topic (1 paragraph: three –
five sentences)
a.
Why I chose this topic?
b.
Why does this topic interest me?
III.
Introduction about the topic (1 paragraph: three – five
sentences)
a.
Opening sentence(s) stating what is the purpose of the
paper
b.
Three to five sentences stating what you will discuss in
this paper
(these sentences should mirror the questions you asked
yourself about the topic)
IV.
a.
Summary of information about the topic
(body of paper: 3 – 5 paragraphs)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
b.
Write about the topic integrating the information you found and
read.
First piece of information I found relating to the topic
(or my first question and its answer - 1 paragraph: three – five sentences)
Second piece of information I found relating to the topic
(or my second question and its answer - 1 paragraph: three – five
sentences)
Third piece of information I found relating to the topic
(or my third question and its answer - 1 paragraph: three – five sentences)
Fourth piece of information I found relating to the topic
(or my forth question and its answer - 1 paragraph: three – five sentences)
Fifth piece of information I found relating to the topic
(or my fifth question and its answer - 1 paragraph: three – five sentences)
Explain how the topic you choose is reflected in the text or how
the topic may have influenced the writing of the text.
(paragraph 1)
V.
Conclusion (2 paragraphs: three – five sentences)
a.
b.
VI.
General conclusion/ summary of the task (1 paragraph)
Explain how the information you learned about the
topic enhances or changes your understanding of the
literary text. (1 paragraph)
Bibliography
a.
b.
Two sources – four points
Three sources – five points
Paragraph
 Topic Sentence
Writing is difficult for me and most students.
 Supporting sentences
First of all, we don’t like to display our thoughts on paper.
Second, we worry about whether we’ll use the correct
grammar and appropriate vocabulary.
Third, we may have to write a second or third draft
and we’d prefer not to doing that.
 Concluding sentence
We will write this paper if we absolutely have to, so
make it interesting.
Bibliography

ECB Online - http://www.ecb.co.il/ecbonline/resources.html

Alternative to the Project: Literature Bridging Task – Ministry of Education (Aug 09)

Writing Effective Paragraphs - http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/paragrph.html

How to Write a Paragraph - http://howtowriteaparagraph.com/index.html

Writing Tips: Paragraph – WritingDen http://www2.actden.com/writ_Den/Tips/paragrap/index.htm

English-Zone.com – Paragraph Writing - http://www.english-zone.com/index.php?ID=71

How to Write a Five Paragraph Essay - http://www.bookrags.com/articles/4.html

How to Write a Paragraph (WikiHowto) - http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Paragraph
Ann Shlapobersky - ashlapo@gmail.com