WE LOVE…
Content Specific Writing
Feb. 11, 2015
We know what it is! Right?
Here are some examples from the NCDPI
website to look at together for 4th grade.
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/
testing/writing/writingtasks
Why is it Important?
• Research has proven that teacher integration of literacy-related
instructional strategies facilitates student learning across all content area.
This includes writing 
• Classroom Instruction That Works by Robert Marzano, Debra Pickering,
and Jane Pollock.
• Three of the 9 strategies involve writing-1,2, and 9.
Here is a refresher of those 9:
1. Identifying similarities and differences
2. Summarizing and note taking
3. Reinforcing effort and providing recognition
4. Homework and practice
5. Nonlinguistic representations
6. Cooperative learning
7. Setting objectives and providing feedback
8. Generating and testing hypotheses
9. Cues, questions, and advance organizers
Just a bit about Summarizing
2. Summarizing and Note Taking
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These skills promote greater comprehension by asking students to analyze a
subject to expose what’s essential and then put it in their own words. According to
research, this requires substituting, deleting, and keeping some things and having
an awareness of the basic structure of the information presented.
Applications:
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• Provide a set of rules for creating a summary.
• When summarizing, ask students to question what is unclear, clarify those
questions, and then
predict what will happen next in the text.
Research shows that taking more notes is better than fewer notes, though
verbatim note taking is ineffective because it does not allow time to process the
information. Teachers should encourage and give time for review and revision of
notes; notes can be the best study guides for tests.
Applications:
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• Use teacher-prepared notes.
• Stick to a consistent format for notes, although students can refine the notes as
necessary
Some examples
• “Dear Human Body Corporation” –Ms.
Robertson
• “My Life as a Raindrop”
• “Text Me”
• “The Lord of the Cell”
• Journal everything
(It goes on and on…)
• GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS!
Body Systems
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Body Systems Connections
Name _____________________
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Choose 2 of 5 possible questions to answer fully in a researched response. Use your
laptop/internet/notes/study guides to help you with your response so evidence is cited. Must have
written 3 paragraphs each question, so plan out what each paragraph will talk about to prove your
point. Use the attached rubric to guide your thoughts in your response.
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Choose 2 of the following questions:
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A.
The circulatory system works closely with which system? What do they do for the body?
Why do they need each other?
B.
The nervous system is mostly closely tied with which system in your opinion? How are they
connected? Would the body survive without this relationship?
C.
How does the muscular system utilize cells and cell tissue? Why are they important to the
system? How do they help you work?
D.
Which system do you feel is the most complex? Why do you feel it is so complicated? How
does it help you in a typical day?
E.
What do you feel is the most important organ in the body? What systems does this organ
work with the most? What would happen without this organ?
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Letter
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The Human Body Corporation Activity Description:
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As a body organ, you are an employee of the Human Body Corporation. Due to recent cost increases, the Human
Body has to fire workers. You need to write a letter to the Human Body Corporation defending your position in the
company. In your letter, you need to describe to the corporation the following characteristics of your organ and
explain why you are important to the Human Body Corporation.
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1. Tell what the name of your organ is and where you are located.
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2. Identify what systems of the body you work with.
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3. Describe how you work with these systems.
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4. List the other organs that work with you in your system.
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6. Tell the corporation how you perform these functions.
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7. Tell the corporation why you are important and why they should not fire you.
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Explain what might happen to the Human Body Corporation if they fired you.
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You will read your letter to the Human Body Committee (the rest of the class). Along with your letter, you will
need to have a photograph (labeled drawing) of your organ to use as a visual aid.
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Project Due: _________________________
5. Describe your main functions as a Human Body organ.
The Lord of the Cell
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Starring: Cell Membrane (dressed as ‘Gandalf with large staff)
Nucleus- HQ-Commander-holds lots of cell phones
Cytoplasm-holds all the organelles together-counselorLysosome-(grim reaper or Darth Vader-all black/robe) kills bacteria/has power of necrosiscell death-----the TRASH Collector of the cell…gets it out
Mitochondria-energy processor-with flashlight (has energy processor like Iron Man-see if
someone has an Iron Man costume)
Endoplasmic Reticulum-holds ribosomes (bosses the Ribosomes)
Ribosomes-protein makers-3-3 boys posing muscular poses
Golgi Apparatus-macromolecule packaging
Centrosomes-create centriole tubes with DNA copies
Toxins-with disguises
Food/Water-signs labeled as such
Cytoplasm…create lines… dressed in pink and work out gear and a floatation device…keeps
things flowing
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***May have more than one student play each part if you have a large class..
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Plot Synopsis: Small conversations occur on a typical cell day. Show characters in their natural
setting. Then tragedy strikes. Cell is attacked. Who will be the Lord of the Cell-will it be the Cell
Membrane, the Lysosome, or Nucleus who saves the day?
All on scene
Nucleus in on the phones…’yes, no, make ribosomes, let’s go over there, float, no it is not time to
divide-mitosis will be later…goodbye’….it is so hard to be the ‘Lord of the Cell’…so much pressure
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My Life as a Raindrop
Explore a Site
• With your group or on your own, journey to
this link and think about how you could use
these graphic organizers to facilitate your own
writing in your classroom.
• http://www.adlit.org/strategy_library/