Power Writing
Umbrella Writing
Preparation for Power Writing
Explain we will be learning a new way to
Organize thoughts for writing
Stress only notes will be used on this
organizer, sentences will come later
How to Use the Umbrella
Step 1.
Write the Main Idea on
the umbrella top.
Main Idea goes here!
Using the Umbrella
Step 2
There are three lines on
the handle….
Main Idea
Idea
____________________
Write the ideas
Idea
____________________
Idea
____________________
Using the Umbrella
Step 3
Underneath
each of the
ideas, write 2
details
Main Idea
Idea
____________________
detail, detail
________
Idea
____________________
detail, detail
________
Idea
____________________
detail, detail
________
Power Words!!
words
transition
ForPower
Step 4, you
will needare
to introduce
power words
words
First
Second
Third
Additionally
In addition
In addition to
One
Two
Three
Also
First of all
Last of all
Another
Then
The other
Next
Starting with
Besides
Tip: Give students a copy of Power Words to be kept in their
writing folders!
Using the Umbrella
Step 5
Main Idea
On the left side of
the umbrella
handle write the
Power words.
Idea
____________________
detail, detail
________
Power word
Power word
Idea
____________________
detail, detail
________
Power word
Idea
____________________
detail, detail
________
Using the Umbrella
Step 6
At the bottom of the
umbrella draw a line
and write the main
idea again, this time
it will be used as
part of the
conclusion.
Main Idea
Power word
Idea
____________________
detail, detail
________
Power word
Idea
____________________
detail, detail
________
Power word
Idea
____________________
detail, detail
________
Main Idea
______________________
Quick Example
Snacks
First
__________________________
Popcorn
salty, buttery
_____________
Next
Apples
__________________________
red, juicy
_____________
Last
Chips
__________________________
crispy, BBQ
______________
Snacks
_________________________
Writing the Paragraph
After school I like to eat three
different kinds of snacks. First I like to
eat popcorn for a snack. My favorite
popcorn is salty and buttery. Next, I will
Snacks
Tell you about the apples I like to eat.
Red and juicy apples are the best.
Last, I’ll tell you about the chips I like
First
_____________________
Popcorn
to snack on. My favorite chips are
___________
salty, buttery
Next
crispy BBQ ones. These are the three
Apples
_____________________
red, juicy
___________
snacks I love to eat after school.
Last
Chips
_____________________
crispy, BBQ
___________
___________________
Snacks
Tip: Students can track where they are on the umbrella by covering up the parts they are not using
with a paper.