WRITING EXAMPLE
Winter Unit of Study: Nonfiction: Informational Reports
Grade Level: Fourth
Standards
ELP Standards
Essential Learning
Functions
Concepts/Skills/Strategies
EL.04.WR.25 Write
informational reports:
- Ask and then address a
central question about an
issue or event
- Include facts and details for
focus
- Develop a topic with simple
facts, details, examples, and
explanations
- Use more than one source
of information including
speakers, books,
newspapers, other media
sources, and online
information
Describing
Explaining
Comparing and Contrasting
*EL.04.WR.01 Use a variety
of strategies to prepare for
writing, such as
brainstorming, making lists,
mapping, outlining, grouping
related ideas, using graphic
organizers, and taking notes.
Sequencing
Generalizing
Summarizing
*EL.04.WR.05 Use the
writing process--prewriting,
drafting, revising, editing,
and publishing successive
versions.
Explaining
Sequencing
Describing
Summarizing
Salem-Keizer Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Apply previously taught non-fiction
reading strategies to guide
researching topic
Mini-Lessons
Continuous Immersion
using Non-Fiction
ELL
Scaffolds
Mentor Texts
Charts
Materials
Resources
Familiar Texts,
ie. Steve
Jenkins,
Stephen
Kraemer, Gail
Gibbons, Jean
Fritz
Mentor Texts:
(Authors listed to
the left)
 Compare/Contrast
Fiction & Non-Fiction
Learn effective note taking strategies  Compare/Contrast
(e.g. key word research, boxes and
Non-Fiction & Nonbullets, etc.)
Fiction
 Study of mentor texts Anchor Charts &
o Magazine Articles Graphic
Learn and practice how to generate
Organizer:
o Websites
questions to guide the research
o KWL
o Blogs
o Topics
o Reports
o Vocab. list
 Naming and Noticing
Use prewriting to prepare for writing
with pictures
the qualities of each
by:
type of text
Breaking text
 Deciding upon research topic.
into small
(teacher may decide to align topics with
chunks (notescience and/or social studies
taking)
standards)
Features of
 Designing central (important)
Informational Text
Pulling out
questions that direct research
 Various Formats
vocabulary
 Selecting materials at
of Non-Fiction
appropriate independent reading
(e.g. articles,
Culturally
level
reports, blogs,
appropriate
 Researching topic using more
etc.)
examples
than one resource
 Using note-taking strategies
1
Assessments
Student Writing
Using
Student/Teacher
Created Rubric
Anchor Charts:
 Venn Diagram:
Features of
Fiction & NonFiction Text
Conferencing
throughout the
process
 Interest List
Peer
Conferencing
 Keyword
Learning
research-modeled Logs/selftext
reflection of
writing work
 Transitional
Words
Process Grids
 Sequencing
Words
 Non-Fiction Text
Features with
Visuals
Speaking Work
sample Using:
 State Scoring
Guide
 Function
Prompt Scoring
Guide
 Literacy
2012-2013
WRITING EXAMPLE
EL.04.WR.11 Write multiparagraph compositions
that:
- Provide an inviting
introductory paragraph
- Establish and support a
central idea with a topic
sentence at or near the
beginning of the first
paragraph
- Include supporting
paragraph with simple facts,
details, and explanations.
- Present important ideas or
events in sequence.
-Provide details and
transitions to link
paragraphs
-Conclude with a paragraph
that summarizes the points
-Use correct indentation.
Sequencing
Describe & explain
Summarize
 Organizing ideas for drafting
Use research notes to draft and
revise research reports that will
include:
 An interesting introduction
leading to a central idea
 Main ideas with facts and details
 New ideas in separate
paragraphs with transitions to
link paragraphs
 A conclusion that summarizes
the central idea
Proofread and edit drafts to prepare
for publishing by:
 Using a revising & editing
checklist
 Teacher conferring
 Peer editing
 Multiple readings
Determine format for publishing:
 Traditional report
 Magazine article
 Picture book
 Blog
 Powerpoint
Salem-Keizer Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
2
Choosing a Focus
 Generating list of
ideas to research
 Identify guiding
questions: What
do I want to know
about ___?
 Big Ideas vs
narrow questions
Dictado
Language
Frames at
Proficiency
Levels with
Transformations
GLAD
strategies:
o Cognitive
Research Skills
Content
 Note-taking
Dictionary
strategies
o Learning
 Keyword
Logs
Research
o Expert
strategy
Groups &
 SummarizingProcess Grid
writing the gist
o Cooperative
from a passage or
Strip
text
Paragraph
o Take it to
Draft & Revise Text
Writing:
 Informational
Narrative,
writing doesn’t
Informational,
have to be boring
& Poetry
– Writing with
voice
 Writing about
facts & including
details
 Sequencing
 Transitional
Words &
Paragraphing
 Conclusions that
summarize
Resources:
Interactive Read
Aloud (4-5):
 Transition
Words, pg. 187
 Identifying
Main Ideas, pg.
63
 Precise
Vocab., pg. 151
 Features of
Non-Fiction, pg.
257
 Sequence of
Events (Plot
lesson, using
Duke Ellington),
pg.93
 Biography, pg.
263
Squared
Scoring Guide
Comprehension
Tool Kit:
Lesson 4 through
6, 8, & 9
TQW:
 Non-Fiction
Cycle (red card)
 D3 (Organize
Your Writing)
 D5 (Use a
Transition
Between Ideas)
 D12 (Stay on
2012-2013
WRITING EXAMPLE
Edit & Publish
 Ways to publishFormats that fit
your message
 Layout
techniques (e.g.
using visuals to
support text)
 Creating a class
generated rubric
and/or editing
checklist based
on narrative craft,
strategies & skills
Topic)
 D30 (Find Your
Focus)
 L24 (Use
Specific Vocab.
 P8 (Commonly
Mispelled Words)
 P10 (Edit with a
Checklist)
 P11 (Fix
Spelling Errors)
 P13 (Reread for
Correctness)
 P14 (Break
Text into
Paragraphs)
 P18 (Choose
an Appropriate
Form)
 P20 (Create
Illustrations)
P.D. Books:
 Non-Fiction
Matters by
,
Harvey
Standards printed in bold text represent Core Standards.
Salem-Keizer Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
(*) Represents an on-going standard on the Yearlong Standards Map.
3
2012-2013