Power Writing:
Empower Your Students
To Become Excellent Writers
Secondary—All Disciplines
Kate S. Flynn
High School English Teacher
KateSFlynn@gmail.com
(704) 756-3769
Table of Contents
1. What is power writing?
2. Power Writing Numbers Handout
3. Powergraph Patterns Handout
4. Practice Assignment
5. Power Writing in Math Class
6. Identifying Prompts Handout
7. Power Writing Transition Words
8. Power Writing Practice
9. How is power writing graded?
10. Sample Essay Assignment
11. Cushions and Attention Grabbers
*Items in bold are ready to be copied and distributed in your classroom!
What is Power Writing?
 Power Writing is a writing system that assigns a number to each
different type of sentence in a paragraph.
o The number 1 is assigned to the main idea sentence of a
paragraph.
o The number 2 is assigned to the major detail sentences in a
paragraph.
o The number 3 is assigned to the supporting detail or example
sentences.
o The number 4 is assigned to conclusion sentences.
o A zero (0) sentence is a “cushion” sentence to be used at the
beginning of paragraphs or essays as an attention-getting
sentence and at the end of essays as a culminating, broad
statement about the importance of what was discussed in the bulk
of the essay. (More on cushions later.)
 These numbers can be combined in countless ways to form simple
paragraphs, complex paragraphs with textual evidence, or entire essays.
 It is important to reiterate to students that ALL good writing is power
writing because the writer makes a statement and supports it with
major details and supporting details.
POWER WRITING!!!!
Power Writing is a strategy that writers use to construct
organized, logical paragraphs. Each sentence in the
paragraph, or “powergraph,” is assigned a number.
0
Attention-Getting
Sentence
1
Main Idea
Sentence
2
Major Detail
Sentence
3
Supporting Detail
Sentence
4
Conclusion
Sentence
 This sentence makes the reader want to
read by grabbing his/her attention or
interest.
 This is where you let your voice and
individuality as a writer shine through.
 The main idea sentence introduces
exactly what the essay or paragraph is
about.
 This sentence usually makes a claim or
statement and includes a number.
 This sentence is also called the thesis
statement.
 Major detail sentences add reasons,
ways, or details that support or prove
the claim that was made in the main
idea sentence.
 A supporting detail always follows a
major detail. This sentence gives an
example of the major detail sentences.
 A supporting detail sentence is often a
quote from another source (book,
article, website) being used to prove the
claim.
 This sentence repeats what you wrote in
the main idea sentence to remind your
reader what he/she just read.
POWERGRAPH FORMULAS
Well-organized writing follows a formula. If you know the
formula, your writing will be excellent and easy to
understand. Organization is the key!
 A 1-2-2 power writing formula means that the powergraph
will have one __________________________ sentence and two
________________________________ sentences.
 The 1-2-2 powergraph will have _______ sentences total.
o Example 1-2-2 powergraph:
(1) There are two places I would love to visit if I could go
anywhere in the world. (2) First, I would go to sunny
Puerto Rico. (2) Second, I would go Ireland.
 The 1-2-3-2-3-4 power writing formula means that the
powergraph will have one __________________________ sentence,
two ________________________________ sentences, two
_______________________________________________ sentences, and one
______________________ sentence at the end.
 The 1-2-3-2-3-4 powergraph will have ________ sentences total.
 In the 1-2-3-2-3-4 powergraph, the
____________________________________ sentence always comes after
the __________________________________ sentence.
o Example 1-2-3-2-3-4 powergraph:
(1) There are two places I would love to visit if I could go
anywhere in the world. (2) First, I would go to sunny
Puerto Rico. (3) I love the beach, and I know that Puerto
Rico has beautiful, sandy beaches. (2) Second, I would go
Ireland. (3) My ancestors came from Ireland and I want to
go there to see where I came from. (4) To conclude, there
are two places in the world I would really like to see.
Power Writing Practice
Choose a prompt from your content area and use the space provided to write
a 1-2-3-2-3-4 powergraph that fully responds to the prompt.
Communication Arts:
1. What literary techniques do authors use to make their writing more
vivid?
2. What two components must every paragraph contain?
Social Studies:
1. What were two causes of World War II?
2. How did the Great Depression affect American domestic policy?
Science:
1. Describe two ways pollution affects the water cycle.
2. Why do we use the scientific method when performing experiments?
Mathematics:
1. In a paragraph, describe the steps you would take to solve the following
equation: 2x + 4 = 24.
Write your 1-2-3-2-3-4 powergraph below:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Power Writing in Math Class
Power Writing can be applied to all disciplines, and it is great tool to use for
determining where knowledge breaks down.
Examples
Basic Power Writing Paragraph:
(1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 4)
(1) There are many methods to use to solve word problems. (2) One method is the
guess and check method. (2) Another method is to make a chart or table. (2) A third
method is to make an equation. (4) In summary, these are some of the easier methods
to use to solve word problems.
Detailed Power Writing Paragraph:
(1 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 4)
(1) There are many methods to use to solve word problems. (2) One method is the
guess and check method. (3) In other words, this method involves trial and error. (2)
Another method is to make a chart or table. (3) You must organize your ideas for this
one. (2) A third method is to make an equation. (3) In an equation, you will have to use
a variable for your unknown. (4) In summary, these are some of the easier methods to
use to solve word problems.
Extended Power Writing Paragraph:
(1 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 4)
(1) There are many methods to use to solve word problems. (2)One method is the
guess and check method. (3) In other words, this method involves trial and error. (3) If
one solution doesn’t work, then you try another. (2) Another method is to make a chart
or table. (3) You must organize your ideas for this one. (3) Because of this, you can use
the organized information to help find your solution. (2) A third method is to make an
equation. (3) In such cases, you will have to use a variable for your unknown. (3) Then
you use the rest of the information in the equation. (4) In summary, these are some of
the easier methods to use to solve word problems.
POWERGRAPH FORMULAS, PART II
The basic powergraph formulas of 1-2-2 or 1-2-3-2-3-4 work well if you have one main
idea and two major details, but what if you have three things you want to change about the
world, five favorite foods, or just one important person in your life?
This is when you make the formulas work for you! The key is choosing a formula and
following it throughout the powergraph. First, look at the prompt, then decide on your #1
sentence (main idea), then pick a formula that will allow you to fully address everything
that the prompt is asking.
Example Prompt: If you could go anywhere in the world, which place or places would
you visit and why?
Within this prompt the writer could choose to do a couple of things:
1) She could write about the ONE place she wants to visit and then use the reasons that she
wants to go there as her major details (#2s).
If she did this, her main idea sentence could sound something like this:
If I could go anywhere in the world, I would go to Ireland for three reasons.
2) The other option is for the writer to talk about several places she wants to visit in her
major detail sentences (#2s), and then use the supporting detail sentences (#3s) to explain
why she wants to go.
If she did this, her main idea sentence could sound something like this:
There are three places in the world I would love to visit.
Practice: Read the following prompts and write the formulas you could use to
respond fully to the prompt. Then, draft a main idea sentence for each of your
formulas.
1. Prompt: Should our school have a uniform policy? Why or why not?
Possible formula #1: ________________________________
Main idea sentence for formula #1:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Possible formula #2: _________________________________
Main idea sentence for formula #2:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Prompt: What is your idea of the perfect summer vacation and why?
Possible formula #1: ________________________________
Main idea sentence for formula #1:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Possible formula #2: _________________________________
Main idea sentence for formula #2:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Power Writing—Transition Words
Successful writers use transition words in their paragraphs and
their essays to increase cohesion.
Words and phrases that begin a #2 sentence, or major detail:
 First
 Aside from
 Again
 Second
 Furthermore
 In addition
 Third
 Also
 Lastly
 Even more
 Likewise
 Finally
 Moreover
 Next
 Some believe
 More than that
 Then
 Others say
 Equally
 To begin
 Still others
believe
 Importantly
 With that said
 Above all
 Another
Words and phrases that begin a #3 sentence,
or supporting detail:
 For example
 In the same
manner
 That is to say
 For instance
 Namely
 In other words
 Like
 This can be
 As
explained by
 Just as
 To explain
 Specifically
 To clarify
 To be specific
 To be more
 In such cases
specific
 This is made
clear by
 Because of this
Words and phrases that begin a #4 sentence, or conclusion:
 In conclusion
 In summary
 To sum up
 Finally
 In closing
 To conclude
POWERWRITING PRACTICE—This is worth 50 points.
Part 1: Identification
1. (1pt) What type of sentence is a number 1? _____________________________________
2. (1pt) What type of sentence is a number 2? _____________________________________
3. (1pt) What type of sentence is a number 3? _____________________________________
4. (1pt) What type of sentence is a number 4? _____________________________________
5. (1pt) What type of sentence is a 0 sentence? ____________________________________
6. (5pts) What is the powerwriting formula of the following powergraph?
Write the numbers here: ____________________________________
There are three reasons Will Smith is a great actor. First, he is hilarious. Second, he can
carry an entire movie by himself. Finally, he can make an audience feel deep emotion. Those are
just three reasons way Will Smith is an amazing actor to watch.
7. (6pts) What is the powerwriting formula of the following paragraph?
Write the numbers here: ____________________________________
There are two reasons I love being a teacher. First, I love the students. Not only are they
polite, they are also funny, friendly and smart. Second, I enjoy my colleagues. The other teachers at
my school are supportive and fun to work with. In conclusion, those are just two of the reasons I
love being a teacher.
8. (4pts) What powerwriting formula would you use if you were given the following prompt: Give
five reasons you should be elected class President.
Write the numbers here: __________________________________
Part 2: Practice
9. (8pts) Write a 1-2-3-4 powergraph telling what your favorite movie is and why.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
10. (10pts) Write a 1-2-2-2-4 powergraph telling the three places you would like to visit.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
11. (12pts) Write a 1-2-3-2-3-4 powergraph telling two things you would like to accomplish in your
life and why.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
How is power writing graded?
 The most important thing to consider when grading writing is to
design a sustainable, efficient system that will work for you.
 In my class, each sentence is worth two points. One point is
awarded for using the correct type of sentence in the correct
place (i.e. following the formula). Another point is awarded for
having correct content.
 You can weight different parts of the powergraph differently
depending on which skill you are emphasizing. If, for example,
you just finished teaching using quotations as supporting detail
sentences, you may want to weight those sentences heavier on
the next writing assessment.
 I also give points for transition words and conventions, especially
on longer assignments.
Example Assignment with Scoring Guide:
Write a 1-2-3-2-3-2-3-4 powergraph explaining three ways you
connect with one character in A Raisin in the Sun. Your #3 sentences
must be quotes from the play.
The powergraph is worth 16 points:
 8 points for following the formula correctly.
 6 points for using appropriate quotes from the text.
 2 points for punctuating the quotes correctly.
American Literature—Connections Essay
Your assignment is to write a five-paragraph essay in which you make three types of
connections to the novel you are reading in your literature circle. These types of
connections are text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world.
Formula: 0-0-0-1 2-3-3-3-3 2-3-3-3-3 2-3-3-3-3
Requirements
Introduction 0-0-0-1
 The introduction gives a background to the novel that
would allow a person who had not read the book to
understand the essay. This includes the setting (time
and place) of the novel and information about the
main characters and the plot.
 The last sentence in the introduction serves as the
thesis of the essay and prepares the reader for what is
to come.
Body Paragraphs 2-3-3-3-3
 The first sentence of each of the three body
paragraphs introduces AND defines the type of
connection you are making in that paragraph (text-toself, text-to-text, or text-to-world).
 Each body paragraph gives two different examples
of each kind of connection. (4 pts per paragraph)
 Each body paragraph gives two supporting details to
explain the connections you made. (4 pts per
paragraph)
Conclusion 4-0-0
 The first sentence of the conclusion summarizes the
content of the essay.
 The end of the essay comments on the importance of
making connections and gives your opinion of the
Points
Earned
4-0-0
Points Possible
6
2
6
12
12
2
4
novel you read.
Conventions
 The essay has a title.
 There are less than 5 errors in spelling, punctuation
and grammar.
TOTAL POINTS:
Comments:
1
5
50
Final Grade:
______________________
Cushion Sentences (0)
 In my class the 0 sentence is reserved for introductions and
conclusions of essays.
 There are four main ways to grab a reader’s attention at the
beginning of an essay or paragraph:
1. Use a quote: Henry David Thoreau said “live the life you’ve
imagined,” which relates to my goals for my own life.
2. Say something crazy: Everyone knows reading is a waste of
time, right? No way!
3. Make a list: A better job, higher wages, more satisfaction:
these are just some of the things education can bring.
4. Ask a question (or use the second person): Do you know
your goals for your life?
 Another use of the 0 sentences at the beginning of an essay is
to set up the context of an issue or text that is being studied in
class.
 At the end of an essay, a 0 sentence serves as a broad
statement about the importance of the issue at hand and its
implications in the wider world.