Writing an Essay
By Megan N. Brink
Writing is Not A Skill….
It Is An Art!
Painters need a brush, musicians need
notes, and writers need words. Carefully
selected words are the tools that a writer
uses to turn his average writing into
beautiful works of art.
Types of Essays
There are three types of essays:
 Narrative
 Expository
 Persuasive
We will be focusing on the first two:
Narrative and Expository for Florida Writes
NARRATIVE ESSAYS
Telling a Story
Narrative Essays
 A narrative
essay is a STORY.
 The prompt, or writing topic, they give you
will most likely have this key word in it:
TELL.
 For example, “Tell about a time you went
on a special trip.”
This is a narrative, because of the word
TELL.
The Writing Process
Before we write, we need to think about the
steps involved in writing.
1. Prewrite
2. Draft
3. Edit/Revise
4. Proofreed
5. Publish
Prewrite - Narrative
 Have you ever seen a cartoon movie?
 They use a Story Board to sketch their ideas
before they do the whole movie and include
each detail! This helps them get their ideas
flowing and keeps them on track.
 For a narrative essay, when you see the words
TELL on a prompt, sketch a STORY BOARD
Narrative Story Boards
1. Draw 5 or 6 boxes (you can do more,
but I would suggest at least 4).
2. In each box you will draw a picture of a
scene, in order, in your story.
3. Each box will then be used to help you
describe a paragraph on your essay.
Narrative Story Boards
 Let’s do one together! Remember that each square is a scene, or
an event that happens next. Try to add target skills to each box.
 Prompt: Tell about a time you did something scary.
Setting/Character
Strong Verb
1
2
Simile
3
Heard a
clanking
Conflict Onomatopoeia
4
RATTLE,
RATTLE,
RATTLE
Take-Away
Metaphor
5
I became a
relieved
librarian when I
discovered it
was only a cat.
I crept
as
quietly
as
nervous
mouse.
6
I’ll never forget
that scary
night!
Prewrite - Expository
 For an expository essay we are asked to
EXPLAIN an idea or thought we have.
 For this, we use a Happy Alien!
 Draw one head and three legs. The head
holds the main topic and each leg is a
supporting detail.
Happy Alien
 Let’s do one together!
 Prompt: Everyone has a favorite food.
Explain what your favorite food is and
why.
Each leg will
become one
supporting
paragraph, so make
sure to think of lots
of target skills to add
when you write! You
may want to write a
grabber above him
and a takeaway It’s cheesy!
below him.
Favorite Food:
Pizza
I eat it when
I’m doing fun
things.
There are so
many varieties!
The Writing Process
Before we write, we need to think about the
steps involved in writing.
1. Prewrite
2. Draft
3. Edit/Revise
4. Proofread
5. Publish
Narrative Draft:
Writing Paragraphs
After you write your Story Board, it’s time to add
paragraphs. Remember, each paragraph is a
block on your story board.
When you write, you need to keep in mind that you
need these things:
You are ON TOPIC
It has a BEGINNING, MIDDLE, and END
You wrote CONTENT
You included CREATIVITY skills
Example Rubric
Your essay needs
to at least be on
topic and the
correct type in order
to get more than a
0.
Your essay should have….
On Topic
Ideas
Every sentence focuses
on the topic
You have written a
unique/interesting
essay about the topic
Conventions
Proper punctuation
Proper use of capitals
Correct spelling of
fourth grade words
and below (especially
tricky words)
Your essay needs
to have at least a
beginning, middle,
and end in order to
get a 3.
Writing Rubric
Organization
Beginning
I have a beginning.
I used a GRABBER
Middle - Content
Grabber
Answered Who, What, When, Where, Why,
and How
Added information to amplify my thoughts
or ideas
I used transitions
If a narrative, it has a conflict
If an expository, it has reasons/points with
examples and details.
End
I have an ending.
I used a TAKE-AWAY
The more creativity
skills, the higher
your score
(either 4, 5, 6).
Self/Friend Score:______________
Actual Score: _________________
Creativity
Word Choice
Strong Verbs
Sparkly Adjectives
Juicy Colors
Cool Transitional Phrases
Onomatopoeia
Alliteration
One sentence with
Dialogue/Creative Tags
Voice
Similes
Metaphors
Sensory Words
Emotion Words
Feeling statements
Sentence Fluency
Showing NOT Telling
Please see my section on target skills
under revision for more information on the
specific items listed.
The Writing Process
Before we write, we need to think about the
steps involved in writing.
1. Prewrite
2. Draft
3. Edit/Revise
4. Proofread
5. Publish
Narrative- Edit/Revise
When you are done writing your 1st draft. Go
back and REVISE, REVISE, REVISE! Revise
until time is up.
Revise means to “see again.” Literally, look at
your paper as if you were someone else and
read it with a critical eye. What can you add and
change? THIS IS NOT JUST A ‘FIX THE
GRAMMAR/SPELLING’ TIME!
Make huge changes to your word choice,
organization, and sentence structure.
The Writing Process
Before we write, we need to think about the
steps involved in writing.
1. Prewrite
2. Draft
3. Edit/Revise
4. Proofread
5. Publish
Proofread
 After
revising, go back and proofread your
essay for grammar and spelling errors. All
fourth grade level words should be spelled
correctly.
 Play close attention to tricky words! Click
on tricky words for a list.
The Writing Process
Before we write, we need to think about the
steps involved in writing.
1. Prewrite
2. Draft
3. Edit/Revise
4. Proofread
5. Publish
Publish
 In
the classroom, stories and other writing
can be written into a final draft with
pictures!
 However,
for Florida Writes, the students
are EXPECTED to turn in rough drafts.
They won’t look pretty! THEY
SHOULDN’T! Just make sure it is legible.
