A Little Inspiration for Writing

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A Little Inspiration for Writing

• Steve Mills
• Greensburg Junior High School
• Greensburg, IN
• smills_at_greensburg.k12.in.us/teacher/millssteve.ind
  ex.html

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Resources

• Haynes, Charles, and Kathleen McMurdo (2001).
  Structured writing Using Inspiration software to
  teach paragraph development. Eugene, OR
  International Society for Technology in Education
  (ISTE).
• McMurdo, Kathleen. (2004). Structured Writing II
  Using Inspiration software to teach essay
  development. Eugene, OR International Society
  for Technology in Education (ISTE).

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Why Use Structured Writing?

• Students do not know where to start when writing.
• Students have difficulty with logical sequencing.
• The visual organizer provides an overall view for
  the nonlinear thinker.
• Structure helps students alleviate semantic
  difficulties.

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Why Use Computers?

• Students are able to produce legible text.
• Using outline in planning steps increases the
  fluent production of sentences.
• Writing in a sentence-by-sentence fashion
  encourages more elaborate writing.
• Matching outline and organizer and the use of
  color coding forces organization.
• Documents meet teacher expectations and increase
  students self-esteem.

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Why Use Templates?

• Templates define and teach the structure of
  essential paragraph elements.
• Color coding reinforces structural elements
  through visual recognition.
• The entire writing process flows from the simple
  to the complex.
• Students are encouraged and motivated by their
  rapid movement.

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The Process

• Planning Step
• Outline
• Writing Step
• Organizer
• Editing/Revising Step
• Edited Organizer

• Formatting Step
• Draft
• Publishing Step
• Final

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Structured Writing Paragraph Sequence

• Basic Paragraph
• Expanded Paragraph
• Reason Paragraph
• Example Paragraphs
• Classification Paragraphs
• Compare and Contrast Paragraphs

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Basic Paragraph Lesson

• Snacks
• Games
• Hobbies
• Things to do at recess
• Families
• Books
• Movies
• Desserts
• Holidays

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Expanded Paragraph Topics

• Popular Games
• Good Friends
• Fast Food
• Playing Sports
• TV Programs
• Hobbies
• Modes of Transportation
• Camping

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Reason Paragraph Topics

• Why I like___________
• Why I use a computer
• Why water conservation is important
• Dont play with matches
• Advantages of doing well in school
• Why camping is fun
• A good book
• Why I play ____________

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Transition Words

• One reason, another reason, the last reason,
  first of all second, finally, the first instance,
  for instance, yet another reason, the final reason

• Each supporting idea is a new reason
• Use transitions to separate supporting reasons

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The Example Paragraph Topics

• Things to do at recess
• Ways to annoy my brother or sister
• Summer jobs
• Interesting hobbies
• Kids chores
• Favorite books, movies, tv programs

• School sports
• Favorite desserts
• Healthy snacks
• Party games

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Transition Words

• For example, another example, the last example
• The first example
• First of all, second, finally
• The first instance
• For instance
• Yet another example
• The final example

• Each supporting idea is a new example
• Use transitions to separate supporting examples

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The Process Paragraph Topics

• Snacks (recipes) I can make
• Planning a birthday party
• Washing the dog
• Making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• Building a snowman
• Decorating a Christmas tree
• Building a model

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Transition Words

• To begin with
• The first/second/third/step
• At this point
• Next
• Finally
• Then
• Also
• When
• The final/last step
• At last

• Each supporting idea is a new step
• Use transitions to separate supporting steps

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Classification Paragraph Topics

• Vacations summer, fall, winter, spring
  adventure, educational, or relaxation vacations
  family, adult, child vacations
• Types of movies
• Schools
• Dogs
• Sports Teams
• Transportation
• Food

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Classification Transitions

• The first/the second/the third
• One kind/another kind
• One type of/another type of
• The best/the worst type or kind
• The last type or kind

• Each supporting idea is a new category
• Use transitions to separate the categories

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Compare and Contrast Paragraph Topics

• Two schools, two cars, two teachers, two pets,
  two friends
• Two sports, two video games, two vehicles
• Computer versus pencil
• Movies versus live theater
• School uniforms versus no uniforms

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Transitions

• Both
• Also
• Likewise
• Have in common
• Share the same
• Another likeness
• By contrast
• On the other hand
• Unlike
• Instead of
• But
• Another difference

• Each supporting idea is a point of comparison
• Use transitions to separate points of comparison