An effective writing assignment and its end product almost always results from careful planning. Writing assignments can be a daunting task for all students. Students will differ in their approaches and practices to planning, just as they will differ in their actual writing styles and selected subjects. Begin planning a writing assignment with two basic objectives: 1) to help your students establish their purpose and 2) to help them organize their supporting information.
Assist students in developing a writing plan that will help them establish a thesis and organize their information by engaging them in these steps.
Step 1: Sit Back and ThinkStudents might ask themselves:
- What are the requirements of the assignment?
- How much time is available to complete the assignment?
- Is research involved?
- How much do I already know about my topic?
- What does the audience already know?
- What form should the writing take?
- How should the paper begin?
Students might ask themselves:
- Is my topic narrow enough to cover in the pages allotted?
- Is the argument or central point of my paper clear?
- Am I prepared to support my claims with relevant details and evidence?
Every student has different organizational preferences. It is important to offer tips and examples of various organizational styles and allow students to find which style feels comfortable to them.
Six basic organizational styles:
- The Basic List—a brief listing of main points.
- The Topic Outline-- formal arrangement of main points and essential details.
- The Sentence Outline-- formal arrangement of main points and essential details in complete sentences.
- The Graphic Organizer-- arrangement of main points and essential details in a chart or diagram.
- The Kinesthetic Outline--arrange cubes/ blocks/circles/geometric figures that indicate different pieces of paper or ideas.
- The Talked Outline: generate and discuss plans with a partner who takes notes (or talk into an analog or digital recorder and take notes later). Basic List example
- Real name and biographical information
- How he began writing
- Books and examples
- Effect on children and reading programs
- How his legacy of books will continue and shape the future
Education class assignment on Dr. Seuss--
Education class assignment on Dr. Suess-
I. Name
a. Biography
II. Beginning Writing
III. Books and examples
a. First books
b. Most popular
c. Movies?
IV. Effect of children and reading programs
a. Beginning readers
b. Basal/ limited vocabulary
c. Berenstain Bears
V. Future Legacy
