Why do we write? What are we trying to accomplish? What do students struggle with the most when they write? This section answers these questions and provides hands-on materials that will make your life easier.
Why do we write?
| 4 Purposes of Writing: IPIE |
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What are we trying to accomplish?
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WHAT YOU DO |
THE BASIC STRUCTURE |
| NON-FICTION |
You make an ARGUMENT. |
Argument + Evidence That Proves It +Explanation |
| FICTION/NARRATIVE |
You convey a LESSON, MESSAGE, or INSIGHT. |
Theme + Story That Illustrates It |
Good writing conveys INSIGHTS. Check out the PUNCHY INSIGHTS POSTER for how to teach students to write insights.
What do students struggle with the most when they write?
1. They don’t understand the difference between ARGUMENT and EVIDENCE. We need to directly teach them the difference. See Argument vs. Evidence-Catcher in the Rye and Argument vs. Evidence-President Harding and Argument vs. Evidence-FDR (Thanks, Hans Winberg!) in the Download Zone.
2. They don’t know how to write effective topic sentences. This problem stems from them not knowing what a good topic sentence looks like. They must be able to FIND topic sentences while reading before we can expect them to create their own. See EFFECTIVE TOPIC SENTENCES page. Handouts found in the Download Zone are as follows:
3. They don’t know how to provide effective evidence. Again, see EFFECTIVE TOPIC SENTENCES page and attendant handouts.
4. They don’t know how to craft an effective thesis or how to organize their writing once they have an argument to prove. See the following files in the Download Zone: Brainstorming for Your Thesis, Developing Your Thesis Organizer, Unpacking Your Thesis Organizer, Unpacking Your Thesis Organizer MODEL, and Essay Outline Organizer.
FOR TOOLS TO SUPPORT DIFFERENT GENRES OF WRITING, check out these key pages:
WONDERING HOW TO ASSESS WRITING? See the Writing Rubrics page.
IN THE DOWNLOAD ZONE for Writing 101:
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