The STAR
WRITING EXAM FOR ALL 4TH AND 7TH GRADERS IS NEXT
WEEK! March 4th & 5th
(make-ups) http://www.ieminc.org/Assessment/2008/starsite08.htm
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS IN
PREPARATION FOR THE 4TH AND 7TH GRADE WRITING ASSESSMENT
1. 4TH AND 7TH GRADE STUDENTS WILL BE ASKED TO WRITE ON ONE OF THREE GENRES OF WRITING.
· NARRATIVE
· SUMMARY
· RESPONSE TO LITERATURE
CLUE: IF YOU HAVE A STORY TO READ FIRST YOU ARE EITHER BEING ASKED TO WRITE A SUMMARY OR RESPONSE TO LITERATURE.
GO DIRECTLY TO THE WRITNG DIRECTIONS AND LOOK FOR THE WORD SUMMARY OR RESPONSE TO LITERATURE. THIS WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT INFORMATION TO NOTE WHILE YOU ARE READING.
SUMMARY: 5 PARAGRAPHS TITLE, SETTING, CHARACTERS, PROBLEM, SOLUTION.
RESPONSE TO LITERATURE: 2 PARAGRAPHS SUMMARY, LESSON LEARNED FROM READING STORY/PERSONNAL CONNECTION
CLUE: IF THERE IS NO STORY TO READ THEN YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO WRITE A NARRATIVE. THERE WILL BE A STORY STARTER SIMILAR TO OUR WRITING PROMPT STORY STARTERS
NARRATIVE: 4 PARAGRAPHS INTRODUCTION, THEN, NEXT, LAST.
2.
ALWAYS BEGIN
WITH A GRAPHIC ORGANIZER FOR ANY WRITING YOU ARE ASKED TO DO.
SUMMARY GRAPHIC
ORGANIZER SAMPLE:
1. TITLE NOTE 4 ONE WORD DETAILS
2. SETTING NOTE 4 ONE WORD DETAILS
3. CHARACTERS NOTE 4 ONE WORD DETAILS
4. PROBLEM NOTE 4 ONE WORD DETAILS
5. SOLUTION NOTE 4 ONE WORD DETAILS
USE THE ONE WORD DETAILS TO WRITE SENTENCES FOR YOUR PARAGRAPHS.
RESPONSE TO
LITERATURE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER:
1. SUMMARY NOTE TITLE, SETTING, CHARACTERS, PROBLEM,SOLUTION IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH. NOTE 1 WORD DETAILS.
2. MORAL/LESSON NOTE LESSON LEARNED AND MAKE A PERSONNAL CONNECTION TO STORY.
NARRATIVE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER:
1. BEGIN WITH STORY STARTER NOTE 5 ONE WORD DETAILS DESCRIBING PLACE, CHARACTERS, PROBLEM.
2. NEXT NOTE WHAT HAPPENED USING 5 WORD DETAILS
3. THEN NOTE HOW THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED
4. CONCLUSION: REPEAT INTRODUCTION WITH CLOSING STATEMENTS.
3. USE THE EDITING PROCESS. AFTER YOU WRITE YOU ESSAY GO BACK AND REREAD. FIX SPELLING ERRORS, SENTENCE STRUCTURES, PUNCTUATION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEB SITE. THIS SITE PROVIDES GRADE LEVEL SAMPLE WRITINGS AND RELEASED WRITING PROMPTS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PAST.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME.
TERRY SOUZA
LANGUAGE ARTS SPECIALIST
CONNECTING WATERS
1 800 808 9895 Ext 4, then Ext 4