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Reading Wonders Reading/Writing Companion Grade 4 Units 3 and 4
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Reading Wonders Reading/Writing Companion Grade 4 Units 5 and 6
Original ISBN: 978-0-07-901832-8
Original MHID: 0-07-901832-7
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Wonders Welcome to
GENRE STUDY 3 EXPOSITORY TEXT
Key Concept: Zoom In ...................................................................................................................
Vocabulary SHARED READ
SHARED READ Your World Up Close ...........................................................................
PAIRED READ Miami by Way of Fujian ......................................................................
Make Connections
Research and Inquiry: Present Your Work ..............................................................................
GENRE STUDY 3 BIOGRAPHY
GENRE STUDY 2 HISTORICAL FICTION
GENRE STUDY 3 EXPOSITORY TEXT
COLLABORATE
The justice system is an example of government at work. Judges are appointed by elected officials or elected by the voters. Juries are made up of citizens who listen to the evidence presented by both sides. In the web below, write words that give other examples of the roles that government plays.
Government
VOCABULARY
amendments n. changes made to laws or legal documents
The law wasn’t working well, so amendments were made. What amendments would you like to see made to the school rules?
commitment n. a promise
I made a commitment to help clean up our neighborhood on weekends. What commitment could you make to help the environment?
compromise n. an agreement in which both sides have to give up something
I made a compromise with my brother so we can both use the computer. When have you had to make a compromise with someone?
ensure v. guarantee; make sure
The school rules ensure that students have a good place for learning. How could you ensure that you get good grades?
eventually adv. in the end; after some time
There are many things to do, but eventually we’ll finish them all. What is something you can’t do now but will do eventually ?
governments n. groups of people who run a country
Different countries have different kinds of governments. What types of governments do you know?
in charge of phrase responsible for
John is in charge of handing out papers in class this week.
What are you in charge of in class?
legislation n. laws made by a government
The government passed new legislation on work hours. What new legislation would you like to be made?
VOCABULARY
maintain v. keep in good working order
You should maintain your car in good condition to avoid breakdowns. How can you maintain a houseplant?
privilege n. an extra right people are allowed
Going outside for recess is a privilege that students don’t always have. What privilege would you most like to have?
risk n. a chance that something bad will happen
Wear a helmet when riding a bike to reduce the risk of getting hurt. Have you ever taken a risk ? What did you do?
rules n. things that tell you what is or not allowed in a particular situation
My parents set rules to stop me from using the phone too much. What are the rules of your classroom?
sensible adj. practical; with good sense
She made a sensible decision by saving money for her future. What is something sensible that you should do but don’t?
version n. one form of something
Everyone has a different version of what happened. What is something that has new versions coming out from time to time?
without prep. not having
We had no mustard, so we ate our hot dogs without any. What is something you can’t eat or do without ?
COLLABORATE
Your Turn Pick three words. Write three questions for your partner to answer.
SHARED READ
TAKE NOTES
Establish a purpose for reading. When you are reading for information, identify how the author organizes the information. Preview the text and write your purpose for reading.
As you read, make note of: Interesting Words
Key Details
Essential Question
You may sometimes wonder if rules were made to keep you from having fun and to tell you what to do. But what if we had no rules at all? Nobody would tell you what to do ever again! Sounds great, right? Well, let’s see what it’s like to inhabit a world without rules. You just might change your mind!
A Strange Morning
Let’s start at home. Your alarm clock goes off. Why hurry? Without rules you don’t have to go to school. Eventually you wander downstairs and find your little brother eating cookies in the kitchen. Since there are no rules, you can have cookies for breakfast! But you wonder if you should have something sensible like a bowl of cereal. You reach a compromise (KOM•pru•mize) and crumble the cookies over your cereal. In this new world, you will not have to brush your teeth anymore. No one will report you. Of course, the next time you see the dentist, you may have a cavity.
A Community in Confusion
Now, you step outside. You decide to go to the playground because there’s no law saying you have to go to school. No crossing guard stands at the corner to help you across the street. Without traffic laws, cars zip by at an alarming speed honking at each other, and there is not a police officer in sight. There is no safe alternate way to cross the street. Besides, once you see the playground, you may decide it is not worth the risk of getting hit by a car. Broken swings dangle from rusty chains. Trash cans overflow with plastic bottles, snack wrappers, and paper bags. A huge tree branch lies across the sliding board. As a result of all state and federal services being gone, nobody is in charge of taking care of the playground.
NARRATIVE NONFICTION
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
Paragraphs 1-3
Cause
and Effect
Underline the sentence in paragraph 1 that tells what the effect would be if we had no rules. Draw a box around the words in paragraph 3 that tell what causes cars to zip by at an alarming speed.
Ask and Answer Questions
What happens to a playground with no state and federal services?
Author's Craft
How does the author's use of cause-and-effect text structure help you understand what would happen without rules?
Reread
SHARED READ
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
Paragraphs 1-2
Cause and Effect
Circle the words that tell you why you would not find a place to play soccer.
What is the effect of not having an army?
Now think about trying to do all the other things you love. Want to go to the beach? The lifeguards will not be there to keep you safe. Want to play soccer in the park? Your state and local governments are not around to maintain the parks, so you’ll never find a place to play. Feel like eating lunch outside? As a result of pollution, the air quality is so bad that you will probably have to wear a gas mask every day.
Have you ever thought about our country being invaded by another country? Remember, the government runs the army. Without the government, there is no army to protect us if another country decided to take over our country.
Back to Reality
Latin Roots
The Latin root commun means “together." Underline the word that contains the root. Write the word.
Author's Craft
How does the author use headings to organize information?
Thankfully, that version of our world isn’t real. We live in a democracy (di•MOK•ruh•see) where we have the privilege (PRIV•uh•lij) of voting for the people whom we want to run the country. Our elected government passes legislation (lej•is•LAY•shuhn), or laws, meant to help and protect us. If the country outgrows an old law, then the government can pass amendments to the law. Community workers such as crossing guards, police officers, and lifeguards all work to keep you safe, while government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency have made a commitment to inspect the air and water for pollution. And don’t forget the armed forces, which were created to protect our nation.
Our government and laws were designed to keep you safe and ensure that you are treated as fairly as everyone else. Without them, the world would be a different place.
Reread
Make Connections
Talk about how government helps us maintain order and helps preserve our freedom. ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What are some ways that the government protects you every day? TEXT TO SELF
NARRATIVE NONFICTION
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
Read
Paragraphs 3-4
Headings/Pronunciations
Why is "Back to Reality" a good heading for this section?
Draw a box around the words that have pronunciations. Which of these words has the fewest syllables?
Evaluate Information
Use the information in the text to tell why government agencies are important.
Summarize
Use your notes and the headings to orally summarize, or retell, the important events in "A World Without Rules."
R.
COMPREHENSION STRATEGY
Ask and Answer Questions
As you read, you may come across new facts and ideas. Stop and ask yourself questions to help you understand and remember the information. Then read the text closely to find the answers.
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
When you first read the “Back to Reality” section in “A World Without Rules,” you might have asked yourself what role the Environmental Protection Agency has in keeping people safe.
Quick Tip
As you read a paragraph, underline any ideas on the topic that are not clear to you. Then ask yourself a question about the information you don't understand. Read on to find the answer.
10
Community workers such as crossing guards, police officers, and lifeguards all work to keep you safe, while government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency have made a commitment to inspect the air and water for pollution.
As I read on, I found the answer to my question. The Environmental Protection Agency’s role is to inspect our air and water and make sure that they are clean.
Your Turn Read “Back to Reality” and ask a question about government. Find the answer and write it here.
Headings and Pronunciations
“A World Without Rules” is narrative nonfiction.
Narrative nonfiction
• tells a factual story in an interesting way
• may express the author’s opinion about the subject
• presents facts and includes text features
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
“A World Without Rules” is narrative nonfiction. The author describes a situation and includes text features. The author also expresses an opinion and supports it with facts and examples.
9
Readers to Writers
Writers use word pronunciations to help the reader sound out unfamiliar words. A pronunciation will show how many syllables a word has and how the syllable should be stressed. How can you use pronunciations in your own nonfiction writing?
Headings Headings tell you what the section is mostly about.
Pronunciations Pronunciations show how to sound out unfamiliar words.
Your Turn How does the author use headings to keep the reader interested?
SKILL
Cause and Effect
Authors use text structure to organize the information in a nonfiction text. Cause and effect is one kind of text structure. A cause is why something happens. An effect is what happens. Signal words such as because, so, since, and as a result can help you identify cause-and-effect relationships.
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
When I reread the section “A Strange Morning” on page 9, I will look for causes and effects. I will also look for signal words.
Quick Tip
A cause-and-effect text structure explains why or how something happens. Look for an action that causes, or makes something happen. Identify the effect, or what happens as a result of an action.
Without rules
Without rules
You don’t have to go to school.
You can have cookies for breakfast.
You don’t have to brush your teeth.
You may get a cavity.
Your Turn Reread the section “A Community in Confusion” on pages 9–10. Identify the causes and effects. List them in the graphic organizer on page 15.
Cause Effect
RESPOND TO READING
Discuss Work with a partner. Use the discussion starters to answer the questions about “A World Without Rules.” Write the page numbers.
How does our government keep our playgrounds safe?
How does the government keep our beaches and parks safe?
Government services keep . . . I know this because . . .
Page(s):
How does the government make sure our air and water is clean?
Beaches are safe because . . . Parks are safe because . . .
Page(s):
Discuss Discuss the prompt below. Think about how the author presents the information. Use your notes, vocabulary words, and graphic organizer.
Why is "A World Without Rules" a good title for this selection?
Quick Tip
Use these sentence starters to discuss the text and organize your ideas.
• “A World Without Rules” is a good title because . . .
• The author tells why . . .
• The author helps me understand . . .
Grammar Connections
As you write your response, use transitions— words or phrases that link ideas together. Transitions form a bridge to take readers from one idea to the next. Here are some examples of transitions: for example, also, finally, generally, consequently, in the first place, in other words
Remember, transitions that start a sentence are followed by a comma.
VOCABULARY STRATEGY
Latin Roots
Knowing Latin roots can help you figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words. Look for these Latin roots as you reread “A World Without Rules.”
dent = tooth port = carry
spect = look commun = together
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
In the third paragraph on page 9, I see the word alternate. The Latin root alter means "other."
This will help me figure out what alternate means.
There is no safe alternate way to cross the street.
Your Turn Use Latin roots and context clues to figure out the meanings of these words.
COLLABORATE
dentist, page 9
report, page 9
inspect, page 10
Integrate RESEARCH AND INQUIRY
Skim and Scan
Skimming and scanning will help you when you do research.
Skim means "to read quickly" to get the main idea of a text.
To skim, read the title, headings, and the first sentence in each paragraph. Next, look for any italicized or boldfaced words. Then, look at any illustrations, photographs, tables, diagrams, and other visuals.
Scan means "to search quickly" for specific information.
To scan, you need to know the specific information you are looking for. First, look quickly down the page in search of key words or phrases. Then, look at how the text is divided or organized.
Scan for the name of the governor in the meeting notice. Write it here.
Concerned citizens are meeting this week to vote on air-quality limits in our state.
Make a Slideshow With a partner make a multimodal slideshow about the branches of your state government. A slideshow is called multimodal because you can present information in different ways. For example, you can add audio clips, diagrams, and photographs to your slideshow. Discuss how skimming and scanning can help you in your research. Use the questions below to help with your research.
• Who is the head of the Executive branch?
• How many members are in the Legislative branch?
• What courts are included in the Judicial branch?
Use your research to make a diagram of your state government branches for one of your slides. Include labels or captions to describe the functions of each branch.
Do your part for clean air in the community. Join your fellow citizens at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Town Hall. Mayor John Ashford and Governor Jane Hamilton are expected to speak before the final vote.
VOCABULARY
approved v. agreed to
My teacher approved my idea for the project, so I can start on it now.
What must you have approved before you can do it?
draft n. a piece of writing that is not in its final form yet
I have finished the first draft of my story! Why would you write a draft of a story?
held out phr. v. waited to decide on or agree to something
He held out for better offers before deciding which club to join. Have you ever held out for something better? Did you get what you want?
independence n. the right to rule oneself
The country was under British rule before it declared independence in 1947. Why would a country want to declare independence from another?
proposed v. suggested; shared as an idea
The students proposed having a school garden.
What is something you recently proposed to your family? Was your idea accepted?
treaty n. an agreement between two countries
The two countries have a treaty that allows them to both fish in the same area. What else might countries make a treaty to do?
veto v. reject; throw out
The teacher decided to veto the students' request for an extra recess. What plan for your class would you veto ?
COLLABORATE
Your Turn Pick three words. Write three questions for your partner to answer.
PAIRED READ TAKE
NOTES
Asking questions helps you figure out your purpose for reading. It also gives you a chance to think about what you know about the topic. Before you read, write a question here.
Essential Question
Why do we need government?
Read about the Founding Fathers’ plan for our government.
As you read, make note of: Interesting Words
Key Details
Every Fourth of July, Americans celebrate the birthday of the United States. Fireworks and parades remind us that the thirteen colonies declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. That birthday took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. This document formed a new nation, the United States of America. The Declaration is almost like our country’s original birthday card.
Our Founding Fathers
Five men, including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, wrote the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson wrote the first draft. His famous words sum up a basic American belief—“all men are created equal.”
The men who signed the Declaration are called the Founding Fathers of our country. Signing the Declaration put the founders’ lives in danger. They knew that their signatures made them traitors to Great Britain. They also knew that, if the colonies won the war, their names would go down in history.
Led by General George Washington, the colonists fought passionately for their freedom. After a long, bloody war, the British surrendered in 1781, and a peace treaty was signed in 1783. Our new nation was still a work in progress, however. Americans disagreed about how much power a federal, or central, government should have. Given that they had just won freedom from a powerful British king, Americans did not want their government to have too much power.
The
Constitutional Convention
By 1787, the states were like separate countries. Each state printed its own money and made its own trade laws. The national government was weak and in debt from the war. In May 1787 each state sent delegates, people who represent others, to Philadelphia to attend a meeting called the Constitutional Convention. The delegates were to create a new plan for our government. George Washington was chosen as the president of the convention.
EXPOSTIORY TEXT
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
Read
Paragraph 1
Circle the day Americans celebrate the birth of the United States.
Paragraph 2
Underline what five men, including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, wrote.
Paragraph 4
Why didn’t Americans want their government to have too much power?
Talk with a partner about governments. If you were to start a government together, what would it be like?
COLLABORATE
PAIRED READ
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
Read
Paragraph 1
Circle what James Madison and the other delegates compromised on.
Paragraph 1
What were the large and small states arguing about?
Paragraph 1
Why did the United States pass a three-branch system of government?
COLLABORATE
Talk with a partner about power. What might happen if one person had too much power?
One young delegate, James Madison, proposed ideas. After many debates, he compromised with the other delegates on the United States Constitution as the plan for our government. Thus, today James Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution.” Delegates from large and small states argued most about the power to pass legislation, or laws. States with large populations wanted more votes in a legislature. Small states did not think this was fair. By September of 1787, the states agreed on a system of checks and balances known as the three branches of government. In this system, no branch has too much power.
THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
The Legislative Branch creates laws.
Includes: Congress – House of Representatives – Senate
The Executive Branch carries out laws.
The Judicial Branch settles disputes about laws.
Includes: Supreme Court Lower Federal Courts
The Three Branches
The Legislative Branch, or Congress, is made up of the Senate and House of Representatives. Congress passes laws. Small states liked the Senate because each state, large or small, got two senators. In the House, a state’s population determines the number of representatives.
The president heads the Executive Branch. The president can sign, veto, and enforce laws. The president also commands the nation’s military.
The Judicial Branch is the third branch. The highest court is called the Supreme Court. District, state, and federal courts determine whether a law follows the Constitution.
The Constitution was officially approved in September 1787, but it did not become the law of the nation right away. Why? It had to be ratified, or approved, by nine of the thirteen states.
Some states held out. They felt the Constitution did not give enough power to the people. They wanted to add amendments, or changes, that guaranteed important personal rights such as freedom of speech or religion. James Madison jumped in again. He wrote the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These were added to the Constitution in 1791. Finally, our nation had a plan of government that was approved!
All the People
Our Constitution begins with the words We the People. Back in 1791, however, the Constitution gave certain rights, such as voting, only to some people. That has changed over time. Today, our Constitution grants all citizens over the age of 18 the right to vote. Politicians continually revisit this founding document to ensure that all people are treated equally in our democracy.
EXPOSTIORY TEXT
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
Read
Paragraph 1
Circle something the president commands. What branch does the president head?
Paragraph 2
Underline what the district, state, and federal courts determine.
Paragraph 5
Draw a box around the words that begin the Constitution of the United States. Did it give everyone the same rights at that time?
Make Connections
Why did delegates from the states meet to write a Constitution in 1787? ESSENTIAL QUESTION
Why is it important to be an active participant in our democracy? Use details from the selections to explain. TEXT TO TEXT
COLLABORATE
Talk with your partner about political service. What do you think it would be like to be a politician?
PAIRED READ
Why is “The Birth of American Democracy” a good title for this selection?
Talk About It Reread paragraphs 1 to 4 on page 23. Talk about why the Fourth of July is such an important holiday.
Cite Text Evidence What words and phrases show how our government was created? Write text evidence in the chart. Explain the author's purpose for presenting these details.
Text Evidence
Author’s Purpose
Quick Tip
Look for specific details or ideas in the text that tell you what happened on July 4, 1776. The details or ideas are important to the meaning of the author's purpose.
Write “The Birth of American Democracy” is a good title because
COLLABORATE
Homophones and Homographs
Homophones are two words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings.
• Examples: Pull the thread through the needle. He threw the ball.
Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and origins. Use context clues to figure out the meanings of homographs.
• Examples: The wind blows. Wind the string around your finger.
FIND TEXT EVIDENCE
On page 23 in paragraph 3, the author uses the homophone their and the homograph lives. The context of each sentence can help readers understand the word’s meaning and how to pronounce it.
Signing the Declaration put the founders’ lives in danger. They knew that their signatures made them traitors to Great Britain.
Your Turn Reread the first paragraph on page 23.
• Find a word that can be a homograph and write its two meanings.
Readers to Writers
When you write, make sure to use the correct spelling of any words that are homophones. For example, these homophones are frequently confused: their, there, they're. Write a sentence for each homophone. Explain why you used that homophone.
• What word also has a homophone? Write the word and its homophone.
MAKE CONNECTIONS
Text Connections
What did you learn about government from the selections you have read? How does government protect people's rights?
Talk About It Tarriers are people who waste time. In the song below, the tarriers are the railroad workers who can’t work quickly enough to meet the foreman’s demands. Read the lyrics. Talk with a partner about how government can help to protect Jim Goff.
Cite Text Evidence Circle words and phrases in the lyrics that show how the songwriter feels about Jerry McCann. Underline what Jerry McCann says as evidence of his character.
Write The songwriter and the authors show how government is important because
Quick Tip
The lyrics in the song tell a story. You can use the events in the song to help you compare the song to the selections you have read about the need for government.
from Drill, Ye Tarriers
Now, our new foreman was Jerry McCann,
You can bet that he was sure a blame mean man, Last week a premature blast went off, And a mile in the air went big Jim Goff, Now, next time payday come around, Jim Goff a dollar short was found,
When asked what for, came this reply, “You were docked for the time you were up in the sky!”
Integrate RESEARCH AND INQUIRY
Present Your Work
COLLABORATE
Discuss how you will present your multimodal slideshow to the class. You may want to post it on a digital bulletin board. Use the checklist as you rehearse your presentation, and listen carefully to your classmates' questions.
Our State Government
General Assembly
Judicial Courts
Governor Legislature
Executive
Discuss the sentence starters below and write your answers.
An interesting fact that I learned about our state government is
I would like to know more about
A slideshow allows you to organize your text and visuals. Too much information on other slides, however, encourages people to read, not listen to you. So just put a sentence or two on each slide, like an outline, then present most of the information orally.
Presenting Checklist
Rehearse your presentation in front of a friend. Ask for feedback. Speak slowly, clearly, and with expression. Point to visuals related to your topic as you present information. Listen carefully to questions from the audience.
Use formal language to clarify and answer questions.
Expert Model
Features of a Narrative Nonfiction Essay
A narrative nonfiction essay is written in the form of a story. It informs readers about a real subject by presenting information in an interesting way. A narrative nonfiction essay
• tells about real people and events
• may include the writer’s feelings and opinions
• presents facts and includes text features
Analyze an Expert Model Studying “A World Without Rules” will help you learn how to write a narrative nonfiction essay. Reread pages 9-11. Then answer the questions below.
How does the author use storytelling to make a point about rules?
Shared Read (pages 8-11)
Skim the headings of the story. How does this give you a sense of the structure of the story?
In the first paragraph on page 9, the sentence “Sounds great, right?” is an example of the use of informal language and rhetorical questioning. The author’s use of informal language and rhetorical questioning contributes to the engaging voice in the writing.
Word Wise
Plan: Choose Your Topic
Brainstorm With a partner or a small group, brainstorm as many important laws as possible. Consider how these laws keep everyone safe.
Quick Tip
To help you plan for a certain audience, ask yourself:
• What do they already know about my topic?
• What more do they need to know?
• What opinions do they have?
Writing Prompt Choose one of the laws on your list. Write a narrative nonfiction essay about it. Describe what might happen without the law and explain why the law is important.
I will write about
Purpose and Audience An author’s purpose is his or her main reason for writing. Underline your purpose for writing a narrative nonfiction essay.
to inform or teach to persuade or convince to entertain
Think about the audience for your essay. Who will read it?
My audience will be I will use ___________________ language when I write my essay.
Plan In your writer’s notebook, make a Cause-and-Effect Chart to plan your essay about your chosen law.
• Would they be more interested if I use formal or informal language?
GENRE WRITING
Plan: Cause-and-Effect Text Structure
What Happened? Why Did It Happen? Things don’t just happen; people or things make them happen. The person or thing is the cause, and what happens is the effect. As you research and plan your narrative nonfiction essay about your chosen law, answer these questions:
• What effect does the law have on your daily life?
• What would happen if the law didn’t exist?
• What other laws might help you?
List two causes and effects you could use in your narrative.
1 2
Take Notes As you take notes on your topic, paraphrase information by putting it in your own words. When you have finished taking notes, use your Cause-and-Effect Chart to organize the information you will use in your essay. Include only the most important details to keep your chart entries brief.
Quick Tip Draft
Specific Details Authors of narrative nonfiction essays use facts, examples, and statistics to give readers evidence about the topic. In the example below, the author explains how cars would not drive safely without laws.
No crossing guard stands at the corner to help you across the street. Without traffic laws, cars zip by at an alarming speed honking at each other, and there is not a police officer in sight. There is no safe alternate way to cross the street.
Use the above paragraph as a model to write about one way laws help protect us. In the first sentence, identify which law you will talk about.
How do you know if a detail is relevant? It has to relate to the subject. Read these sentences:
Without a law to say no, people take whatever they want. Some people take computers. Soon, the stores have nothing to sell. All the stores must close.
Which detail is not relevant? The second sentence is not relevant because it gives an unimportant detail.
Write a Draft Use your Cause-and-Effect Chart to help you write your draft in your writer’s notebook. Don’t forget that you are telling a real-life story, so think about how you can use informal language to make it more interesting.
GENRE WRITING
Revise
Transitions Effective writers make sure that they use transitions to link their ideas together. Some transition words are however, but, afterward, and because. Read the paragraph below. Then, revise it so the causeand-effect ideas are logically linked together.
Grammar Connections
A simple sentence, or independent clause, shows a complete thought. A compound sentence has two independent clauses that are usually connected with a coordinating conjunction.
There are no rules. People take whatever they want. The stores have nothing left. The stores close.
Revision Revise your draft, and check that you present relevant facts and use appropriate transitions. Make sure that you have told the facts in a narrative form, which might include some opinions about your topic.
Select coordinating conjunctions that help build the cause-and-effect structure.
COLLABORATE
Peer Conferences
Review a Draft Listen carefully as a partner reads his or her work aloud. Take notes about what you liked and what was difficult to follow. Begin by telling what you liked about your partner’s draft. Ask questions that will help your partner think more carefully about his or her writing. Make suggestions that you think might make the writing more focused and coherent. Use these sentence starters:
I like the way you used different kinds of sentences because . . .
Some transition words you might want to use are . . .
I don’t understand this part. Can you explain how . . .?
Partner Feedback After your partner gives you feedback on your draft, write one of the suggestions that you will use in your revision. Refer to the rubric on page 37 as you give feedback.
Based on my partner's feedback, I will After you finish giving each other feedback, reflect on the peer conference. What was helpful? What might you do differently next time?
Revising Checklist
Does my writing fit my purpose and audience?
Did I use a consistent tone and voice as the narrator?
Did I use transition words to combine ideas?
Did I improve sentence structure by combining some simple sentences into compound sentences? Did I rearrange some sentences to make them clearer?
Revision As you revise your draft, use the Revising Checklist to help you figure out what ideas you may need to add, delete, combine, or rearrange. Remember to use the rubric on page 37 to help with your revision.
GENRE WRITING
Edit and Proofread
When you edit and proofread your writing, you look for and correct mistakes in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. Reading through a revised draft multiple times can help you make sure you’re catching any errors. Use the checklist below to edit your sentences.
Editing Checklist
Do all sentences begin with a capital letter and end with a punctuation mark?
Do all sentences have subjects and predicates?
Are any headings capitalized?
Are there sentences where the same subject is combined with different verbs?
Are commas used correctly?
Are all words spelled correctly?
List two mistakes you found as you proofread your essay.
Grammar Connections
When you edit and proofread, check that you have placed commas correctly. If you have compound sentences, make sure a comma separates the two complete ideas. For example: There is no crossing guard, so it is dangerous to cross the road.
Publish, Present, and Evaluate
Publishing When you publish your writing, you create a clean, neat final copy that is free of mistakes. Adding visuals can make your writing more interesting. Consider including illustrations, photographs, or maps to help make your essay more interesting.
Presentation When you are ready to present your work, rehearse your presentation. Use the Presenting Checklist to help you.
Evaluate After you publish your writing, use the rubric below to evaluate your writing.
What did you do successfully?
What needs more work?
Presenting Checklist
Stand or sit up straight. Look at the audience.
Speak clearly and loud enough for everyone to hear you.
Use a friendly but formal tone.
Answer questions from the audience carefully.
4 3 2 1
• gives an informative essay, interesting facts, and specific details of the topic
• clearly explains cause and effect for each topic discussed
• sentences are fluent with sentence beginnings, transition words, and simple and compound sentences
• few if any errors in grammar or spelling
• gives a decent explanation of the topic with some specific detail
• mostly explains cause and effect for each topic discussed
• sentences have some variety in sentence beginnings, transition words, and simple and compound sentences
• some errors, but not enough to affect meaning
• main idea of the topic somewhat unclear and details are lacking
• many explanations of cause and effect for each topic are unclear
• sentences have little variety in sentence beginnings, transition words, and simple and compound sentences
• frequent errors that might confuse the reader
• main idea is confusing and details are poor and vague
• most explanations of cause and effect for each topic are unclear
• sentences have no variety in sentence beginnings, transition words, and simple and compound sentences
